The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-02-21
PRUSSIA. AND EUROPE.
The semt-Omcial Declaration Against
Intending Mcdintors.

According to the Berlin correspondent of the
London Times, who writes to that paper under
date or January %, the semi-ofilcial declaration
TO be made against intending medlators will be
based upon something like the following argu-
ment:
In the event Of the German. French question
being mooe ed at the Conference, Count Bern.
storT has been instructed to leave the room.
1t is, however, scarcely TO oe antlc!paled tnat
be will need to do so. or the powers represent
cIined to intervene in favor Of France. Austria
assumed the most perfect neutrality in her
note OF December last, and England is sure TO
perceive the ineXpedIency OF inlerceding at the
present critical Juncture. Germany IS victorious,
but she has suffered greatly; she cannot afford
to part with the prize OF victory SO dearly
bought. Nor Is this quarrel In which, right and
wrong being equally divided between the bel.
gerent5 as is 80 frequently the case, third party
has q moral right TO step In and to endeavor to
settle the matter by al equitable compromise.
Germany has been Invaded for the mere cake o.
gratifying the inord:nate appetite OF reckless
and conceited populace. SO natural appeared to
the French their supposed right to commit homi-
eide IN O neighbors country, that they did not
even care 30 walt for plausible pretext, but in-
vented friN,aus cause Of wsr, such as the nine
teenth century had mot seen before Again.
however muck we may have been provoked, all
we ask for Is what is required TO protect us from
q repetition Of the same anront. II we were car
rieu away by passion we might avail ourselves
OF the. present opportunity 70 cripple ana
OF tile kind, and are satisfied with se
curing comparative immunity from future at
lacks. Europe has done nothlng TO preVenI
France flom undertaking this wicked campaign.
Nay she has not even declared against 1t In SOL
emn form which might have done something TO.
word delerrlng the Offenders. Having evinced
such complete indlierencex Ia the Introductory
phases Of the war Is not hses we fe sna pern 1ns
gully from punishment; for this, and no other,
would he the object Of mediation In the present
state Of affairs. Europe shuddered, but LETT us ID
The lurch, when the Turco crossed our frontier;
tile Turco Is down, anu we mean TO bring his em-
blowers to book. Tie military strength display ed
By France In this prolonged campaign Is anotoer
reason wig we mus insist upon recovering our
ancient and secure frontier. A large, populous
and martial country, France has hitherto enjoyed
the advantage OF being unassalasle, except along
O small strip OF her eastern borders. Her SCUM.
ern frontier is protected by the PyIenees; nel
western and northern coasts are washed by tne
sea, and the northeast Is covered by Tue neutrai
Kingdom OF Belgium and the adjoining Principall-
" or Luxembourg. The east, which Is alone open
10 attack, has the strongest natural de1encesa
country can wish 10 possess. The Rhine the foSges
and the Moselle are 80 many tactical lines OF tne
highest Importance. To render them Sill! more
formidable, a whole wall Of fortresses ls erected
overcome, Paris the largest fortress In the world,
and which, with little more foresight, might
have been provisioned for year instead OF fouI
or five months, deles every conner. Taking az
this together, we arrive Ut the conclusion that 10
yauquish France on her own soil will, under the
most favorable circumstances, always require
great effort even on the part OF United Germany.
But no attack OF so rich and AMBITIOUS race as
the French can be efectualy warled on unless
the war is transferred to their own soil. TO de.
fend our frontiers without following the French
into their own country would be merely 10 give
them time to collect fresh army and renew the
attack. Such being the case we cannot ont
abide by our demand OF safe frontier. That the
territory we ask for is ancient German soil, and
and was taken from us at period when our In
confirm our resolve to settle accounts with our
unruly nelghbor. Alsece and Lorraine recovered,
we shall be In position to repulse future in-
yas!ons without the fearful expenditure or blood
and IL easure to which we nave been subjected In
the present instance.