The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-25


capital The eace Of Tilsit was of short Gura-
ton. The 81 .ght offered to the Cars sister
by Napoleon, his spoliation of the territories of
the Grand, Duke of Oldenburg brother
ln-law to Alexander and his encroach-
ments ca the Baltic, irritated the EN-
peror Prussia; and Napoleon resolved on war
as SOC a as that sovereign released the continent
tai b'pckade Never was such an army mus
tere d ss Napoleon set on foot to conquer Rus
STA, His standard was borne by half a million
OF, men, natives of as many countries, and
Hpesking as many tongues. Two-thirds were
,Austrians Prussians, Germans, Italians, Bava-
rians, Swiss and Poles; the rest were French.
From contcsnporaneous works we learn that the
enthusiasm Of the soidiery was unbounded.
They LEFT their homes gaily, promising soon to
return. Why should they not? All Europe was
with them. Russia stood alone, for England
could rot help her. She had been eager to treat
five years before after one defeat. France was
now Far stronger than she was then. An army,
more than twice as numerous as that which took
the field, was left behind: while the whole Rus
siaa force did not exceed 250, 600 men. Well
might they glca. over presagc of victory.
The historyof Moscow is the history Of the
world. Fanaticism was toe formidable foe
For mere military ardor, with whatever odds:
the French army were not only repulsed, they
were annihisated, Napoleon's allies scattered,
and himself driven from the throne Such was
the fate of'thc first great contest between allied
Europe and Russia. How wiz it be with the
second?
InpoiRs of numbers, andmilitary equipments,
the force which England anti France are now
assembling would have made but poor division
Of the grande armse of 1912. They may be
reinforced it is trre; but no such force can be
assembled as that which crossed the Niemen
On the oath June, 1872. On the other hand
Russa's army was neverSo numerous or in so
bigffa state of discipline She could probably
send 100000 men into the field without extra
ordinary 1evies. Wherever the allies choose
they may be met by double their numbers.
I'm the second place, in 1872, Alexander was
compelled to appeal to the generosity of his
subjects for contributions of money. His pro-
CARNATIONS to Shis effect dated at Moscow are
4given in all the histories. The Crown revenue
at present does not probably fall short OF
$75,O0O,000 The payment of the interest. on
the debt which is only 320,534, 424, is provid-
cd for by special ordinance, passed in 1851.
A sum Of SIS 100000, has already been raised
by single loan effected this year and the re-
sources Of the empire would enable the Empe-
ror to decuple this loan if it were necessary.
On the other hand, both France and England
will, find it no easy matter to supply funds for
carrying on a long war. The British people
may consent for q year to lose all the benefits
which free trade bestowed on them in the way
of diminished taxation; but when this proves
insufficient, and the taxes are raised above the
point where they stood in 1916, it is impossible
that the infiction can be TRANQUILITY borne
France, as every one knows is still worse pre-
pared to bear the expense of hostilities twas
considered marvellous thing that her revenue
of last year should only have fallen short of her
expenditures by 100000; larger deficits having
been usual. Where the surplus for war appro
priations is to come from, no one can tell
Every resource has already been used nearly
to exhaustion.
Again, much of the result of q war depends
upon the motives which inspire the combatants,
and the stake each has at issue. Men always
fight better for their homes than for conquest;
better for honor than for money. The most
powerful incentive known is religion; next to
that, patriotism. Both of these incentives are
at work in the Russian breast. Every Russian
believes that he is ordained by God to extirpate
Moslemism from Europe. The Gear judiciously
fosters this spirit by writing manifestoes in the
style Of the old Puritan leaders. And there is no
doubt that the bulk of the Russian people be-
lieve that the Western nations, whose faith,
though Christian, is not that of the Greek
Church, are little better than their Mahom-
medan allies On the other hand, the motives
which place the sword in the hand of English
men and Frenchmen are of the most impalpable
character. England and France are fighting for
an abstraction-a tabled balance of power, about
which no sailor Or soldier understands or cares
anything. They are not defending their homes,
nor warning for their faith. If the Sultan were
crushed tomorrow, no British sailor or French
soldier would be one whit the worse off: no
one in fact but statesman would be disposed
to view the event in the light of q calamity. 1t
is hardly reasonable to suppose that, if the war
lasts, the personal sympathies of the allied
troops will not rather lean to the side of their
Christian foes than to that of their barbarous
Mussulman allies
There is yet another consideration that will
give Russia the advantage in the struggle.
Prussia and Austria are obviously with the Gar
at heart. at the first opportunity they will de-
clare themselves openly on his SIDE This can
not strengthen France and England Nor can
Napoleon engage as freely in war, with a
quarter of a million disaffected subjects at home
as Nicholas who has nothing to fear from
similar danger.
For these reasons we by no means share the
European belief that the allies win be success
full and Russia defeated To us, second 1912
would seem much more probable.