The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-25
RuMoRs OF WARS IN EUROPE.
HOW PRUSSIA SCHEMES FOR THE VANTAGE
GROUND.
FROM the London Tablet, Janunry3.l

CurlOuSiy persistent rumOr wniCn 8G Ron gin
reaches in a form that commands consider
ton, has been cropping up in humorous quar-
ters of late. Let us hasten to say that we by
no means guarantee its correctness On the
contrary, we are convinced that the project to
which it refers, however real or practicable,
must depend on q great many combinations.
any one of which might prove abortive, and
80 spoil the best laid schemes At the same
time, there are abundant reasons for referring
to the subject at once. In brief it is asserted
and reasserted and is supported by o great deal
forcing on another war with France, which
has 80 often engaged the attention of the po-
ltico- military authorities of Germany since the
discovery of Frances unexpected powers OF
recovery is again occupying the attention of
these same authorties-with this difference,
however, that Germany has devoted more oon-
sideration to the question of allies and confed-
crates than on former occasions. Whether in
consequence of the knowledge of the jealousy
with which the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Germany Is
regarded by the most demonstrative of Kaiser
sire to make sure of the work this time, the
Berlin Government is stated to have cast about
for accomplices on whose devotion reliance
may be placed, and which are capable also of
affording not only material but moral i'm
moral-the terms are tolerably exchangeable
in contemporary diplomacy assistance in the
execution of the projected design. The Berlin
Government has been accused of feeling it's
way before now with reference to the probable
bent of public opinion in case of fresh hostili-
ties with France Alarmist leading articles
| journals reputed to be quite equal to the ser
vices required by strategy of this Sort and
public opinion having proved adverse to the
| propounded measures, the alsrmlst articles
| have been promptly repudated by the Prus-
sian authorities. Not the least curious cir
| cumstance in common with these manifesto
| tions, though perfectly applicable from certain
points of view, has been the docility with
| which the journals engaged in propagating
! the alarm or casting ont the feeler, have not
only put up with the official contradiction but
! 70 aYh ihit unChAnOe0 tenderness
towards the hand which smote them. At length
| however, there are reasons for supposing that
the Prussian Cabinet has learned from the re-
suits of various tentative experiments of vari-
ous kinds, both what description of pretext
for hostility would best go down with the pub
lie opinion aimed at, and what system of as
sanlt would be best calculated permanently to
| cripple the only nation likely to contest the
predominance of Germany on the Continent.
1t has been often stated by the most differ
cent critics that in every war planned by
Prussia-apd Prussia was pretty certain never
to mcddle much with any war which she had
not planned-two rules would be sedu-
lousy observed by that accomplished Power.
In the first place, Prussia must not appear to
be the aggressor. This is the first rule In
| the second place, Prussia must always seem to
defend some cause in conformity with the
opinions OF the age. This is the second rule.
In 1870, for instance, Prussia took every pre-
caution to be advertised as compelled to draw
the sword in self.defence and on behalf of the
principle of nationality" In 1874 or 1873,
according TO the rumor to which We refer,
Prussia will again seek to seem to step second
or ev en- third INTO the field, and will advertise
herself with the utmost care to be exclusively
concerned with the defence of the sacred
principles of nationality" over again, and
liberalism" rs q superadded attraction.
The mission of Count Won Room, the chief Of
the Prussian General staff, through Switzer-
land and Italy, is described to be Immediately
connected with the above design. Count Won
Room, in fact, is alleged to be engaged on q
task of extraordinary moment and delIcacy.
Perhaps we ought to say tact instead of deli
cacy Not that the business requires too much
tact as " i'll be understood, the ground being
Thoroughly prepared, at least as regards the
principals aud negotiatoro. 10 get Italy TO
declare war on France on suitable " Liberal "
pretexts which will of course be forthcoming
| il abundance, TO come in as second in order to
save limited and Liberated Italy" from the
"C!ericaIS" aud Crusaders" of Versailles
and to obtain from the worthy Liberals at
Berue the reozisite authority TO enter Swiss
| territory so as to turn the French position at
Belfort and so threaten Lyons and Grenoble'
while corresponding movements were being
effected on the old track of 1870 BorthwaTds :;
all this is, to tell the truth, plot which as
suredIy need not fail for want of good dIspo-
stions on the part of the usurpers OF Rome
and the prosecutors of the JRra. The Italian
| revolutionists are the ready confederates OF
Prince Won Bismarck, and are likely to lie pre-
pared to do his bidding i'll 1874 or 1879 Win
the same alacrity which, as we know from the
competent authority of Herr Karl Blind. they
displayed in 1e70. Switzerland 10 already
PrussIau in petto. At the same TINE war upon
France gu behalf of Italian Liberalism would
engage the sympathieB of a sufficient portion
Of the public in Great Britain always, and in
Spain and Austro- Hungary uuder present cir
cuustauces, so that Prnssia might rely upon