Year: 1870




a siege by the Prussians.


Peace Movements of Napoleon and Eagecle-


ssT0o Lafe.o


We have the news that the Prince Napoieoa
is in Florence, and that his mission 10 to
demand the mediation of Italy. The Marquis
de Lavalette, the French Minister to England,
it is further reported, has been instructed to
make demands at London similar to those Of the
Prince Napoleon. These two Ministers represent
the wishes of the Emperor Napoleon, as the
head of the government Of France, and we
presume that similar demands from the same
instructions have been or will be made upon
Austria and Russia. But why, for instance,
does the Prince Napoleon demand instead of
solicit the mediation of Italy? We suppose
the demand is made under the authority of an
agreement between the high contracting par
ties in the Congress of Paris Of 1856.


In the sitting Of that Congress, May IL,
referring to article seven of the treaty with
Russia ON the one part, and England, France,
Turkey and Sardinia on the other part, for
the preservation of peace between Russia and
Turkey through an application from either
party for the mediation of some friendly
Power in case OF another quarrel, the Earl OF
Clarendon, in behalf of Great Britain, con-
ceived ''that this happy innovation might
receive more general application, and thus
become barrier against conflicts which fre-
quently only break forth because it is not
always possible to enter into an explanation and
come to an understanding. He proposed,
therefore, to agree upon resolution cal
culated 10 afford to the maintenance of peace
that chance of duration hereafter, without
prejudice, however, to the independence Of
governments.


Count Walewski, in behalf Of France,
declared himself authorized to support this
idea expressed by the first plenipotentiary Of
Great Britain and after some discussion
among the plenipotentiaries they came to this
agreement, that in the name Of their govern-
ments respectively (Great Britain, France,
Russia, Turkey, Austria, Prussia and Sar-
dinia-now the kingdom of Italy) they ''dO
not hesitate to express the wish that States
between which any serious misunderstanding





have recourse, as far as circumstances might
allow, to the good Offices of q friendly Power"
The Congress also hoped that the governments
not represented therein would uoite in this
agreement.


This is protocol twenty-three OF the treaty
of Paris; but it will be observed that it
invites an application, in case of q quarrel
between any two Of the States concerned, for
the mediation of some friendly Power before.
and not after, appealing to arms. Had
Napoleon in. this quarrel with Prussia, before
appealing to arms, applied for the mediation
of England it is safe to say this war would
have been avoided. Not only did he fail,
however to make such application, but he
emphaticaly refused the mediation earnestly
offered him from England, and apparently
treated with silent contempt the generous offer
of the Pope. Napoleon, or France, In short.
wanted war and not peace, and tho
pretext upon which he declared war
placed him from the beginning in antagonism
to the enlightened public opinion Of the civil
lized world. The King Of Prussia. after the
surrender of the crown Of Spain by Prince
Leopold, was called upon to promise that
hereafter would he in no event consent TO the
acceptance of the Spanish throne by any MEM
ber of the Hohenzollern family, and on the
Kings declining Immediately to yield to this
demand Napoleon declared war. Now he
wants peace; but he is ''too late" for tho
empire and his dynasty. France will evi-
IDENTIFY finish the war and make peace, regard
less of the Emperor or his family.


The Empress, it appears, has meantime
appealed to her amiable friend Queen Victoria
to interpose In behalf Of peace; but the Queen
intimates that this is q Cabinet matter, and
that the present is not favorable opportunity
for England's Intervention for peace. The
only digniaed way Of escape for the Emperor
now appears, therefore, to be In his abdication
in favor of his son, with the Empress as
Regent It is probable that such an abdica-
ton would be no more regarded in reference to
the succession than was the abdication Of
Napoleon the First; but it is a proceeding
which, in gracefully yielding to the crisis, will
give at least something of dignity TO the
Emperor's surrender of the government OF
France.


AlLEGeO MiSAPpROpHATl0H Of MONEY.
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