The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-24

1889, the relations between Belgium and l.uN.
cmhuiE, but their decision could be binding only
through unorimous action. II Is well known
mat Bismarck refused TO evacunto Luxembourg;
That Holland, which. at first, had consented TO
the cession OF the grand duchy, subsequently
withdrew its assent, and that France, being
forced to choose between immediate war with
Prussia and a remuneration Of its prctcnslons to
occupy the fortress, chose tho latter humilia.
ting alternative.
1t is matter OF history that. from the date OF
tho battle of Sadowa. Napoleon III. earnestly de-
sired to escape from the irksome restraint, OK
ercised over him by the Roman question, which,
so long as it remained unsettled, was quito as
likely to induce Italy to enter into an alliance
with Prussia as into one with France, in the
event of the manifestly impending European
conflict. Nevertheless, he refused cmphatically
to recall his troops from Rome SO long as no
definite guarantees satisfactory to tho Pope
should be agreed upon to insure tho safety
and independence OF the latter. Since, how.
ever, n proposal at onco satisfactory to
the Pope and acceptable to Italy was clearly
unattainable, the negotiations concerning
a triple alliance of France, Austria. and
Italy fell through. after an interminable ex-
change OF letters between Victor Emmanuel and
Napoleon. Was 1t not possible. however. that
for the French garrison in Rome could DO sub
stituted an equivalent body of troops supplied
by some other Catholic sovereign Touching
this point, some interesting informa ion is forth.
coming In this history. Won Sybel tells us that
as early as the end Of October, 1867, the zealously
Catholic Queen, Isabella of Spain. had offered
Napoleon III. her assistance for tho protection
OF the Holy Father, n proposal which the En-
peror at that time refused, on the ground that
this was a matter which concerned France and
Italy exclusively. AS time went on, however.
and brought increasing anxiety regarding the
danger Of war with Germany he became in.
clincd to accept Isabclla's proffered cooperation.
and. eventually, suggested that the French gar
rison in the States Of the Church should be re-
lieved by a Spanish one. Isabella, whose SYM
pathy. unlike Napoleon's, was not divided on
this question. responded with enthusiasm. Her
troops, she said. to tho number OF 10000 mon,
should be sent to Rome with instructions to
resent the least act Of hostility against the Pope
by an attack not only upon the Garibaldians.
but upon the troops of the King of Italy as we'll,
thus freeing Napoleon from all further anxiety
upon this point. AS it happened, during Sep
TENDER. 1863. Isabella was sojourning in San
Sebastian and Napoleon in Biarritz; and 1t was
arranged that the details of the proposed plan
should be determined by a personal conference
oot"OVh Ihc WV v ouL 4NdpOltOn 3
days OF success were numbered; this promising
scheme was destined to sudden Illustration at
the last moment.
For years the despotic regime of the Presi-
dent OF the Spanish Ministry. Gen. Narvaez, an
able, daring and tyrannical man. had provoked
widespread discomfort and political ferment.
After his sudden death in April, 1868. his sue.
cessor. Gonzalez Bravo, announced IL to be his
intention to continue the policy of Narvaez. 1t
soon appeared. however, that he was as far in.
ferior to Narvaez in ability as he exceeded him
in brutality. When, In July. he thought that he
perceived evidences of disaffection among the
troops. he ordered in a single day the incarcera.
tion or Punishment OF eight Of the principal
Generals without granting them a trial of any
sort. and at the same time requested the
brother-in.law of the Queen, the Duke of Mont.
pensier, to leave the country. This forced the
political situation to n crisis. The several
parties Of the Opposition, the moderate Liberal
Union, the radical Proxressists, and the republi.
can Democrats combined to shake off the despotic
yoke. The banished Generals returned at once,
and. on Sept. IL, Admiral Topete. commanding
the naval force of Cadiz, raised the standard
OF revolt. Within a few days the Generals as.
sembled there with Serrano and Juan Prim
as leaders; by the Goth the whole OF Andalusia
was in their hands. with all its garrisons. Rcvo.
lutionary uprisings quickly followed in province
after province: on Sept. % Serrano defeated the
Queens troops at Alcolea. where the Guadal.
quivir Is bridged. and Immediately Madrid, Bar
celona and Saragossa announced their seces.
sion to the cause OF the revolution without
encountcring the slightest opposition; on
the 30th, the Queen fed from San Sebastian
across the French frontier. The plan against
Italy was thus blown into atoms. To the mis-.
carriage OF this project were added new compli.
cations in the far East, endangering the tran.
quillity of Europe, which, like the revolution in
Spain. were ascribed In part to Bismarck, who
had come 10 be regarded in France as the great
disturbcr OF the peace. Thus, In Paris the i'll
feeling toward Prussia was becoming more and
more Intense; no one could foretcll whether tho
year 1868 would close in peace or with a dew.
astating war. All were certain that war WAS
near at hand.
Tho present volume carries us only to the end
OF 1868. The final installment OF this history
will leave us at the outbreak of the Franco
German war. NJ. w. II.
Tho Campaign o MarenEo.
We owe to Lieut.. HERBERT II. SARGENT of
the Second United States Cavalry a study of one
of the most important schemes Of operation
triumphantly worked out by Napoleon Bona
parte. a study. which. for exhaustive knowledge