The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1859-05-19
EUROPEAN WAR NEXs.

Inc last steamer from Europe brought
news full Of war. Austria had sent an
oltimatum to Sardinia, demanding the
disarmament and dispersal of her volm-
teers. Three days were given her in
which to reply. In case of her refusal
Austria would Immediately declare war.
We are really glad this "crisis" has ac-
tually comet head, for it is tiresome
to hear so much about war which is al
ways just about to, but never does be-
gin. AS to its effects upon our country,
conjecture, of course, is the only means
we have of determining. 1t is true that
bonds of commerce connect us very in
timately with the European powers, but
it does not necessarily follow that distur-
Dances among them would seriously af.
feet our national prosperity. And il
Austria and Italy are resolved on mutu-
ally devouring each other, we think the
United States could afford to look on the
process with a calmness equal to the in
difference with which a woman we've
heard of watched conflict between her
husband and bear. The seer of the
N. Y. Herald predicts that such war will
create somewhat increased demand for
our breadstuffs and provisions like all
wars, it would enhance the current val
ue Of wool. gunpowder, and other articles
of which the military consumption is
large. But as Austria has no navy, and
as we have little or no trade with Tri-
este, it could not make the slightest diff
ference to our commercial intercourse
with great Britain, France, or the other
European nations with which we trade.
Assuming, therefore, that the war will
not spread beyond Northern Italy, and
everything tends to show that the great
Northern Powers of Europe have re-
solved to confne it within those limits
there is really no reason for supposing
that it could affect our commercial inter-
ests, save in the particulars We have men
toned.
If it spread beyond Italy-if Great
Britain became involved-then, of course,
the case would be different And though
the general principle is clear that COM
merce flourishes best when all CONNER
cial nations are at peace, in this case
there can be little doubt but the affect of
such a war would be to stimulate vast
expansion of credit and an immense de-
velopment of industry and enterprise
throughout the United States. For, of
the points of commercial contact between
this country and Europe, all save one
would be benefited by war, and that
one would not be injured.
Ageneral European war would create
such demand for American breadstuffs
and provisions as has never been known
before. Other articles, such as wool,
which do not now belong to the list of
our great staple exports, would likewise
rise.in value, and be freely exported
American ships would be the only safe
vessels afoat, and would necessarily do
all the carrying trade of the commercial
world. American securities would be
the only public stock which such war
would not render precarious. United
States securities, State stocks, and our
best bonds, would be eagerly taken up
by prudent men throughout Europe.
Finally, cotton, which is as sensitive
to war rumors as consuls, could not be
materially affected; for, whether the Eu
rOpeans go to war or stay at peace, they
must have clothing, and they must keeI
their mills going to avoid riots at all theil
manufacturing centers. Nothing cal
really diminish the demand for American
cotton in Europe but diminution Of tn,
people of European absolute and larg
decrease in the number of bodies to b.
clothed and families to be employed b,
the spinners. Cotton has become as de
cided necessity in England and on tn
continent as grain, water or air."
~ Col. King, ofGonzales county, i
Texas, who is an equal enemy of har
money and grammer, having a prope
contempt for both, and who lives, as
says, "down to the foot of navigation,
near Gonzales, little creek which run
dry in summer, recently delivered himseI
of the following emphatic remark: EFF
owe man an onjest debt, and l max
him lawess tender of blank bill an
he infuses to incept it, but persoos OF
! a writ for IN laval IN ,,v rroNov@x, ~c