The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-04-21
Prussia and Russia.

William, Emperor of Germany, in
his letter to the Czar Of Russia, announ-
cling the terms of peace, disclosing
scrap of history of great Importance.
The Emperor says: "We have arrived
at the end of glorious and bloody war,
which was precipitated by the frivolity
of the French. Prussia remembers that
you prevented The spread of the war.
God bless you." Here Is the key to un-
lock the hidden mysteries of the late
contest, When France declared war
against Prussia, after tho Hohenzollern
scheme failed in Spain, the opinion was
generally held and expressed, that Aus
tria and Italy would aid Napoleon.
There were good and solid reasons for
indebted 20 Napoleon and France. 1t
was French troops, led by Napoleon,
that fought the battles of Montebelio,
Magenta and Solferino. 1t was French
Emperor who concluded the treaty OF
Villa Franco. Lombardy aud Venice
were restored to Italy by French valor
and French diplomacy. Victor Eman-
uel was made King of Unite1 Italy,
and that nation raised TO first.class
power by French action, French int1u-
ence and French gold. The withdrawal
of French troops from Rome, and the
occupation of that city as the capital OF
regenerated Italy was the crowning act
of French aid to Victor Emanuel, and
thus the obligations of Italy to France
were deepened and made more exact
ing. But for Napoleon and the French,
Austria would have been dismembered
after the Prusso- Austrian war. A short
campaign set the forces of the two
powers face to face upon the field of Sa-
dowa. That conflict broke the power
of Austria. Her army was defeated
and demoralized. In few days, the
spike.helmeted invaders would have
been in Vienna, as they now are in
Paris. Bismarck, then as now, was
cold cruel, unrelenting. He asked for
the pound of flesh. He would have cut
it from that portion of his victim nearest
, the heart. 1t was his intention to hu-
initiate Francis Joseph; to trample
upon the House of Hapsburg, and de-
, spoil its princely possessions. But an
armistice was concluded at the instance
| of Napoleon, and treaty formed at
/. Prague, under the eye of the ruler OF
, France, which liberated Austria from
Q the blood stained talons of the Hohen-
I zollern eagle. But for this interference,
r Austria would have shared then the
fate of France, at the present time. She
: would have been shorn of territory and
robbed of money. Such fate was pre-
3 vented by the action of France and Ma
~ poleon. Under such a pressure of recent
s. fact it was but natural to conclude when
y Prussia and France crossed fOils with
T. the buttons off, that Austria and Italy
n would take hand in the struggle.
1, Especially had the world right to look
u for such action after the disaster at
J. Woerth and Sedan. But it came not.
/, Italy remained quiet. Austria raised
u no voice nor hand. They looked upon
- heroic France bleeding at every pore,
. and kept their troops at home. Why
10 this ingratitude, this want of action
~ Why were not Austrian and Italian sol.
d diers seen upon the soil of France? The
d Emperor of Germany answers the ques'
. ton. "Prussia remembers that you
D the Czar, prevented the spread of the
= war" That is the secret treaty which
is said to exist between Prussia and
. Russia, and that explains why the for
VI mer stripped her territory of all its
, fighting men, and poured them into
). France. The Car had covenanted t.
~ prevent the spread of the war. He was
y y to keep Austria and Italy in check
u while Prussia met France on the battle
. field. And he kept his promise. Franco
70 is prostrate. Prussia is triumphant
o Now, what is to be the reward of Rus
~ sia for this aid to Prussia? The Cza
- did not act without a motive, He played
70 for a heavy stake. What was il? /
~ he to trample upon tho treaty of 1856
VI to enter the Black Sea; to dominate or
10 the margin of the lower Danube? Th'
10 path of his ambition lies in that direc
" tiop. That path can now be opened b,
'o the aid of Prussia. France can offer nj
= resistance, and Prussia aud Russia, uni
y, ~ ted, will be too powerful for England
~ Austria and Italy, even if the latte
10 would see it her interest to take han
~ in the matter. William, Emperor {
% Germany, in thanking his royal brothe
:, has shed light upon dark point of cu
VI rent history, and, at the same time, ir
IL dicated important events in the future
y. -Phitadeiphia Age.