The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-18

this subject the German statesman appears
to have admitted that he made two great mis-
taxes. the nrst being that he had over estimated
the military forces OF France and the second that
he had under estimated her financial resources.
He was perfectly informed OF her military strength
under and Of It's inferiorty that Of Prussia
and her aihes, but he had reckoned that there
would be great and formidable uprising OF the
nation after It's FIRST Understanding re-
sembitng, perhaps the self-sacrtnce and en-
thusiasm to which the King OF Prussias appeal
ssmn!ased ms people IN lsia There WAS nothing
was mistake not to have overrun the whole OF
France, TO have gone TO Toulon and Marseilles, to
country see and feel the power or Germany.
AS IL was, more than half the country never felt
upon 1t. Large profits were made IN various dis-
fcts owing TO the great demand for certain things
the o fell m
cessation o. all demand for them from besicged
PARIS N rrince Bsmarcx,s oplni0n tae conse.
pressed upon twO-thirds OF France win be q re4dl-
ness to plunge again into war whenever she ais
covers or fanctes she discovers favorable OppOr-
tunlty. Mindful OF past sunerings the North and
East might be disposed to abstain, but they win be
driven forward by the South. ff
THE MISTAKES OF GERMANY.
HAD France been completely overrun and
n TO WITH shs
annexation Of French territory As it was, she had
70 take Alsace and Lorraine. second mistake.
sisted on an indemnity large enough to have Grip
pied France financially Tor many years. Ten
was the Germans, Asi ignorant Of 'i the AZ vast
hidden wealth OF the country asked only
Ds eoqg
ing herself cicatrzing ner wounds, and, having
very fertile soil and fine climate, VIII soon again
be far richer than the comparatively barren coun.
try wnicn has carried away her milliards, and
already nearly run through them In short the
CONVICTION ct Berlin seems to be that the drst war
or serious difficulty in which Germany may be en-
gagged Will serve az signal for France to attack.
the war, besides the military glory, the satlsiac
ton oil revenge and OF Illuminating former VIC
torious rival and the ACQUISITION OF very reluc-
rise in prices, and the necessity which Motke de-
clared Of maintaining, Tor the next fifty years,
Is not unnatural, especially II we consider MS de-
termined and trenchant character, that Prince
should desire to forestall his counIry's future
and certain assailant, and to repeat the blows
which he deemed to have been IN the frstinstance
HOW VICTOR RAMANUEL WAS TO ATTACK FRANCE.
But how was the fresh strife to be brought
was weary OF war. The campaign had been pro-
longed Tar beyond anything that had been anticl-
pated. 1t had entailed immense misery on the
vctors as well as on the vanqushed. 1t would
not be easy to urge the former into contest OF
Neither the German Parliament, the Press nor tie
people would be likely to approve me project. In
this case former ally might be OF service TO re.
=
loss 70 expose 70 the King OF Italy the way in
which this might be done. He knew, by his agents
IN Nice and Savoy that 1t would not be dlflcult
get up an anti-French cry IN those countries--s
cry FOR return TO Italy. This done and made the
might say that he could disregard the patriotic
wishes OF his former subects-Of the cradle
Of MS race ~, ana lineage a ne might , repeat
Chambers IN the PalaZzo Madama, Of Turin, on
that wei remembered day IN the spring OF 1859,
when he declared that he could no longer remain
insensible al grtdo al dolore che ia lantt para
d'Itataa 81 lepa verso al notn The cry raised
Italians would be trea With passionate entSasi.
asm Tor the redemption OF their alienated country
men; there would be rush TO arms, and once
heard In the van OF battle. Aow could Prussia for
very shame allow her OLD ally 20 engage IN an un-
her side IN 1865. 1t would be easy to foster ana
considerations. she would strike IN and drag Ger.
many with her. France would again be humbled
and weakened, this time more thoroughly and
durably than the last, and Italy would regain what
never ought to have been taken from her.
HOW VICTOR EMANUEL FEARED BANKRUPTCY.
The plan was plausible enough, and not unat-
tractlve to an ambitious sovereign, VINO thereby
would at once have increased both MS dominionS
wary prnceI and indinl OF MS peones true in.
terests. He showed no disposition Tor fresh mill.
tary ventures: The consequences might be too
serious. The financial position OF Italy had to be
considered. Her embarrassments were great her
funds depressed. there was heavy annual deficit,
and the exchange was nearly twenty per cent
against her. THIS was not favorable combination Of
circumstances under which 70 60 to war. Indispen-
military lorces--reductions which had seemed,
moreover, to be justified IN the case OF Italy by
her friendly understanding with most Of the
that France would be moved, even By
regret for lost influences and by sympathy with the
Pope, to risk an aggression. We're Italy rashly 20
commence a war she would run the danger OF an
other Custozza, and nothing that Germany could
do for ner would repair the LII effect OF that. More
coveI the very nrst consequence OF war would
De 10 SEND ner lunds down. perhaps even lower
than they were in 1855 and after Mentana,- and to
depreciate still further her paper currency.
az SO great SC IN ma
hardly avoidable. or all these dangers the King
OF Italy was very well aware. and they supplied
and for declining profered advantages which
could not be realized without encountering them.
II IN former years he showed himself venturesome,
advancing age have taught him prudence. And SO
he turned deaf ear to the voice Of the Berlin
ccharmer IL upon che contrary, he had taken the
probably have been war again In Europe within .
few weeks Of the date Of the interview.
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB"
Since then We know how often reports have been
current OF renewal OF the conflict between France
and Germany-a wolf and lamo quarrel to be
picked by the latter. That the win exists on the
part OF at least one man Is highly probable. But It
Is necessary 10 put forward q preext sufficiently
vad to justify the aggressor in the eyes OF Europe,
and to render popular with the Germans war Tor
which they certainly have no wish. TO find such q
pretext may be difficult, since no real grounds OF
quarrel exist; the French press has moderated It's
tone and the French Foreign ONCE shows itself
eminently concillatory. And 1t is q difculr, as It
would be o mean thing for Rigantlc military
power like Germany TO attack neighbor whose
forces have been so impaired by reverses still quite
recent that IL could not possibly oner etectual re-
sistance. and would have no choice at the present
time, but TO open her gates and Did her troops
stand aside while the invading torrent lowed IN.