France and Prussia

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 23, 1867

France and Prussia.

THE FRENCH are surprised and chagrined by the announcement that Prussia has secured treaties with all the States of Southern Germany except Austria, which gives to the former Power the control of their armies. The result is that Germany is practically united under a single sovereign, and that the army which can be called into the field by Prussia outnumbers that of France. This fact furnishes the key to the effort lately made by France to secure the alliance of Holland, Belgium and Switzerland. France

finds that she is about to be overawed by a superior power. A united Germany, united as it has never been before, confronts her, not exactly in the field, but with power to march into the field at the shortest notice, with a large, well-drilled and efficient force. Presuming that Prussia has no hostile demands against France, she still by her successes, and by alliance has become the dominant Power in Europe, and France must either content herself with a secondary position, or engage in war to recover her ancient prestige.

As France is ambitious, and Napoleon III reckless, there is no knowing how soon the storm of battle may break forth. During the summer, France is under bonds for her good behavior, but the Industrial Exposition once over we may expect that trouble will arise. Meanwhile we may anticipate that the efforts to enlarge the French army will increase, and that it will be rendered as thoroughly effective as unlimited expenditure and wholesale conscript can make it. War, therefore, may break out before the end of the present year. If not, the adverse nations will go on arming themselves to the teeth, making, meanwhile, the most desperate endeavors to gain diplomatic advantages over each other. European politics are, therefore, worthy of the closest attention in this country, that we may thoroughly understand the issues which will constantly arise, and be prepared to anticipate the force of the various movements that will be made on the chess board of nations.—Philadelphia Inquirer.