The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-09
PEACE OR WAR IN EUROPE?

There is nothing more productive of canards
than great international quarrel. 1t be-
comes necessary, therefore, at juncture like
the present, to sift the European kilograms
very carefally, and reject that very recog-
nizable class which is the mere expression of
current and idle rumor. 1t is obvious, for
example, that very grave significance might
have been given to the announcement of an
Austro-French alliance, while it is equally
obvious that its truth is quite irreconcilable
with the later intimation of strict Austrian
neutrality on the question at issue between
France on the one side and Spain and Prussia
on the other. The most noticeable feature
In the comments by the French press on the
situation is the strong suggestion of the
characteristic vein of "Bombastes." The
Ls6eTte, under the management of
M. de Glrardin, was never very
moderate in it's tone toward Prussia. bnt
under the new proprietorship it appears
determined to outdo its contemporaries in
the loudness of its threats and the marvel
lous extravaganza of its demands. A guar
antee not to interfere in the affairs of other
nations" would probably be a very desirable
thing to extort from all the great powers of
Europe; but it is difficult to see why Prussia
alone should be asked to furnish it, and still
more difficult to understand the logical con.
nectlon between q seizure of the Rhenish
AAoHtioAo az any COSt, anu Il rSmOnStfaQc0
against the accession of a Hohenzollern to
the throne of Spain. Talk like that INDUCED
IN by the Lt6erte can only be taken as sgnif-
cant either OF very unhealthy state of
public sentiment which seizes the
opportunity to fan into a flame the
smouldering ashes of national animositv.
or OF smarting sense of political
humiliation which burns to have an occasion
for revenge. The attitude maintained by
xahn fhaN.
stances or not, shows no evidence of that
swagger and bluster which have been SO
freely exhibited in France. The position
taken by the Cabinet of Berlin is at once
lntelhglble and consistent The fact of
Prince Leopold being member of what is
merely junior section of the Junior branch
OF house from which the Prussian roval
family have sprung, is made the occasion for
disclalmlng any direct responsibility for his
candldature. The onus of his election is left
with the representatives of the Spanish peo-
pie, and the significant addition is made that
should the Cortes elect HohenZollern. Pms
STA will support him.
There is no Disgusting the fact that if this
declaration has been correctly reported to us.
and II the present temper of the French gov
ernment and people continue, it means war.
1t is difficult to believe that the Spanish
leaders dld not anticipate the opposition of
g.. and
it is probable that in resolutely pushing for
ward his claims, they are acting in pursuance
of prearranged programme. In either
case, the responsibility of war, should war
arise, has been left with France. 1t NAV
be assumed that Prussia will persist in
refusing to acknowledge that her posi-
ton on the question constitutes, in any |
sense, cdSuS beM 1t is, at the |
same time, certain that any movement |
n, i. n
frontier in pursuance of self-elected policy |
OF retaliation would find the Confederation
in arms. The rumor of an alliance between
Spain and Prussia must be received with
caution, as it is the obvious policy of the lat
ter power to keep clear of any obvious initia-
tive in setting up German prince in the
peninsula The North German States will
be found united, irrespective of all minor
ilsagreements, to repel any pretensions on