Year: 1874

I


left behind the nectar Of whose smiles would
satisfy the gods and ought to content mere
mortals. Can the managers do nothing to
abate this nuisance?


Secret History OF tho War Between


France and Germany.


Was Austria really allied with France for
the war of 1870 and was her failure to parti-
cipate against Prussia breach OF actual
pledges and engagements? Was it the same
with Italy? There is good reason to believe
that these queries must be answered in the
affirmative and if this affirmative shall be
established historically it is evident that the
fact must change very greatly the views that
have hitherto been taken as to the error OF the
Emperor Napoleon in venturing contest
with his terribly capable antagonist. 1t may
prove after all that he was ''betrayed," and
was not merely blind and fatuous. His son
m a trahi" will, perhaps prove diplomatic
truth rather than the mere maundering OF
broken down intellect as it has hitherto
seemed.


In 1869 it was understood in Italy, in
France and in Austria, that if the advance OF
Prussia was not soon decisively arrested it
would reach point at which its arrest would
be impossible and q treaty Of alliance was
entered into. Austria, in the words of a de-
spatch of Count Beust, regarded the cause OF
France as her own, !" and Italy was satisfied on
all points but that of the French occu-
patton OF Rome, which was therefore
put aside from the negotiation This
understanding was revived anew by the Span
ish candidacy, and went SO far as to fix the
point of demand on Prussia and arrange o
general plan OF campaign. Prussia was to
have been called upon to bind herself to
assent to the peace Of Europe on the terms of
the treaty Of Prague and, of course, to exc
cute that neglected compact. Austria was to
put two hundred thousand men in the field by
the 18th Of September, and Italy was to place
sixty thousand men in the field early in the
summer and forty thousand more by Septem-
ber. Denmark was to cooperate upon the
appearance Of the French fleet on the Danish
coasts Austria assented to the passage of
Italian troops across her territory for an oper-
alton against Munich; and if we imagine all
this in motion we may see that William and
his Man of Iron would have had their hands
full.


Bismarck, no doubt, was thoroughly in
formed of the whole proceeding, and assured
the success Of the war for his master by first
knocking down this diplomatic house Of cards.
Russia was regarded by the allies as certainly
neutralized. Austria otherwise could not have
gone in. So the Prince thoroughly frightened
the great men at Vienna by the shadow of the
Gear coming on behind the Prussians. That
dropped the first pin out of the machinery.
Then he adroitly played upon Italy's Roman
grievance and another joint was weakened.
Then, as neither Austria nor Italy were ready
for early operations, all was to turn upon what
the French should do on the Rhine and it was
obvious at Berlin that one or two victories
over the French at that point would end the
war before the other allies were ready.
Desperate endeavors were made, therefore,
and Prussia, more nearly ready than any other
Power, overwhelmed her enemies half col
lected forces by the blows at Woerth and
Wissembourg. So the alliance was broken
up.


1--WE have reason to believe" wrote Won
Beust TO Prince Metternich, sthat Russia
adheres to her alliance with Prussia to the
extent that in certain eventualities the inter-
vention of the Russian armies must be re-
garded as not only probable but certain.
Under these circumstances the word 'neu-
tralty,' which we utter not without regret, is
imposed upon us by an imperious necessity" !"
It was the shadow of Russia, therefore, and
those early Prussian victories that isolated
France but it removes something from the
heavy load Napoleon has to bear to have it
established that he did not in blind folly rush
into a war with the Prussian colossus without
provision for support. 1t is quite another
accusation to say that the provision was in
adequate.