The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-07-14
The Military Preparations in France

The mighty military preparations now
going on in France, is beginning to attract
considerable attention over the civilized
world. When Louis Napoleon was first de-
clared Emperor of the French, the world
looked upcn him us mere pigmy compared
with his illustrous namcsake: but now il is
coming to n different conclusion Louis has
shown himself to be tho most skillful di.
plcmatist of modern times and there is noth>
ing to gainsay the belief, that he is largely
imbued with some of the military powers
that immortalizcd his uncle the hero of an
hundred battles, who made ard unmade
Kings and who held Europe and the orld
in awe. France is now infinitely stronger
in military point, than at Nry time of the
reign of the first Napoleon. The extent TO
which these preparations are making, will
render war Il necessity and the nations that
few years ago looked upon the present
Emperor as an advrnturcr, whose career
they believed would he cut short in year
or two, now watch his every movement
with intense interest, not to say alarm.
Por'cr's SPIRIT Of the Times, paper that
has every facility for gaining early and cor.
rect information from the old world. in evi.
drncc Of the deep interest that the move
mcnts of Napoleon has created, quotes the
aPprchcn>ions developed by the British
Government, in her own new and sudden
preparation 10 ward Off the gathering tor.
nado, should it prcchance whirl. when il
bursts capriciously towards their islands -
This silent and mysterious preparation on
the part Of France, and this serious apprc.
hension and haste to put on defensive ar
NOR by Great Britain, presents "a singular
view Of the entente cordiais which carried
the two nations through the Crimcan COM
paign, aud which--nothng serious hayinr
happened between them in the way of fall
ing outs supposed to exist still They
watch each other, these two good friends.
lik" two braves. who, though smiling in
others faces, have the best will in the world
10 cut each others throats and in all the
conricSics that pass between them, keep
their hand constantly on their stilettos.-
The English Press reflects, on this subject
the sensitive suspicious of the English mind
and the leading columns uf the foremost
Journals of the Kingdom, daily, and in vain
disturb Echo with the question of what
France means. The silent Emperor. how
ever, gives no sign, and the Gallic arma.
mcmts go on. When he is quit" ready, We
imagine he will hnd employment for his
his troops, and woe be to those who are in
his way Woe be To him. also. if ENGLAND
be his aim. We may credit him, perhaps,
with raid of triumph, a crop of flags, and
1t may be temporary conqucrors seat in
Windsor Castle but such population rs
that which fills the British Isles can never
be trampco under foot, or held in subicc-
ton TO foreign master. There would
come, for certain, terrible recoil and every
generous heart in Europe would appeal to
the populations 10 rise in her defence. and
initiate E" new appeal against the military
tyrannIes Of Europe, in favor Of fconstitution-
al freedom.
But the Times thinks that England is not
the aim of France. and that part of the Ans.
tran Empire which is known as Italy, i. the
most likely mark Of her ambition. 1t was
in those fields the first Napoleon performed
his most glorious campaigns and it was in
her fields, after the flowers of peace spread
thick beauty over her gorcd and smoking
plains, hc spread the cradle of the King of
Rome. The Emperor has now a Iusty heir
who is two years old. Despite his pacific
maxim, he is not safe in peace; and, besides
these con sdcrations, the true key to Aus
tria may again be found lying on the plateau
OF Rroii. In short, Louis Napoleon began
by following the Progrmme of his Uncle !;
and it believes he means to play it to the
end
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