Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-07-16
THE WAR BETWEEN HRANoR
AND PRUaaIA

THE WAX BETWEEN
AND PRUssIA-
Well, war has actually broken out
between two Of the leading nationali-
ties of Europe, and a most terrible and
savage warfare it Is likely to be, and
which will occupy the public attention
all over the world for a considerable
Length of time. Yesterday the tele-
grams from France announced the
formal declaration of war BY that
power against Prussia, and the ques-
ton now is, will Prussia accept or
back down? Is Prussia ready and de-
sirous to so to war with France just
now? The answer to this question
would seem to be an obvious no.
Prussia is not in rs good position for
such an enterprise in 1870 as she was
in 1886, just after Sadowa. rhe people
in some parts of the North German
Union are not well CONFERENCE.-The
finances are not in better condition
the army does not bear the same rela-
tive effectiveness to that of France
which it did then. From this we infer
that Bismarck is not the deep con-
spirator in this Hohenzollern business
that the foreign news would seem to
indicate. Bismarck does not take steps
without a full survey Of the ground
before him. He Is one of the statesmen
who look before they leap. 1t is,
therefore, not %supposable, under the
circumstances, that he, or what Is the
same thing. Prussia, has originated a
war with France at this time.
Who, then, conceived and put this
affair in motion? Here we encounter
the mysteries Of European diplomatic
intrigue. 1t looks to us rs if some
French master of this dark art had
contrived In some plausible way to
impress General Prim with the idea
that the election Of this Hohenzollern
Prince to the throne ofSpain furnished
the readiest way out of the Spanish
difficulty that 1t must inevitably ell
list the two greatest continental
military powers in its support; that
Prussia would be gratified to see
a Prussian petty prince advanced
to so considerable q crown as that
of Spain, and that the French
Emperor would be pleased. as that
Prince is Bonapartlst by family con-
nection and tradition, and that, finally,
these important points being we'll Inn
pressed upon the Spanish General, he
should then be enjoined to keep the
whole affair strictly secret until It
should be ripe for public announce
.ment. Nothing could be more natural
than for Prim to take up such q pro-
gramme as this, and work it through
with all possible dispatch; and 1t Is by
no means a violent presumption that
the King Of Prussia, looking at Prus-
sian interests, might easily fall into
the arrangement, seeing that there was
sufficient motive for the French En-
peror to look upon the matter favor
ably. But who originated the scheme
and what was the motive? For a prob
able answer to this we need look no
further than to the sudden and en-
phatic outbreak of both popular and
governmental opposition and indigna-
ton in France, and the well-known
objects aud indeed necessities Of Ma
poleon Ill. He and the French people
have a lo~ng-standing account to settle
with Prussia, going back to Leipsic
and Waterloo, and coming down to
the defeat of the present Napoleon's
plans at and after the battle Of Sadowa,
in 1866. France and her Emperor, on
the latter occasion, instead Of being
the arbiters of Europe, had to take
back seats. This wound to French
national pride is not only still open
but has become more irritable as
Prussia has progressed in her ambi-
tious aims, France losing prestige all
the time. The Emperor Is bound to
do something to regain this lost pres
tige. 1t Is essential for the mainten-
ance of the goodwill Of the French
people towards himself, and doubly
essential for the accession Of his son,
and the continuance Of the Napoleonic
dynasty in power. Two things we're
wanted, reorganization and re-equip-
ment of the French armies, and a pre-
text for u break with Prussia. The
former has been quietly, but most
thoroughly accomplished In the last
four years-the latter may be sought
in this Hohenzollern affair, and in this
We may have n clue to both the origin
ator of the scheme and the motive for
it. But Bismarck Is also a deep and
expert diplomatic intriguer, and If he
has not contemplated war, he will not
fail TO find the means to nov the
uohenzollern quietly out Of the way.
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A SAD SroRY.-The Scranton PA
psr.IJn.,, tolls rho folloyyinp mourn