The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-23 00:00:00

THE GREAT EUROPEAN CONFLICT.

The war now begins to be more lively. We have had a
French victory and a Prussian victory. Last night it was
said that a general engagement was in progress. The
Chassepot is good ; the mitrailleuse is horrible ; but the
needle gun is a sound, reliable weapon. The storming of
Weissenburg by the Prussians is a bigger thing than the
carrying of the heights above Saarbruck by the French.
It would be absurd, however, to predict, on the strength
of anything which has yet taken place, on which side vic-
tory is ultimately to lean. Both armies are brimful of
confidence ; but while they are only cautiously feeling their
way towards each other it is wise to suspend judgment.
One of the most amusing things in connection with this
war is the interest it has awakened among ourselves. We
are either Erench or Prussian. For the one or the other
the people go in stoutly. Among the citizens of the
United States neutrals are nowhere. That our sentiments
should be divided is not wonderful. It is wonderful, how-
ever, that the separating gulf should be so broadand deep,
and that on both sides the sentiment should be so keen.
France is our ancient ally. In the dark days which pre-
ceded our independence, when we were struggling hard
for sweet life, French sympathy, French brains, and
French swords did us good service. But in our later
struggle, when this great Republic, which really constitutes
the hope of all peoples, was beset by enemies from within
and by enemies from without, and when our national life
trembled in the balance, Prussia was our steadfast friend,
sorrowing in our sorrow and rejoicing in our joy ; and of
all our adopted citizens none did us better service than
those brave men who hailed from Fatherland. To both
peoples we are therefore indebted. But we are not more
indebted to the one than to the other. It is not unnatu-
ral that Frenchmen resident with us should sympathize
with France. It is not unnatural that Germans resident
with us should sympathise with Prussia. But it is un-
natural, and not a little absurd, that we should allow
ourselves, in spite of our better reason, to be dragged into
two hostile camps, and repeat here a strife in which as a
nation we have really no interest. Evey citizen of these
United States, no matter from what land he or his fathers
may have hailed, is or ought to be first an American. We
cannot help looking on as anxious spectators ; but our
interests as Americans demand that we should not allow
this foreign quarrel to beget strife and division in the
midst of us. Much as we have reason to deplore this un-
happy and unjustifiable war, we ought all to see that we
have no reason to lose by it, and that if we are wise we
ought to gain. Much of that which we have just written
is -as applicable to Great Britain as it is to our=
selves. To every lover of his species, to
every one who is warmly interested in the welfare and
prosperity of the human family, it is matter of sorrow
that the possibility begins to grow into probability that
Great Britain will be dragged into the conflict. The war
spirit of the brave British people is aroused. The senti-
ment is strongly in favour of Prussia. If the neutrality
of the soil of Belgium is violated it is as certain as that
the sun will rise and set to-morrow that British ships will
spread death over the great waters, and that the red coats
will mingle in and give intensity to the fight. We are
not without a grudge towards the British Government
and people ; they did not behave as they ought to have
done during our late trouble ; but we can afford to be
magnanimous, and in the spirit which one great nation
ought ever to be willing to regard another we recognise
the greatness and the glorious mission of the 13fitish
empire. She is no longer a European, but an Asiatic, or
rather a cosmopolitan Power. We look upon her,
this whole North American people looks to her, as the
mother of our language, our literature, our laws. Alt
over the world—in Australia, where she. is laying the
foundation of another great English-speaking empire ;
in
India, where she is reshaping and remoulding a veople
who are destined to carry over the whole of Asia the
blessings of Christian civilization ; in South Africa, where
she has established agencies which may yet utilise the
unknown wealth of the African continent—wherever she
plants her standard her mighty influence is in favour of
progress. If she enters into this. strife the immediate
result will be sweeping destruction ; progyess will be
checked, and it is not impossible that her influence. for
good will be seriously diminished. Should Great Britain
join in this war it will be a world-wide calamity.—New
York Herald.

ROYAL MUNIFICENCE.—The King and Queen of
the Belgians have not only subscribed 25,000 f, but the
Count and Countess de Flandre have given 10,000 f., to the
fund in aid of the families of the militia called under the
flag. Queen Christina has made a donation of I,ooof. for
the wounded of the French army, and her husband, the
Duke de Rainzares, 300 f. for the same cause.
A WISE SUGGESTION.—There is to be a general
muster of the Massachusetts militia at Camp Andrew, in
Concord, on the 6th of September, to continue five days.
Last fall the muster was at Springfield, and Springfield is
very thankful that rural and transcendental Concord is to
get the benefit this time, as these remarks of a Springfield
paper shTv :—" An industrious and unwarlike people are
always disposed in timeof peace tolook coldly on the expen-
sive and apparently inutile paraphernalia of war, especially
if there is a tendency to convert the trainings' and drill
seasons into trainings for lawless vice, and reins of
terror to the neighbouring residents. People won't sup-
port a militia that is little more than an armed mob, and
aggressive at that. When the uniformed members of
companies in camp run the pickets as freely as they go to
rations, turn out en masse to be driven back by policemen,
or to make night hideous•with brawling, while the officers
lift up their feeble hands with anile plaints of ' What can
we do?" the people will hardly care to be taxed to sup-
port the military establishment." General Butler, who
commands, desires to guard against a renewal of these
disorders, and informs the troops that all intoxicating
liquors are to be banished from his headquarters, hopes
they will not be tolerated at Division headquarters, knows
that none will be found at Brigade headquarters, and
advises that they be not allowed on the field " save
with the other poisons in the medicine chests of the
surgeons."