The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-14

no HVIOpcan VIII CiOuOs
When armies have been set in motion by q
political difference, apparently or really tri-
vial, the determination Of that difference does
not always arrest the movement of the armies
Madrid and reported from Paris and Berlin,
that the Prince of Hohenzollern Is no longer
candidate for tho Spanish throne, and though
this declaration is accepted in Paris as settling
the immediate point on which France took fire,
yet we hear again from Berlin that the tone
OF France toward Prussia is still alarming
and provoking" and from Paris that parties in
the Corps Legslatif are eager to force war,
while in all the news there is no intimation of
any purpose to discontinue the vast military
preparations already on foot. There is no
doubt that in France the movement Of troops
has gone much further and been far more ex-
tensive than has been telegraphed hither, for
the use Of tho wires would not be permitted
by the French government for any news on
this subject. We can only judge of the
activity in France by the movements that
we koow to have taken place In Germany.
for these movements were only made to
meet preceding movements Of French
soldiers. The fact that the King of Prussia
is in conference with Moltke rather than with
Bismarck-that he takes advice in strategy,
not diplomacy and statecraft-may furnish
hint how far matters have gone.
1t is possible, therefore, that France may
now declare that she is in the attitude of war;
that she has been compelled to assume this
attitude through the Vaccinations and
eDcroachments of Prussia-of which the can
last--and that the mere withdrawal OF this
step toward the Spanish throne is not enough;
that while she has her arms a il her hands she
must insist upon some sufficient guarantee
that Prussia viii coq6ne herself to the terms
of the treaty Of Prague, or, otherwise, that
France must have an equivaen. for all pos
sible ACKNOWLEDGEMENT that would come to
Prussia with the treaty Of Prague set aside,
this equivalent being the left bank
of the Rhine. In assuming this
ground France would be neither arrogant nor
doulineering. She would only be acting upon
and applying to the case before her the princi-
pies that govern now as they have governed
in all past time every nation in Europe
possessed Of the power to make its purposes
felt. There can be no question that Prussia
in her recent history has acted on the maxim
of the Greek, that ''oaths were invented to
cheat FOOLS" She has regarded, in spirit of
the most impudent indifference her own
pledges, made with all the circumstances that
directly violated her faith with Austria; tram
pied upon the rights of the Danes with bully
ing contempt for her little neiglbor that should
have been offensive to all Europe, and has
never ceased in insidous encroachment, that,
rs it was always more or less threatening to
France, was certain one day to call forth the
protest and resistance Of that Power.
1t is clear that if France is ever to fight
Prussia she must fight her now. She will
likely never find it more possible to cope with
her. Should she wait till Prussia has added
to the Power of United North Germany
that of all the South German States-till
she has crowded Austria still further down the
Danube, and Is joined in treaties ofintmate al
lance with all the small Powers that are uneasy
in the neighborhood to France-continuing this
very policy that would have put German on
the Spanish throne; should France wait for all
this her contest with the German giant would
be hopeless from its inception. AS this is evil
IDENTIFY felt in France-and as 1t seems to be
widely conceded that collision between the
two Powers is only question Of time-there is
still high probability that despite what may
now occur touching the throne Of Spain
France may resolve to try whether the brilliant
triumph of Prussia at Sadowa was not in
great degree due to the fact that she contended
against feeble and contemptiby commanded
army, and whether the needle gun and tue
Prussian troops may not cut very different
figure when once really tried in well contested
battle With these possibilities before us it is
not yet safe to rely on the peace Of Europe,
whatever sentimental! notions Hobenzollern
may have Of ''thc duty Of German soldier"
THE LATE RIOT AT ELM PARK was breach
Of the public peace, and by the attacking
party violation Of public rights which can
not be justified or tolerated in this country.
The Orangcmen have the same right to cele-
brate here their chosen anniversary as the
sons of ST. Patrick, Or the German Turner'S OF
the African Fifteenth Amendment Brotherhood,
and no party has any right to disturb them
while peacefully parading the streets or listen
ing to speeches or music in any public o.
private place. This thing should be under