RUMORS OF WAR | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 7, 1861

RUMORS OF WAR.

The Illustrated London News of April 8, says:

"There have prevailed rumors of war which were to break out in early spring of this year, in the face of which enterprise pauses, and the boldest merchant adventurer stays his hand. The threatening attitude which the armies of Austria and the new kingdom of Italy present on their respective frontiers gives rise to expectations that any morning may bring telegraphic accounts of a collision which can only end in regular warfare. In a remote and less genial region the differences between Denmark and Holstein, fomented by Prussia, augur ill for the preservation of peace between the German and Danish powers. In the meantime France, now as ever the military arbiter of Continental Europe, is in a state of completeness for warlike purposes which will tempt her towards an entrance into any quarrel which may ensue. It is difficult to suppose that France will leave her Sardinian protege to contend single-handed with Austria; but even if there should be no call for her armed intervention in such a contest, there is a more dangerous enticement to her interference in any armed struggle to which Prussia may be a party. It has been a theory that Louis Napoleon believes his mission to be that of avenging the humiliations which the greatest of his family, and France along with him, received at the hands of those allied powers which re-erected the throne of the Bourbons on the ruins of that of Napoleon I. Already a blow has been struck at Russia which has probably checked the march of her aggressive policy for a quarter of a century, at least. Austria has been defeated by France in a series of battles, and territory taken from her and disposed at the will of the present Emperor of the French which was ceded to her by the treaty which exiled the first Napoleon to St. Helena. Is it so much of an outrage to probability to suppose that the turn of Prussia will be the next, and that a disturbance of the general peace, caused, directly or indirectly, by the policy of that power, may not be availed of by France to carry out at once the idea of a retributive vengeance and a Rhenish frontier?"

The European Times says the prevailing belief seems to be that war on the continent is imminent, and should it break out, it will probably involve the greatest part of Europe. All will depend on the policy of Austria. No doubt can exist that France is seriously preparing for it, and it is said that the leading provision merchants of Cork have been summoned to Paris, in order to contract with the French government for victualing its army and navy. Austria has concentrated an army of 200,000 men in the vicinity of the Quadrilateral. Hungary seems on the point of rushing to arms. While these signs are transpiring in Central Europe, there seems to be a wide-spreading combination in the East to rise in rebellion against Turkey.

It is thus abroad as well as at home that the sword seems in the ascendant.