THE IMPENDING WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1132, 1 July 1867, Page 5

THE IMPENDING WAR.

(Prom tlie European Times, May 2.)

[The following article was written before the conference of the Great Powers was finally decided. 011, and wc prefer to let it appear, for it is by no ireans certain that the diplomatists who aro to meet in London next week will bo able to "preserve pencc. It Prussia, before entering the conference, were to consent to the demolition of tho fortress of Luxemburg, it would smooth tho way to a pacific arrangement; but this she has not yet consented to do, notwithstanding rumours to the contrary. If wcr should eventually break out, Lord Stanley has declared in the House of Commons that England will preserve a strict neutrality.] The war fever is rising in Paris, the hatred of the French towards the Prussians is on the increase, the preparations for the decisive struggle in each country arc pushed forward with extraordinary vigour, and each country is seeking new alliances. Italy owes obligations to the Emperor of tlio Frencli, and Prussia is bringing pressure to bear on Southern Gcrnimiy- Victor Emmanuel's finances aro at a low ebb, his outI lay exceeds his income, and rumor declares that he is to be aided by France with a loan, perhaps a gift of twenty-four millions sterling. The Court of Berlin makes a demand from Germany beyond the pale of 100,000 men,within a month of the breaking out of hostilities. The new French breach-loaders are declared to be superior to tho Prussian needle-gun, and wc hear much of a new piece of French artillery whose range and powers of destruction are spoken of in the highest terms. But what will Austria do in this emergency ? "Will she be whirled into the vortex P The Hapsburg, who has not quite recovered from the disasters of last year, would gladly remain a quiet spectator of the terrible collision, but circumstances may probably compel him to take part in it. Wounded in his deepest and tenderest susceptibilities, his feelings may bo with France— those of his German subjects with Prussia. If Prussia should bo beaten, and Austria take part against her, the latter Power may regain in the new distribution of territory much of the prestige which disappeared on the field of Sadowa. I If France, on the contrary, in union with Italy, I does not come out of the fray a victor, farewell the Napoleonic dynasty, and Francis Joseph will probably be reduced to the pitiable position of the King of Hanover. But what will Eussia be doing all this time ? Making her own game, we may be sure. The first hostile shot fired between the Great Powers will announce the doom of the " Siot Man," and the uprising of the Eastern Christians who pay him an enforced homage. The impending war will be the most important in its results which has been seen in Europe since the days of the First Napoleon. Louis Napoleon is too clever and too far seeing a man to enier into this great struggle without counting its costs and consequences. The hope of his life since he has risen to the purple hasbeentherestoration ofthe Rhenish provinces. German by birth, but French in feeling and religion, the people in the large towns on the Rhine would probably prefer a union with France to their present connection with Prussia, andevents there a year or two ago showed that William the Third was anything but popular in Cologne, Mayence, and other leading cities of RhenishPrussia ; nor has this feeling altogether disappeared with the successes of King William in 1866. The Emperor of the French is verging towards sixty, and he can never hope to have another such opportunity as now presents itself for realising his dream of the last fifteen years. The dispute about Luxemburg has been so cleverly conducted on his part as to make it appear to the French people that the quarrel has been forced upon him, and that he would be a craven not to take up the gauntlet that has been thus thrown in his face. If he were to live twenty years longer such a golden incentive is not likely to occur ap,ain. Luxemburg, if not French, is certainty not German, but it is the open portal to the invasion of France on the east; and as the King of Holland had an undoubted right to sell it, so the Emperor of the French had an undoubted right to buy it, without any interference on the part of Prussia. It is just one of those quarrels about which much may be said on either side ; but the importance of the territory oritsuselessness is quite|subsidiary to the real motives which prompt the chief actors in appealing to the arbitrament of the sword. Prussia, jusi now, is elated with her new power, and as the protectress of Germany feels bound to challenge all comers. France is hurt that in the late scramble she got nothing, and a sense of wounded pride, to say nothing of national dislike, is directed against a nation overflowing with success and conceit. Passions on each side, worked up to this pitch of frenzy, can only be cooled, it would appear, by the butcheries ofthe battle-field, and humanity cauonly look on and weep at the consequences of an insatiable ambition. Supposing the French to become masters of the situation, how would that affect Jingland ? Not at all, unless Belgium were seized by the legions of the Emperor. Even then, it is questionable, with the present repugnance of this country to embroil itself in continental quarrels, whether we should stir. We saw the I noire of the Royal Family of England absorbed i last summer by Prusia without a word of protest, and, in a sentimental sense, Hanover appealed to our pride evon more than Belgium, supposing the little kingdom to be swallowedup in France. Without Belgium the Rhine frontier would be comparatively valueless to France, and it would be a sore trial of Louis Napoleon's disinterestedness if, having thrashed Prussia, he could forego that enviable morsel; but, " sufficient for the day is the evil thereof." It is a fortunate circumstance of our day that war cannot be protracted beyond a campaign or two.