FRANCE AND PRUSSIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 116, 20 May 1867, Page 2

FRANCE AND PRUSSIA.

To the Editor of the 'Nelson Evening Mail.' Sir — Will you allow me to make a few remarks on your Saturday's leader, which handles my friend Bismarck and his German policy rather severely ? The annexation of Luxemburg, as you please to call jt, has rather startled Messrs. Parlez

vous and oh horror ! has broken down the barrier against Germany! In the first instance there was, correctly speaking, no annexation at all, as Luxemburg formed a part of Germany ever since 1308 when Count Henry IV, of Luxemburg was elected German Emperor under the name of Henry VII. When Charles IV., his grandson, became German Emperor, he created the seat of his ancestors into a Dukedom, and the new princes were vassals of the Empire. It was only by the Congress of Vienna that the House of Orange, viz., the King of the Netherlands, received as compensation for the cession of rights in Nassau the title of Grand Duke of Luxemburg, thus becoming, as it were, a member of the German Confederation. The great fortress of Luxemburg has always been occupied by the Prussians ever since 1815, and the Grand Duchy had to send about 3000 soldiers to the armies of the Bund. This Bund, the laughing-stock of Europe, as you well know, has been thrown over by Prussia ; and Bismarck has simply done what lazy Austria and the Bund could not do, namely, formed a united and powerful Germany. That Messieurs Parlez-cous do not like this, I can easily understand, because I think it is high time that the crowing of the French cock should be stopped. It is France, not Germany, that has always been the aggressor ; and the sooner nations begin to respect each other, the sooner we shall get a guarantee of a lasting peace. I always translated Napoleon's " L 'Empire e'est la Paix," — " After a good thrashing we only get bread ;" aud I hope Bismarck knows as much French as I do. Your idea of seeing Germany jointly ruled over by Austria and Prussia may very well please France, but it does not agree with the feelings of A German. Nelson, May 20, 1867.