WAR PROSPECTS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 137, 22 September 1870, Page 7

WAR PROSPECTS.

Since the events which culminated in Sadowa, we have not had so important a crisis to record as that which is now occupying the world. While these lines are being written it is not known whether France and Prussia are or are not on the eve of a terrible war. It is most probable that our latest intelligence will comprise the solution of doubt, but now all is panic. " What woman caused it?" was the Oriental chief's question whenever he heard of a misfortune. We may say that the present European " situation" is, strictly speaking, due to Isabella, ex- Queen of Spain, whose conduct made it impossible for her subjects to tolerate her longer, and whose exile left the throne of Spain vacant. But we need not lay these new events at the door of the misguided ex-Queen. We mentioned in our last summary that Don Juan Prim had announced that he had obtained a King who would satisfy the country. Prim suddenly declared his selection of a Prince of the Prussian house of Hoh-enzollern-Sigmaringen. This Prince, named Leopold, is about thirty-five, is rich, is a Catholic, and is married to an Infanta of Portugal, and is, so far as can bo seen, as good a candidate as could be found. It is confidently asserced that some time ago the Emperor of the French supported the claim, but it is as unhesitatingly said that he did so only to increase the difficulties in the way of the Due de Montpcusier. That Prince being now considered out of the list, there wa. no further reason for the Emperor's affecting to approve the choice of the Prussian. His Majesty's disapproval has been signified in the most alarming manner. No sooner was it made known that Prince Leopold had been formally applied to by the Spanish Groverninent, and had accepted the offered throne, than the Premier and the Foreign Minister of France came down to the Legislature, protested vehemently against the selection of a Prussian Prmce, which was described both as an insult and an injury to France, and declaimed that the Emperor would nofc permit the proposed arrangement. Then, of course, arose the storm. The French worked themselves, at the shortest notice, into a war fever. Prussia should not reconstitute the throne of Charles V. The Rhine frontier was to be instantly seized, and as for Spain, a French army was at once to descend from the Pyrenees, and make the Peninsula a " Department." Military preparations were actually begun, generals were sent for, officers were called from absence, and tremendous artillery experiments were made. The question was — would King William of Prussia not only withdraw his sanction of the candidature of Prince Leopold, but would he forbid that Prince to obey the invitation of Spain ? And while Europe has been waiting for the reply, her excitement has been terrific. We are still without a complete reply. It is stated that the King has either declined to interfere at all, or has refused to do so except as head of the Hohenzollern family — as King of Prussia he has nothing to say. But the father of the Prince is understood to have declared that his son should not accept the Spanish Crown, as the offer could not be regarded as a sincere one, in presence of the existing obstacles. That is as far as we have got while this is written, and the French Grovernment have taken some hours before making a new declaration to the Legislature. Meantime men can only say, and say again, what is known to all. The war-feeling between France and Prussia is strong, and the former has never forgiven the latter the Austrian campaign, and the valuable results. The French, deducting the commercial classes, (and possibly some wives and mothers), are held to be eager for fight. Prussia is quite calm — affecting not to understand why she should be abused and menaced — but is enormously strong, and hints at marches in the direction of Paris. Spain has an ambitious soldier at the head of affairs — not nominally, but actually, and the Spanish people have been roused into indignation at being refused the right of electing their own king. England, of course, will not interfere, but is doing her best to preserve peace ; and should she fail, her enemies will point to another proof of her small influence in continental affairs. Heavy blame is laid to the charge both of Prim and of the Emperor — of the former for the secret conduct of negotiations of so much importance, of the latter for instantly resorting to violent menace, and for taking an attitude that makes it almost impossible for a powerful Sovereign like the King of Prussia to withdraw with honour. And so, in the nineteenth century of Christianity, we are waiting upon the words of kings to learn whethsr thousands of men shall or shall not be slaughtered this beautiful summer. We may say, in conclusion- that tho hope of peace appears to be improving, but whether this hope is being based on consideration of the miserable character of the cause of quarrel, or whether statesmen have caused it to begin to be understood that war is to be postponed, it is not possible to assert A few days, perhaps a few hours, will decide. But there need be no hesitation in declaring that if the dogs of war are let slip on such a pretext as that put

forward by France, the act' will bo a crime of a blackness not to be surpassed. It is almost necessary to say that " Colonel Count Bismarck " is asserted by all Frenchmen, and believed by a few, to have been the instigator of Prince Leopold's candidature, and that Prince is talked of as a tool in the Count's hands. Such things must affect all Europe, immediately or remotely. They have affected England, as yet, only in the way of violent disturbbance of moneymarkets, and of the interests of commerce. It is probable that to the situation, which involves the kingdom destined for the husband of our eldest Princess, the Queen owes a return of ill-health, which has deprived her subjects of the pleasure of seeing her at a ceremonial to which she and th?y had long looked forward, the opening of the Grand Embankment of the Thames. Untill within a day or two it was believed that the the Sovereign would have been able to attend, and great preparation were made for crowning the work of eight years, but the royal excuse was made, and the Prince of Wales and Princess Louise represented their illustrious mother. That she should have been disturbed by events is most natural, and no complaint can be made, but it is much to be regretted, not that the Londoners lose her presence at a spectacle, but that the Kings and peoples of Europe lose the moral spectacle which would have been afforded. While foreign nations are arming and trying hideous weapons of slaughter, it migt have been well that the Queen of England should be seen quietly traversing an improved metropolis, and smilingly acknowledging the plaudit of her subjects. It might soem to thinkers that there must be something in the institutions of a nation that, with all its shortcomings, hates the wickedness of offensive war, and gives all its best energies to efforts in favour of civilisation. While Europe is aflame, England is opening an embankment, holding a meeting for complettnjj her metropolitain cathedral, and watching her volunteers competing for the prizes of skill at Wimbledon Camp. Distant be the day when we shall have another tale to tell. — "Home News." _