The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-07-28
THE SECRET TREATY-A CHANGE IN THE
WAR ASPECT.

The publication of the secret treaty has
changed the aspect of the European
war IN part, and, from the facts no" peiofe
US we. see no cause to vacate the advance
position taken by this paper in its hrst lead
ing article upon this subject nearly two
weeks ago The position taken then was
subjected to some severe criticism by the
better informed of our German RAIDERS.
who accused us of sympathising with
France as against Prussia and the German
States. We wrote then in the light of
historic facts, stating that it was not war
for principle or human rights, but for the
extension of despo,io territory and the
enlargement of despo.ic power
The hostile elements of. Europe have been
gathering to focus for two weeks or more
and reached climax nine days ago in the
declaration of wal by France, dated July
18th. In less than forty-eIght hours the
respective armies began their advance.
Both nations were committed for q fight,
neither could retrea, with a credit-they
meant blood. Everything was favorable ior
the rapid concentration or forces at any
given point on the programme. The whole |
world looked on and momenta-ially expect |
cd big battle. The nine days wonder has |
at last found a solution. A treaty comes to
light, in the hand writing of Benedict, the
French Minister, and deposited in Prussisn
Archives; and by Bismarck given TO repor.
ers for publication. Both parties deny its
authorship, yet there it is, Infamous to al
the nations of the world, and foreshadowing
contest which may not end with this gen
Grafton.
The world has q new act in the play
the spectacle of treaty of peace made and
signed before war is declared. This ex-
plains why the French legions were not
hurled upon unprepsred Prussia, and why
two powerful armies were so soon in the
feld-so near, and vet SO far from fighting.
They marshal grand armies trained TO
blood and armed with all the deadly imple-
ments of war that the highest science can
devise, who psrsde before the world as ii
ready and anxious to let blood, but really
tor the purpose OF terrifying outsiders from
interfering while they gobble up the lesser
powers and divide them between each other,
and then wipe their swords, shake hands
snd swear eternal peace, or peace until one
thinks he is strong enough 10 swallow the
whole and conquer al Europe. Which will
be the sharpest IN the division of the spoils,
a,A ~ Al q
1t may be that Nspoleou's ambition is to
accomplish by trade, and dicker, and strate
gg, what his uncle tried to do by force OF
arms sixty-four years ago and Won Mstke,
the great "organize of victory" and Bis
marck, with the senile old King William in
their hands, may hope to do the same thing
At least it looks that way just now.
This treaty shifts the scene, snG we see,
no. France fighting for the honor of the |
French nation-not Prussia resisting the |
ambitious designs Of the Bourbon DYNASTY /
not two nations setting disputed frontier, /
or contending for the maintenance of the .
''oaisnce power; but the proposition Of /
one crowned head to another crowned head |
10 unite in making al! Europe their common |
prey.
Prussia first takes into its ravenous NAV
most of the lesser German states. while
France helps herself TO Holland. Next,
Prussia takes in the South German states,
while France gulps down Belgium, and then
they both together rest until these are d.
gested, and the curtain shall rise upon these
monsters, grown large enough to take larger
game. England sees the programme, and
the dispatches say she is arming for the fray.
and Russia sits back and growls at the
performance. Neither of these nations have
taken sides in the maeinary conflict that
has agltsted the world for ten days past, in
spite of the imperative demands of France
to define their positions within the rising and
setting OF the sun, and the msneuvres OF
both actors to induce them off from their
neutral grounds. Knowing that Prussia, at
the time of the signing OF the Treaty OF
Prague-tour years sgo-fnade certain
propositions to France which were indig-
nantly refused, and, probably, anticipating
that similar propositions would not now be |
rejected under the change of Napoleon's |
standing IL his own empire, England has
persistensly refused to take sides, and is |
now in a position to marshal her armies and
fleets in opposition to a conspiracy so CON
trary to the laws CT nations and civilization.
1t may be that neither is guilty of wishing
to carry out so atrocious a programme, es
pecislly against the protests Of England,
Russia aud America, for with this new phase
of the war we, with a natioshood to pre-
serve, cannot be idle spectators, for the
reason that we might be the last on this
royal programme. Such, however, seems
to be- the light in which the leading actors
now stand, and until some better explana-
ton is given, the object of this secret treaty !
must be taken for what its text indicates. |
Should Prussia now play virtuous and reject |
the things she once favored, then must there
be some explanation made of the novel |
scene now on the boards - that of "a contract |
tor peace before the declaration of war" Is |
II not the overthrow of Justice an attempt to |
despotise the world We apprehend this
new phase will cool the enthusiasm of those
in our midst who have been so positive in
their expressions of sympathy for one side
or the other.
San Domingo Affair
at appears that the Washington admin