Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1870 — The Franco-Prnssian Trouble. [ARTICLE]

The Franco-Prnssian Trouble.

jft iThc ©auWiahinent of a Prussian We apon the throne of Spain Would be a menace to France, just 'Mi the establishment of Maximillian in Mexico would have been • menace to the United States, and Napoleon was Justifiable in demanding that Hoheasollern withdraw from the candidature. As a Frenchman, jealous of the honor of France and watchful of the interests and welfare of the nation, Napoleon is also justifiable in demanding that Prussia should enter into a treaty never again to favor the pretensious of a German prince to the Spanish ciou n. As a measure of national jmliey this was wise and patriotic. France and Prussia are the rival powers of continental Europe.— Their ratareftts must ever conflict. Whateter the one can do to cripple the other is so much strength gained. Had Prussia tamely submitted to the demauds of France she would have been humbled in the eyes of all nations and the French would have gained a great victory. But however much France may desire the humiliation of Prussia, she is not strong enough to accomplish it without assistance from her neighbors, and hence, as a diplomatic measure the demand of Napoleon was miwisc and savors of madness. Coming as it did from a rival, the demand was insolent and insulting and Prussia had no choice as an honorable people, hut to decline the proposition. On her part this aclion'wus wise and patriotic. It was wise in the Frenchman to desh-e the humiliation of a rival, and it was wise in the Prussian to refuse to be humiliated. France has gone too far in this matter. She has acted with basic and shown that she was frightened. Her diplomatists and statesman, hot-headed and impetuous, have been outwitted by the cool impurtubility of the Prussians. {She is taken at disadvantage, nervous, excited and with the sympathy of two-thirds of the civilized world against her. Under her excitement, France has demanded more than was necessary, more than she can compel, and the result will humiliate her eveu if war is avoided; if war is not avoided loss of territory seems inevitable.