Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-09-08
Tne Recent Imperial Interview.

nations
were the rnistreGses OF their destlnes. II
thew governed their own affairs he mselves, |
If there existed universally recognized /
prirciple of international law, and II the
policy Of nations among themselves were
thenceforth limited to the loyal appllca-
ton of that principle, the meeting OF those
preat potentates. the Emperors of Ger
many and Austria, wonld be an incident
OF trifing Impotence, and we would not
behold al Europe in a turmoil OF exotic
ment because the Emperor5 William ana
Franz Joseph arc repeating the sadly
memorable interview of Gaateln- IN when
was exchanged in August, 1860 Judas
kiss, followed in 1866 by The cam.'aIS Of
Sadowa, Since that time how many
innocent victims have peid, with their
lives, for the mendacity OF that priIcely
embrace And the question arises now
ssNhat new calamities are foreboded In
Europe by the imperial embrace Of Wells
and Gastein ?"
1t is one Of the consequences OF mon
archial government that the peace OF the
world depends upon the personal passions
of few crowned heads. The great bulk
of the European nations know not at this
instant but that in a. few months or weeks
thew may be called from their peaceful,
profitable pursuits to become food for
powder, TO satisfy the personal ambition of
William or Franz Joseph or Alexander, or
even of their Ministers, Bismark and Won
Beust.
If q philosopher needed any proof Of the
imbecility of the great majority of man
kind, could stronger be found than the
1nutton.like submission with which these
nations that boast of being at tho head Of
civilization permit themselves to be taxed,
drafted and slaughtered in quarrelsi in which
not man of them has the leest personal
interest Even the patriotism that IS
appealed to in order to exotic nations to
war is q fallacy, for it may be asserted that
after great war even the conqueror IS IN
worse condition than before. No nation
has ever waged a moro brilliant and suo-
cessful war than Prussia, during the last
twelve months. Yet who can say with
truth that Prussia or Germany, with a
thousand Emillion of dollars OF indemnity
which are to be spent in further arma'
ments, with one million of widows,
orph01s and cripples, with two bitterly
hostile provinces chained under her yoke
by force, and with her industry and pro-
duction checked for months, Is as prosper
Gus, as rich in tho elements of national
happiness and true greatness as if tho wal
had never taken place
If ever the day comes in which the great
nations of Europe can shake off the dynas'
ties which use them as cock-fghters use
their game chickens, disband the four OF
five millions composing their standing
armies and return those men and at least
one million of horses to profitable produc-
ton, and assume themselves the direction
of their own affairs, what prosperity might
they not enjoy? 1T is the enormous ex-
penditures for armies, navies and FORTH
cations in time of peace and the still more
enormous expenses Of actual war that keep
the mass of the European people IN ablect
misery. In truly civilized nation in our
days, every citizen should be soldier, and
yet there should be no standing army be-
yond the small armed police necessary to
enforce TIE law and above all, no prince
or dynasty should be allowed to retain the
fearful power of precipitating the country
into war. The national sword should
never be drawn bat as last resort to de-
fend the soil or tho citizens of the coun
try, and never except by the express con-
sent and will of the people.
These wise restrictions upon the Execu'
tive power are in fact the chief distinc-
ton between Republic and a Constitu-
tional Monarchy, and they are almost the
last vestige left us rf republican govern
ment. When an administration uses the
army to control elections, disregards the
expressed view of the Senate in its foreign
policy and involves the country, unconsult
ed, into foreign war to secure a re.elec-
ton or to leave a brilliant name in history
the government may still retain the name
of republic, but it will be such a one al
Rome was when Vespasian was Iopermo1;
Go Back, Thteves:"
The Radical party is disorganizod, ant
from Maine to Florida are quarreline
among themselves, and exposing theil
own villainy. "When thieves fall out,
.
their dues" We have only to make
charge along the whole line aud our vic
tory will be complete. The Richmond
Enquirer has collected together few ex
tracts from Radical sources exposing
their villainies. We have adopted them
for our own State
$50 BACK, THIEVES !" exclaims Horace
Greeley to the carpet-baggers. 81 Ios
must send these UiHdins to the rea7' (meaning
the carpet baggers). he gays to the Repub
licans of the South.
You cannot rely on their modesty OF
their sense of decency they will push
themselves forward into the most con-
spicuous post, unless you sternly say, Go
BACK, THIEVES! Unless you show 10y
your acts that you detest spectators and
scorn to be led by them, you will be beaten,