The Impending War in Europe.
Nothing but a special intervention of Providence can avoid a war in Europe. All that man can do has been done to begin what threatens to be the most terrible war of modern times. Kingcraft and priestcraft have done their utmost, and nothing remains but the sword. As in most wars, we can hardly decide who is right or who is wrong. It would require endless delving in diplomatic dust and rubbish to discover the precise manner in which the difference began. The number of letters, and notes, and protocols that have been interchanged between the high contracting powers, the protests and counter-protests, the intrigues and misrepresentations—have we not seen them in every war, only to mystify and perplex—mere earning of diplomatic salaries—all going to dust, and leaving endless chaos and trouble behind? There has been no war so chaotic in its causes as the one impending in Europe. If it is asked, why are Austria and Prussia, and Italy and the German States standing before each other with drawn swords, we shall have a dozen reasons in answer. Because, says one, Austria and Prussia overmastered Denmark, and robbed King Christian of his two duchies, Schleswig and Holstein. They accomplished the robbery, but now quarrel over the booty. Another will say that Prussia, being in fact the great power of the German Confederation, desires to degrade Austria, destroy the smaller States, and become the master of Germany. Count Bismark, the Prussian prime minister, who has charge of a weak, obstinate old king (a kind of German George III.), aims to rival the glory of the great Frederick. Frederick gave Prussia Silesia, and made his small kingdom a leading power in Europe. Bismark desires to add Schleswig and Holstein, including a fine seaport, much wanted in Germany. Therefore, Bismark provokes a quarrel with Austria. Further south we see Italy, to whom Austria's difficulty is an opportunity, preparing to make war for Venetia. Venetia is an Italian province, and its possession is necessary to Italian unity. Ever since Victor Emanuel ascended the throne, he has proclaimed his policy to be the occupation of Venetia, the dismemberment of Austria, the unity of the Italian kingdom. The king represents Italian enthusiasm in his cause. Italy has kept a large army and navy for many years, at exhaustive expense and with an avowed purpose. Garibaldi is now entrusted with a high command, and the king himself has left his palace and gone to the head of his army. Italy being a second-rate power, her action must in some respect depend upon France. If the Emperor deems it wise for Italy to disarm, if he thinks the integrity of the Austrian empire should be respected, we see no resource but obedience on the part of Victor Emanuel. It is known that he is in alliance with Prussia, offensive and defensive—Prussia promising to attack Austria on the north, if Italy is menaced; Italy engaging to attack Austria on the south, if she does not yield the duchies. It is possible this alliance would be a match for Austria, without France; but the minor German powers have generally, we believe, unanimously taken sides with Austria, and will be able to materially help the Kaiser. Russia is said to have intimated that she will not silently permit Italy and Prussia to assail any of those German potentates with whom the Czar is related by marriage, which amounts to moral sympathy with Austria. Finally, France speaks! The voice of a ruler who commands an army of 757,727 men—held in his own hand, irresponsible, supreme, with no one to question his power—who could to-day touch a telegraph-key, and to-morrow have half a million of men silently moving to the Rhine frontier—might go far toward keeping peace in Europe. If France, Russia, and England had united, they might have settled the quarrel, as indeed they could settle any European quarrel. Unfortunately, however, as Lord Clarendon tells us, England is the only power in Europe which shows a sincere desire for peace. She is alone in her offer of mediation. In France, the party of M. Thiers—in fact, the whole Bourbon, Orleans, and Ultramontane parties—are in favor of Austria. Prussia is a new power, and these Hohenzollerns are among the recent kings. Victor Emanuel is the natural enemy of the Bourbons and the Pope. He drove the first out of Naples, the second he is endeavoring to drive out of Rome. He is allied with the Bonapartes by marriage. Napoleon himself is a royal parvenu; the youngest of royal brothers, scarcely more than cousin or good friend in the eyes of Russia, for instance, and with no sympathy for the ancient kings and kaisers. Then the dream of avenging Waterloo, of reconstructing the map of Europe, rectifying frontiers, and annulling the work of the Holy Alliance, which destroyed the power of the first and greatest of his house, and sent the Bonapartes as wanderers over the earth—how can he resist it? So now, when all the world is gazing upon the silent emperor, and wondering what he will do or say; whether he will proclaim in the empire, peace or war; while his own legislature cheers M. Thiers's denunciations of Prussian perfidy, he suddenly speaks for war, and pronounces his detestation of the treaties of 1815. That brief speech, spoken in two minutes to a party of country farmers and officials, at a farmers' fair in a French village, makes war a necessity, and France a party. It is possible a peace may be made; but we do not see the smallest break in the horizon. All is dark, gloomy, lowering with mighty wrath. Nothing but war, war, war, wherever we look. Assassins creeping in the rear of the greatest minister in Germany; assassins hanging over the Czar himself; conspiracies extending through the different branches of aristocratic society. Nothing but Prussian armies marching to the frontier of Saxony; Austrian armies holding the quadrilateral and the lines of the Mincio; Italian armies advancing toward Venetia, and the lazy Po; Garibaldi, donning his red shirt and drawing his sword in behalf of the enthusiasm and patriotism of united Italy; French armies crouching at the feet of their master, ready to spring at his bidding; Russian armies quietly moving to the frontier to execute the wishes of the Czar. Providence has certainly some sublime purpose in this conflict of the giants. Alas for the brave men who are to die! for the Rachels who are to weep and never more be comforted! But if liberty, and truth, and manhood come forth triumphant, it is not for us to repine at the blood to be shed. Freedom's last arbiter is often the best.—Independent.