The New York herald., 1871-09-07

democracy want man aS their standard
bearer on their new departure" whose record
will satisfy the country, aud Chief Justice
Chase Is that man.
Tho Imperial Conferences and tho Eastern
Question-Are We To Have Another
Gigantic Wars
The cable this morning reports the second
meeting of the Emperor Of Germany and the
Emperor Of Austria az having taken place at
Salzburg. What importance ought to be at
tached to this meeting time only can reveal,
but that quarter Of an hours con-
versation may prove to have very impor-
tant bearings upon the relations of Turkey.
Periodically the public mind Of Europe,
and, indeed, of the whole world, is disturbed
by what Is known as the Eastern question. It
represents one of those chronic diseases Of
which there are not few In the body politio
of Europe. The Eastern question has long
been identified with one of the two sick men of
Europe. Practically one OF the sick man has
been removed. The march of modern progress
has almost made an end of the other. The
shadows, however, il not the realities, still re-
main; and it is by no means impossible that
the Pope and the Sultan may yet both give
trouble to Europe.
A few days ago We called attention to the
Gastein Conference, and foreshadowed some of
the troubles to which 1t might lead. We were
not without grounds Of alarm when on the
same day we learned that an alli-
ance had been formed by Germany and
Austria, on the one hand, and by
Russia and France on the other The imme-
diate objects Of the Gastein Conference were
not so Ineligible then as they are now. As
this Conference is as likely - not to find q
place in history, 1t is we'll that our readers
should know what were Its immediate objects.
What, then, was 1t that led to the meeting at
Gastein9 The story is not long or difficult to
tell. Quite recently the Parliament of the
Principalities Roumania) for railroad and
other purposes borrowed some ten millions
sterling. Suddenly the Parliament, finding it
inconvenlent to pay, repudiated its obligation
The larger portion Of this money was bor-
rowed from North Germany. The North Ger
mans, whatever their faults or foibles, cannot
be said to be uufaithful to money obligations
Naturally they felt indignant, and naturally
Bismarck felt as they felt. To add to their
indignation, it was found that Prince Charles,
the Hospodar Of the Principalities and 9 member
Of the great House Of Hohenzollern, had been
compelled to sign the act cancelIing the debt
by the threat that II he did not every German
resident In the Principalities would be mas
sacred Bismarck, not anxious to preciptate
q war which might assume dimensions broad
and wide as Europe, appealed to
the Sultan, who Is the Suzerain Of tho Princi-
palities. The government Of the Sultan re-
piled that by the Paris Treaty Of 1855, while
its superiority was recognized and secured, It
was positively debarred from interfering in
the internal affairs Of the Danubian provinces.
As IL was impossible to submit to insult and
az It was inconvenient Immediately to rush to
war, redress for Germany had to be sought
through some other means than diplomatic
remonstrances An entente cordiab with
Austria was the one arrangement In the prem
ises which seemed likely to bring the Rou-
manian government TO it, senses. With
Austria neutral and Jealous Germany could
not afford to rush into q conflict which would
most certainly bring Russia into the field, and
which would give France an opportunity to
repudiate, and TO seek by an alliance with
Russia, 70 win back what she had lost when
fighting single haoded. II was known that
Austria Was In trouble that her German prov
inces were feeling their isolation from Father
land; that Bohemia was clamorlug for au-
tonomy; that Russia was encouraging the
spirit Of disintegration, aud that, judging from
the kindly words Of Baron Beust, Austria
would not despise an alliance with Germany.
The Gastein meeting has secured that al
lance. The meeting which is now taking
place at Salzburg win perfect the arrange
ments already made, aud probably reveal tho
plan. Within the last few days we have
learned that Roumania has promised to pay,
and that Italy, which Is In sympathy with the
Austro- German alliance, Is 10 srsitrate on the
different claims, and yesterday we learned, by
a cable despatch, that President Theirs had
had . little scene with the Italian Minister for
the part which his government took in the
Gastein affair Such is the history aud such
is the result, so lar Is At present We know II.
At this point speculation is justidable. The
presumption Is that Germany and Austria are
or are about 10 be, united In an alliance,
offensive and defensive, and that this alliance
contemplates the occupation Of the entire
valley Of the Danube on 10 the Black Sea.
Austria and Germany can bring into the neid,
OF an hours notice, not fewer than million
and half Of men, we'll supplied with all the
appliances Of modern war. The presumption
is that Russia Is indignant, Tor this
alliance makes an end OF all her plans TO
| break up piecemeal the Austrian empire
! aud to uush Der way south sovsrd Conssan'l'