The Yazoo Democrat., 1859-05-14
WAR

The storm which has been visibly gathering
over Europe fer four months past has at length
burst upon her, War has virtually begun. How
long it will be before its lurid clouds are dissipa
ted BY the genial rays of peace, the wisest cannot
tell. But the differences between the great pow
ers Of the Eastern world are so numerous aud SO
complicated, that the most hopeful shianthropist
must dcspeir of any cessation Of hostilities be
sOre the demon of destruction hus had long and
bloody revel. The work of deagsi must inevitably
last tsng. Treasures will he exhausted, and
bankruptcies suffered, to keep up tho flow of
human blood.
Austria has sent 100, 0c5 men into SardiniAn
domain, and this army will serve as ire-brand
to magazine whose explosion will shake the
world. The war which 10 begun in Italy will
claim all Europe for s battle ground. AS all the
powers of the continent and England must be
involved, so, probably there is no power whose
Territory will not, during this conflict, be the
arena Of bloodshed. Tho mind revolts from the
contemplation of suck widespread ruin, and the
heart sickens at tho scene imagination portrays.
France and Austria are the two great powers
which will arst conc in direct collision, and Italy
will be the theatre Of the opening conflict, where
the first scene in the bloody drama will be played
England seems to have placed herself in rather
an awkward position regard to tho approach.
ing struggle, She probably has now a weaker
ministry than she has had before in many centu-
riSs. At any rate, she has not shown her usual
VI for
ciss. Sho has issued her protest against the
course Of Austria towards the Italian kingdom,
and thrown the blame of tho whole war upon
that country. This is is honest, candid and very
proper, but the difficulty lies in the fact that a
treaty Immediately thereafter transpired which
had been negotiated between Russia and France,
and which effects alliance offensive and de-
fensive between those empires. On account
of this alliance between. her rivals, what the
course of England will be in the war is prob
lematical. She cannot remain neutral. There
are too many great interests at stake, and the
balance of power is too seriously threatened to
allow of her remaining supine spectator. We
predict that in a very few months she will be in
close alliance with Austria, battling with might
and main against the tri-color and the bear. The
result of the great contest will therefore be mo.
mentous, and possibly effect complete revolution
in European affairs. 1t looks very much as il
either England or France must be overwhelmed,
must fall from her place in the galaxy of nations,
and her glory be numbered among the things
that were. Russia occupies the safest position of
any other power in Europe, and it seems will
eventually verify the many predictions of her
greatness
The world may now prepare for war ss i'm
pOrtant in its results, probably, as any other to
be found on the page of history. whether man
kind will emerge disenthralled from, or more
securely fastened by the chains Of slavery, il
remains for coming events to disclose. Neutrality
10 the policy and interest Of our own country, but
her influence should be and will be nevertheless
ct work, though silently, to stimulate the spirit of
freedom which has long since begun to pervade
the masses in Europe. The United States will
feel the effects of the war, but by no means in
proportion with other nations If protracted
long, it may be Of some benefit in forcing us to
cultivate internal resources, which we have in q
pre-eminOnt degree, aud making US, to GER
tain extent, Independent on commerce.