Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-07-19
The Threatened War of Dynastjes.

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There ought to be good cause for
the impending European war. There
ought 10 DC great amount Of wrong
to be rghted, oppression to be re-
moved, liberty to be gained by some
body. Yet as it looks thus far. none
oil these causes appear in the present
alarm IN Europe. Spain has been
Tor a few years past, in state of
revolution. Her queen has been
driven from the throne, and is an
exile and the nation is made up of
opposing factions which Spanish
craftsmanship has not. yet been able
to unite. Gen. Prim has been for
many months casting about for
king. lie has found a young man
who is willing to accept-Prince Ho-
henzollern - Sigmaringen, allied to
the Prussian dynasty. 1t would not
seem to be difficult matter for the
young man to go to Spain and begin
business as king. But the arrange
ment is not pleasing to France, and
the French heart is Immediately fired
up with threatenings of interference
and war. Is it rightfully any bust
ness OF France whom Spain chooses
for her sovereign Gen. Prim ap-
pears to have authority to recon-
mend a king to the Spanish people,
and the Spanish Cortes, as their rep
resentatives, have a right TO accept
him, and the whole question would
finally be determined by popular
vote or something approaching it,
In this Spanish throne question, if
France interferes, she must necessar-
lily be the aggressor. Spain has done
nothing that she has not a right to
do. Prussia has made no move sut-
ficient tor cdSuS belH, and may,
therefore, look complacently on while
Napoleon Ill. involves himself in an
unwarranted war. This whole Eu-
ropean trouble affords striking
illustration of the jealousy of each
other which exists among European
nations. The so-called "balance of
power" affords any government suf-
ficient pretext for an interference
wherever there is prospect of the
"balance" preponderating in its own
favor, or against it. None of the
weaker powers-unless they are 80
weak and isolated as to be harmless
have the privilege Of administer
ing their own affairs. An incident
slight in itself, if out the line pre-
scribed by the stronger powers, is
sufficient to create alarm and uncer-
tainty, and possibly war. The art
Of retraining from "entangling ALI
ances' has not yet gained promin-
ence in European politics. This is
in strong contrast with the course
pursued by our government in refer
ence to other nations. Even though
this country is protessedly guided by
the monroe doctrine" the Emperor
Maximillion was permitted TO seat
himself upon the throne of Mexico
without molestation beyond diplom-
acy. We doubt whether, had he
been able to maintain himself, there
would have been any armed inter-
| ference by our Government. A con-
slant effort on the part of scheming
politicians, filibusters and others has
been made to involve the United
States in trouble with Spain on ac-
count Of her West India island de-
tendencies. Yet the nation has
wisely steered clear Of Intervention.
This policy gives a feeling of securi-
ity to our citizens that cannot be
experienced by the subjects of the
European monarchs. The prospect
of general transatlantic war now
disturbs one half the world, and
when we search for valid causes they
are not to be found 1t is to be a
conflict of dynasties for the gratif-
cation of personal ambition-for the
aggrandizement Of monarchial pow
er. There is no principle at stake
unless it be that of Capitalization
In the cases Of France and Spain,
war would unite the discordant fac
tions; and uniting them, would des-
troy free discussion and liberty OF
the press, such as they now are
Republicanism would, for time, be
apparently weakened, but would Ill
timately be the stronger. We doubt
not such a conflict of nations as is
now threatened, while intended to
subserve the principle of monarchy
will, in its last analysis, hasten the
establishment of the principle Of
self government. - Chicago Repub
lican.