The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-09-17

glasses, or his look. He least Of all was
likely to do 80, ~ he had himself jast
been examined and condemned by him.
Marshal NcMahon.-It 10 rnmored that
Marshai McMahon 10 about to resign, and
repose awhile in the enjoyment of his
weE-earned laurels. 1t is said that he
will be exceeded In the post of Comman-
der-in- Chief Of the Army of Paris by Gen.
Ladmirault. 1t would not be easy to
make better choice. At the opening OF
the campaign of 1870 he was appointed to
the command OF corps d'armee. By the
fate Of war he was shut up in Metz, and
while he was there the soldiers, and es-
pecially the officers, who were aware of his
military talents, endeavored mole than
once to get him appointed Commander-in-
Chief in the place of Marshal Bazaine. On
his return from imprison nent in Germany,
Government and played a conspicuous part
in the operations against the Commune.
1t was he that took the Buttes- Chaumont,
and carried the last positions which the in
surgents had occupied.
The Petition tn Favor of the Pope.-The
Unirers has been hitherto sending in to
different Deputies, for presentation to the
Assembly, patches of petitions in favor of
the rights Of the Holy See, the collective
signatures to which now amount to 1867.
1t gives notice that it has been advised not
to continue forwarding them piecemeal,
but that it will still keep q count of the
numbers, and when they are sufficient, and
the moment opportuae," it will send
them In all togetf er.
GERMANY.
Tile Meeting Of the Emperors.-An the
quidnuncs OF Europe are beating their
brains to discover reason for the M Getting
Prime Ministers at Gastein. The very
name of Gastein is suggestive, and of late
years interviews of this kind have been suf-
nclentiy prolific in consequence to Justify
q good deal of speculation when they re-
cur. This time political prophets are not
wanting who predict nothing less than an
offensive and defensive Austro- German al
lance and war between those two powers
and France and Russia within two years.
The present difficulty, which must be a
good deal narsed if it is to assume such
tremendous proportions, is connected with
the Roumanian railways, of which the stock
was guaranteed by Prince Charles Govern
ment, the interest being fixed at u per
cent. The Company, which was started by
q M. Straussberg, Prussian, undertook to
lay down $50 kilometres of line, an issued
shares representing 245 GOO, 900 Of francs.
OF this sum zoe, 900, 600 are in Pruesian
hands, 100000 are subscribed in Eng
land and the rest in Austria. But instead
OF 93O Kilometres, the Company has only
given over $50, and the Roumanian Govern
ment declines to make good its guarantee,
which it alleges to be conditional on the
completion of the lines. Moreover, on the
ground that the works already executed
are detective, it refuses to pay down the
Is, oOO,0 600 of francs required for the rest.
the Prince and his Government by the
Bucharest Assembly, has naturally raised
g tempest OF opposition in Prussia, and
Prince Won Bismarck has been looking about
IN all directions for some extra diplomatic
pressure which he might bring to bear on
the koumanians. Turkey is believed to
have refused on the ground that she was
prectueed by treaty from interfering in the
lnterna! affairs of Principalities, and Rus
STA would not listen to any proposal for the
humiliation or weakening of State which
Is her own advanced post on the road to
Constantinople. Germany is, therefore,
obliged to turn to Austria, and old specula-
lions are rife respecting a possible com
pensation to the latter in the East for her
losses In the West, and perhaps even for n
future cession of at least part of her Ger
man provinces. At the same time we
have Indications of rapproachment between
France and Russia, one of whose states
recent war had left Russia in the same po-
sltion with regard to Prussia in which
France found herself after the battle of
Sadows. All this would seem a very iu-
sufficient cause for war if we had not the
miserable pretexts for the war of 1866 as
q precedent to show us that war may still
be brought about by no more defensible
than the desire to aggrandize one
self and to weaken ones neighbors. For
the present, however, there seems some
hope of a stop being put to the whole
thing, and of the Roumanians coming to
direct arrangement with Germany, by
which they will pay S per cent instead of
- till the works are completed. Moreover,
in Austria, the preponderance of the Sclave
element is now SO great that war with Rus
STA is not to be thought OF. In the mean
lime the Emperor of Germany has had
ne opportunity of expressing those ardent
sentiments of personal affection of which
he has given his kinsman of Austria such
striking proofs. Not content with accept
ing the Emperor Franz Joscf's offered
band he is described as having clasped him
in his arms for nearly a minute. We do |
not suppose that this is all hypocrisy the |
Emperor of Germany is just one of those
good natured people who are pleased when
their interests permits or prompts them to |
be profusely cordial. But perhaps it would |
have been IN better taste not to be quite so
gushing after winning the game, and
having it all ones own way fhrouphout