The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-07-30
The War in Europe.

|
a few facts in relation to the two great
powers now engaged in bloody war,
Prussia and France, may not be uninter-
esting to our readers at this time. The
origin of the present war can be traced
back to the conflict between Prussia and
Austria in 1866. Count Bismarck, by a
series of bold and rapid movements,
threw the Prussian army into the enc-
were fully aware of his intentions, the
Prussian army had won the battle of Sa-
dowa, and King William saw his terri
tory at once enlarged by the acquisition of
Hanover and other refractory States.
This put Prussia at once at the head of
the North German Confederation, which
includes the larger and more powerful
part of all the German dominion. Thus
Germany suddenly became a formidable
power. while before it had been split into
a number of small principalities, without
influence or unity of action. The new
| Constitution of North Germany was
drawn up by Prussia in 1867, aud adopt
ed the same year by Parliament elected
by universal suffrage, at the rate of one
member for every 100000 inhabitants.
According to this new charter, the States
of Prussia, Saxony, Mecklenburg- Schwer-
in, Oldenburg, Brunswick, Saxe-Coburg-
Gotha, SAKE Wiemar, MecklenburgS Sire
litz, SAKE -Meiningen, Anhalt, Saxe-Alten-
burg, Waldeck, Lippe-Detmeld, Schwartz
burg Rudolstadt, Schwartzburg Sender
shausen, Reus-Schleiz, Reuss-Greiz,
Schaumburg-Lippe, Hamburg, Lubbock
and Bremen have been formed into
Union, for the protection of the territory
of the Union and its laws, as well as for
the care and welfare of the German peo-
Pile. The total area of these States is
160,207 square miles, and .he population
about 29, 9,910,377.
By the new Constitution of North
Germany, tho Legislative power is exer-
cised by Federal Council and Parlia-
'ment. They control the customs, COM
mercial regulations, coming of money,
weights and measures, railways, roads,
postal aud teleeraphic services, etc. The
Federal Council forms the representation
of the various Governments. It's votes
are divided thus: Prussia, II; Saxony,
4; Mecklenburg Schwerin, 2; Bruns-
wick, 2; all other States, each, making
total of 43 votes The Presidency of
the Federation belongs to the Prussian
crown. The King of Prussia acts on be-
half of the Federation in its intercourse
with foreign States, he delares war or
concludes peace: and he appoints the EN-
bassadors. The Federal Council is pre-
sided over by Chancellor of the FEEDER
alton, appointed by the King of Prussia.
This Council and Parliament assemble
every year. The Parliament is elected
by universal suffrage, direct for three
years, and in case of dissolution, a new
election must take place within sixty
days The naval forces of the Northern
| and Baltic seas are placed under the SUI
preme command of Prussia. Every
North German is liable to service, and no
substitution is allowed. The strength of
the Federal army on a peace footing is
one per cent. of the population. All the
troops form one army, under the COM
mand of the King of Prussia Changes
in the Constitution can only be voted in
Parliament and the Federal Council, by
two thirds majority. The charter pro-
vldes, finally, that negotiations shall be
entered into with the Southern States to
arrive at settlement of new relations,
and, if possible, to complete the union be-
between the Northern and German en-
pire. Bismarck is the Federal Council
loT
The increase of Germany's power was
thorn in the side of Napoleon, who had
encouraged Austria in the war Of 1866,
because he exercised great influence
over the Emperor, Francis Joseph, and
he hoped to extend that influence over
all Germany, if Aurtria should prove
successfulin the struggle. The French EN-
peror has had no chance to vent his spite
during the years since then until now
his little affair with Mexico was failure,
and he saw the necessity of restoring his
prestige by foreign war, and he seized
upon the Spanish throne question as be-
ing just the thing with which to pick .
quarrel with his old enemy. AS soon,
therefore, as it was announced that Gen.
Prim, in the name of his nation, had of
fered the crown of Spain to Prince Leo
pold, of Prussia, Napoleon sent mes
sage to King William Of Pruasia, demand
ing immediate withdrawal Of Leopold
from the candidature, and non-interfer-
ence of the King on the subject. Prussia
taking no notice Of this demand on the