Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-04-21

may any rate deserving better for the
iulur,.
France. the other hand pro6ting by the state Of
constant preparation In which she has been living
since the peace Of 1874 has gooas asserted her right
10 be ranked among the drss Of military nations and has
acted in manner calculated To raise her reputation
great military power, and add pages the long
catalogue Of the u nphs she has by skill Of her
officers and the trained aud organised enthusiasm OF her
hdicis
The two powers have learnt to place reliance each
Others naval and military strength aud they have also
proved to each other and the world that they capable
from the most disnteresed motives OF forming aud pre-
serving grcat alliance, and maintaining its good faith
invioate under circumstances the arduous and dis
couraging despite OF all the which enemy equally
skliul and unscrupuous could employ in order under.
mine their good understanding.
Independently, therefore, OF tho conditions of
Peace which NC do not yet know, the has been go
uous ana prosperous Tor the western powers by demon
strsting the purity OF their motives the extent OF their
resources their dauntcSs courage their nviobe good
tsth and that stern and steaat resolution which
able TO control Fortune herself and bend
will the most adverse and threatening circumstances IL
nvidous to enter too critically into the share of
IL to be awarded to either party.
The brunt of the struggle at Alma and lnkeruann
borne by the English; tho best approaches Sbsstopo
and the finally successful assault the work of the
French: and IL abundant reasons to complain oi
our Generals. France has little to be satisfied
with the want OF vigor which neuslzed her great
OF the Sth Of September The English suffered
most at the beginning. the French end OF tho war
AMI France has shown most skill in the conduct OF hos
Utilities England better able To continue them for her
resources only bcgnnngt be developed at the
moment when those of the other begerens zd perccp
uoly diminished.
In a military point of view the losses OF Russ. have
been signs and overwhelming Half million of valiant
soldiers, feet asenal OF boundss abundance her
whole means OF internal transport have vanished in the
OF two brief and the power which would
condescend 10 return to
1854 is glad ~ seek for peace With sdussioa of its
absolute necessity in 1856 Her unjust claims arr sbsn
doned, her naughty tone 10 lowered; she has her
vitsls thai consuming fame OF war, with which she
has often infested the of weaker states and she
has learned that there power superior to her in that
physical force which she has been ready appeal
in that justice and moderation which her neighhors
have 80 often sought from her in vain
But at this heavy price Russia has undoubtedly pur-
chased great advantages She has awoke FROM the deu
sion of universal conques-rom the dream that power
resting purely military basis can, tor moment
ceiy compete with those which add military strength
highly developed internal organizations and il would
she has turned her attention the development of
her internal resources with the view possibly, of
ing the conflict future date with the
" that by raising up internal material prosperity, she
will Ice en>ug her Own interests most powerfully against
the warlke spirit which ourishes only among
believe they have more to gain by plumber than by
merce.
OF the states OF Germany have leA ourselves little
room to speak; but certain poecal justice does
To have been wanting their While the bel
hgeraut powers victorious and vsnquished retire from
the with nconserabe share OF military honor
play first part in the European drams Austria
and Prussia the poor spirited supporters of either side al
ernaIely and OF neither efect.ly have suffered grie
vousy since the commencement Of hosiiltes. The for
allowed to act go-between in bringing about
the but Instead of being the abter of Europe
II correctly informed condemned to play the
part of little than spectator the Conference OF Paris.
March has destroyed the illusions OF January and pro-
we'd again. that at least in modern VS. il is vain for
empires TO think at winning by the pen that for which
they will strike with the sword Prussia has per.
mitted 10 aX her signature to the treaty but her voice
not allowed to be heard in council and her Ambassa
dor only admitted when everything essential d been
decided 1t may turn out that the powers which did not
engage in this have lost by il than those who
mauuly stood forward aud that its permanent effect.
will DE rt most severely, not in Russia but in Germany
Fleets may be rebuilt, armies be renewed treasure
ba accumulated again, but the confidence OF mankind in
the great powcrs OF Germany, their confidence in them
selves and in each other gone. And who shall what
the process 10y which be restored Let Germany
look 1t, for evil is before her For and for gal
liant allies peace comes blessings, for it with
honor IL has been dearly won Let hope it will be
long enioved.