The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-08-11
Frnm The New York Herald.
ORIGIN OF THE EUROPEAN WAR
AND THE ULTERlOR DESIGNS OF
FRANCE-LOUIS NAPOLEON, HIS

n
first Napoleon, which bids fair to be falsiiied
BY the qualities developed by his nephe"
.ra sr.csssor. He has rendered past glory
dorbtfulp observed that accomplished no.
blemon to the French ambassador, "and fu-
ture glory impossible"
The axiom that great men are more fire.
ouently made by circumstances than by their
own abilities, was, to some extent true III
the case of the subject Of this remark. lie
was the child and the creature of the revolu-
ton, rather than the originator of new or
der of ideas. Gorged with blood, and worn
out by its own excuses, the revolution could
only pass from one violent extreme to the
other none of the intermediate conditions OF
government being compatible with the fever
ish excitement under which it had been so
long laborIng. As in the case of patient
brought to the verge of dissolution by the
abuse of stimulants, it was necessary to keep
up the public pulse to an unnatural pitch be-
fore il could be gradually reduced to its nor
NAL state. The merit of Napoleon consisted
in his quick appreciation of the necessities of
the epoch. Contrary to the generally re-
ceived notion, he in the earliest stages Of his
power followed public opinion, rather than
led it, No man who ever rose to sovereign
power by the weight of his own talents, ever
watched with a more scrntinizing and care
full eve the current of popular feeling. 1t
is mistake to suppose that it was to his dar-
ing alone that he owed his good fortune. 1t
was ratherto his close observation of the pOlit
zeal indications of the times, than TO his mere
adventureousness of spirit, that he was in
debted for his early successes. His downfall
was brought about by his neglect of those
qualities the exercise of which, as much as
his military talents, contributed to place him
OH the proud elevation to which he at
tanned
In the present Emperor of France we re-
cognisc the possession of n different order of
genius, which promises to lead to equally
brilliant, but more enduring results. With
great natural astutencss he combines u clear
ness and steadiness of judgment, seIf-re-
lance and tcnacity Of purpose which were
not always manifested by his predecessor,
and which have enabled him already to eff.
feet by the force of mind alone, more sub.
stantial victories than were ever gained by
the military talents of his predecessor. He
has governed, rather than been guided by,
circumstances, and from the period at which
his higher qualities were first called into ex-
ercise he has eyinccd confidence in his own
powers and resources, which has never yet,
in any single instance, been beed by the re-
suit No man could have emerged from I'M
der the weight Of obloquy and rdcule which
his enemies had so industriously contrived to
heap upon him, and have passed triumphant
ly through the trying ordeals to which he
was subjected in his efforts to maintain him
self in the difficult position to which the acct
dent of his birth had raised him, without the
possession of more than ordinary amount
ofjudgment, sagacity and firmness. Each sue
cessive step that he has taken to consolidate
the power which he has wrcstcd from the
contending factions that struggled to effect
his downfall, has only served to display those
qualities in clearer and stronger light. He
now stands confessedly the master mind of
Europe, and the highest proof that can be
adduced of the wisdom and tact that have
guided his conduct in the difficult conjunc.
ture of circumstances in which he has been
placed, is the fact that his popularity has
grown with his successes, and that even his
bitterest enemies are reluctantly Obliged to
admit that they have been deceived in their
estimation of his character.
Among those who arc now readiest to
bear testimony to the high qualities display
ed by the French Emperor is, strange to say,
the man who has most reason to feel vindic-
lively towards him. The Gar, while he
complains that the present war has been
broughtaboutby Louis Napoleon, to strength
en- his own position at home, does not hest
tate to declare that he is the greatest man in
Europe, and that although he may not pos
sess the great military talents of his uncle
(Which yet remains to be proved) he is u
shrewder and wiser politician. No one who
has attentively watched the course of events
since the mission of NJ Lavaette to Constan-
tinople, will be inclined to dispute the truth
of the first of these assertions. The English |
were frightened into the coalition by the |!
French Emperor in order to carry out his |
Interior designs, which take wider range |
than tho maintenance of the ndepen-
dence of crumbling empire, that must
sooner or later fall to pieces, or than of
preserving that delusive adjustment Of politi-
cal interests in which such value is placed by |
modern dplomatists-the balance of power in |
Europe. The fact is that England has lost all |
the great statesmen that have hitherto guild |
cd her councils, and is now governed by fec-
bic and vacioting minds, that are unequal
to cope with the difficulties of any great
emergency, such MS that in which she is nov
placed. In the hands of n crafty, ambitious,
and daring ally like tho French Emperor
whose views soar far beyond tho protested
objects Of the present war, such men as the |
Earl of Aberdeen and Lord John Russell are
but unconscious instruments of his designs
Mcn Of that stamp can hardly be said to COM