The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-12-15
FRANCE AND ENjLAND.

IOHV sNstsss "'SN'' ~
filled with but little TO console those
who cry for Peace. Travellers in the
old world write home that the smoth-
cred feelings must soon bdrst forth and
enveIop that part of tho SlDbo in o
most awful war, to which the broad.
full campaign of tho last fow years,
which ended in the partial humbling
Of Russia and Austria--the dreadful
carnage at SevastopoI, and the bloc
dy grounds Of Monticello and Ma
gcnta will but loebly compare. We
hope this may not be, for war is wors,
than pcstilcnce or famine, and when
a nation gives up to the study and
practice Of military art alone, it will,
in the course Of a century or two ret
rograde to ignorance in all the branch.
rs that elevate and prosper a country.
Farming, the mechanical arts, educa.
ton, &c, are drowned in the excite
ment of the fife and drum and car
mage of warfare. Yet, n nation must
be prepared for its defence. Our own
is at fault in this respect. Oar Dor
ders are unprotected, and poor, fallen
Spain even @outvics US. Bat we rely
on our noble volunteers, and too much
are we trusting in this way, 1t be-
hoovcs the United States greatly, we
think, to improve their dcicnccs at
once, especially the Navy. To not do
so, while all Europe is at suc! work,
is simply allowing ourselves to be
placed in a condition for being bounl
hand and foot by our enemies, and all
because Of our own inc tncss for u
safety. Better fix for defence than to
be wrangling and fighting among our.
selves.
But we were to talk Of England
and Francc-tw0 of the migLticst
powers of Europe. That there is II
war brooding between these two ma
tons, seems quite certain. The tone
of the London papers and the actions
of Napoleon Indicate it. The French
Press, which is allowed to utter only
what Napoleon approves, is tccming
with hints on serious designs, towards
the English, and England is not going
to submit tamcly TO intimidation
Napoleon has not forgotten the ban
ishmcnt of his uncle, nor tho disaster
of Waterloo. We should hate to see
France and England in hostile conflict,
hut Che crisis seems to be near at
hand, and when it does come, "wo
unto the children of Absolam." We
can look with a lilc complaccncy on
the internal lowering and lighting Of
Mexico. the contemplated invasion
thereof by Spain; o Hungarian elfeIc,
or q revolt in India, &c, but when
war between England and France
looms up in perspective, VIC stand
amazed and fearful Of the results.
But our subject in the outset of this
article was to copy the following from
the N. o. Deha, which is certainly
well written. Read it: and when the
"tue of war comes" the readers oftlc
Home Journal will thank US for pub
fishing the shadows Of events that are
TO follow and enlist the attention Of
the world:
1.-THE phantom knife which Henry the
Fourth carried so long in his bosom at
last flashed in the hand ofRovaillac. Is
tho vision Of q French invasion, which
pcrplexes and orments the English, to
pass likewise from a phan,asmal condi'
lion to that Of an mcarnato reality? Are
French ships to ride triumphant in the
channel, and French armies to scale the
cliffs Of Dover? Is tho tri.Color to
eclipse the red cross? Is Waterloo to
be avenged Who knows ! Who can
lathom The depths Of that profound mind
which at this moment directs the dGstlnles
of France, II not tho destinies of Europe?
Vet one thing is certain. In spite of the
seeming alliance between France and
England during the last few years, there
has really boon but little love on either
side. TO suppose that tho traditional
animosities OF centurics could be dispelled
by the temporary arrangements dictated
by political necessity is to imagine that
deep.roo,ed passions and settled convic.
tions can be cradicatcd by a verbal for.
mulp. A nations history is its life. Its
prejudices, its passions, its antipathics be.
long TO its history, and are an integral
portion OF its being. 1t cannot sacrifice
them to q syllogism. They continue to
abide in the popular heart, however they
may be covered up by the euphemism Of
diplomacy, or obscurcd by the devices of
statecraft.
Il is not wonderful, on the contrary it
is very natural that tho shadow Of Wa.
terloo should foil with dark and menac.
ing effect across oil the paper alliances
tina; conceal, but can not dispel the mu'
tual animosily of France and England.
Neither is il strange that while that great
defeat remains uncompensated, England
should be perpetually haunted by the
terror Of French revenge.
ST. Helena is the skeleton ia England's