The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1874. THE STATE OF EUROPE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 75, 3 October 1874, Page 5

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1874. THE STATE OF EUROPE.

Great uneasiness is felt by all moderate men as to the prospects of the continuance of peace in Europe. Germany is prepared for war, and as is generally believed, even anxious for another invasion, of France. It would appear that Prince Bismabck, or at all events the G-erman Government -which derives its inspiration from him, is endeavouring to pick a quarrel with Erauce, and that it is entirely due to the forbearance and good sense of Marshal MacMahojST, that an open rupture has not already taken place. This is most creditable to the French Government, particularly when the fiery nature of the French people, their man i.al ardour, and the many provocations and stinging insults to which they have been lately subjected, are borne in mind. It is clear that nothing but dishonour or intolerable injustice will drive France to the last resort of Nations ; unless, indeed, madness seize the hour, and intestine feuds precipitate events. This, however, is not improbable. The state of parties in this unhappy country is most alarming. Each one seems to be pursuing its own peculiar ends, almost regardless of the general welfare of the Nation as such. The spiiit of compromise, so essential to all wise government, would appear to have fled the country ; and it is to be

| feared that another and still more terrible humiliation must come upon the people before they are iv a proper frame of mind to take a rational view of the situation. Revolution may break out any day, and what then? Un fortunately for Europe, a commotion in France is never localised. That country is so placed geographically, and such is her influence in Europe, that an explosion even in the streets of Paris is felt everywhere. But even though France should be able to maintain domestic peace, the elements of strife are not wanting. There is an universal conviction that France is preparing for a war of revenge, and that so soon as she feels herself sufficiently prepared, she will demand of Germany the restoration of Alsace and Lorraine at least. It is said that Germany shares in this conviction, that Bismarck regrets he did not, when France was under his heel, inflict on her a much more severe chastisement than the cession of two provinces, and a war indemnity of two hundred millions of pounds sterling; and that he now contemplates a renewal of the war before his great enemy shall have completed the preparations now so actively on foot. All this seems very likely ; it is in accordance with human nature, and derives confirmation, from the unjustifiable interference of Germany with the French Press, and the internal government of the country. Germany, it would appear, is enacting the fable of the "Wolf and the Lamb," and whilst taking the Spanish revolutionists to her aristocratic arms, forbids Marshal MacMahon's Government to erect or strengthen fortresses necessary for the ebfence and safety of the country. It is, then, pretty certain that Germany is doing everything in her power to provoke France to a declaration of war. But it is a perilous game even for Germany herself. Iv that Empire the causes of strife are not wauting. Not to speak of the religious difficulty, it is well known that revolutionary and anti-social principles are making alarming progress amongst the masses, particularly in the great centres of population. The seeds of universal confusion seem to have been scattered far and wide, and the Government, as if labouring under some dreadful infatuation, is busily engaged in an elaborate effort to alienate the affections of the millions of Catholics who, in the coming struggle would be, were it not they are the victims of the grossest injustice, the best advocates of law and order, aud the most loyal and staunch defenders of the Throne, and the integrity of the Nation. It is not to be supposed that Germau Catholics will permit any amount of ill treatment to drive them into disloyalty and rebellion. Like the Irish Catholics in the days of the worthless Stuarts, they will be loyal for conscience sake, even when cruelly treated: but somehow injustice and persecution always bring in their train their own chastisement. The German Government has at this moment three Bishops and 1100 Priests in various prisons, having deprived them of all their property and heaped on them every species of indignity ; has banished the religious orders, and placed by I force, heretical teachers in Catholic Schools. And for j what ? For no reason, except that these persecuted people are Catholics. It is weli for Germany that these people so grievously persecuted are Catholics: no other people would remain peaceable and loyal one houi % , under such gross injustice. But at the same time there is and must be a vast difference between the quality of the service rendered by enthusiastic and devoted partisans, and that whijh is extorted by a mere sense of duty demanding obedience under the most unfavorable and depressing; circumstances. For Germany herself the prospect is not bright. Again, Italy is a <3auger to herself and to the peace of the rest of Europe. In that unhappy country the revolutionary party which made the Kingdom of Italy, and intended it to be merely a stepping-stone to a Republic, thinks the time has come for realising its cherished idea. Without the suppcrt of this party, Victor Emmaktjel's Government cannot maintain itself long. Its only hope of prolonging its existeuce in the tace of the disaffection of the Sects, lies in a foreign war. Here, also, there are not many grouuds of hope, but the Italian Kingdom, like Mr Macawber, hopes that something may turn up This helplessness, and this only hope, places Italy at the disposal of Prince Bismarck, who may safely rely on her as an ally, should he attack France. These are not the only elements ot strife to be found on the Continent of Europe. Spain endangers the general peace. The state* of parties in Austria is far from reassuring ; and it is well known

that Eussia is arming. Everything, therefore; portends a coming storm, and one, too, that, in all human probability, cannot be long delayed. This is a melancholy picture ; and it is sad to think that statesmen and politicians, whose special business it is to guard against war and revolution, should be themselves chiefly to blame for almost all the calamities of nations. Those men have been for a long time jealous of the Church, and zealous in corrupting the nations by means of secular and godless education. They have sown the wind, and now by a just retribution they are reaping the whirlwind.