New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-08-08
THE aRIGurENED PROSPECT.

by the Allied Courts Of Paris, London, and
Vienna, with respect to Poland, and their call
for War with Russia is earnest and oil but
unanimous. Napoleon may resist tiff
Great Britain and Austria should shrink from
the trial by battle to which Alexander ii. 80
plainly invites them, We think Lo will; but he
cannot do it, even though deserted by bis Al
lies, without an immense sacrifice of prestige.
In fact, Russia has thrown down the gauntlet
to France, conteStng her claim to that leading
place in Europe which the latter has held
since tho close of the Crimean Wars and
France must either take up the gage or re-
sign to Russia the primacy held by her through
the quarter of a century which followed the
Paci6cstion of 1915. And if Napoleon should
consent to eat the leek, it will be mainly be-
cause of the unlucky absorption of his forces
and means in his Cochin China and Mexican
adventures, aggravated by the prospect of an
other War in distant japan.
The French Army and People would gladly
fight for Poland and Liberty in the East; they
are strongly averse to fighting for Aristocracy
and Slavery in the West. Should Napoleon
resolve to effacc the memory of his Russian
rebuff by recognition Of the Shareholders
Confcderacy and war in its behalf, he would
of course be obeyed by the Army, but without
enthusiasm or heart. For France, whatever
may be the Emperor's inclinatiops, hates Slav-
cry and loves Equality. For the sake OF be-
ing tranquil at home and powerful abroad, she
accepts tho Empire; but her people are essen
italy democratic, and bear with impatiencc
the mputation of being the jailers Of Roman
Liberty. No war into which Napoleon could
plunge would be so unpopular in France as
one against this Republic in behalf of the Rebel
Slave Power. 1t might not upset his throne,
but it could not fail TO render it eminently in
secure. We assume, therefore, that the danger
of unfriendly French Intervention in cur domes-
tic quarrel if it ever existed, is peril no
longer.
For the Slaveholders' Confederncy. if not
utterly "played out" is maniestly and
rapidly approaching that natural contamination.
Everything we hear from it betokens exhaus-
ton, impotence, despair. Jef.'s recent levy
en- masse brings very few conscripts to Lis
camps, while desertions therefrom occur by
brigades. The Kentuckians and Tenneseans
who have retreated after every pitched battle
/ fought in their respective States for the last
eighteen months, and now find themselves
/ fleeing before Rosecrans in Georgia and Ala.
bama, cannot be duped by idle gnsconade F;
they know that their respective States ore
lost to the Rebellion, and they revolt at the
prospect Of another year of hardship, pri
walton and slaughter now that hope has
departed. The forces Of Johnston and Penn
berton, beaten in dozen fights without ex-
sppi, with the loss Of two-thrds Of their num-
Der and nearly all their artillery and munitions,
know that they are Observation-Disclosures;
10 lying bulletins or windy General Orders
can cheat them with regard to fact whereof
they have had such ample and palpable demon
stration They have had enough of the
ravages and desolations of civil war; and sigh
for q return to the ways Of industry aud peace.
! 1t is somewhat different with Lees army,
yet not essentially 20. That army can still
/ fight, and, acting on the defensive in strong
position it could doubtless give good account
of itself. In the consciousness that il is better
led and more sklliully handed than it, autago-
mist has ever vet been, i, hns al important
element Of cohesion and strength. But it il
ragged, III sLOd, badly fed, long unpaid, and
labors under the depressing consciousncss that
| il has done it, best without avail. !, never
fought better than at Gettysburg, whore il was
masscd and impelled with all Lees conceded
ability, where it had decided advantage in
tie fret encounter and fought in tie full flush
Of that Initial victory through the two follow
ing days. Human nature could DO 10 more;
and when il abandoned its severely wounded
On that bloOd-sOGkod, wreck-strcwn field, and
turned its face in iull retreat to the Potomac
and tie Rapidan, il virtually left the fortunes
aud the hopes Of the Coniederacy in ruins be-
hind it. Distant partsaus may maunder aud
pettfog to their hearts content; but the Army
OF Virginia knows that it invaded the loyal
States with full intent TO crush the Army Of the
Potomac aud capture Baltimore and Washing
ton and that its return, minus u third of it,
numbers. most Of its ammunition, and with the
Union cavalry harassing its rear, was disas-
ter from which the Rebel cause can hardly re-.
cover. 1t has recently been Reinforced SO as
TO swell its numerical strength nearly to that
with which it broke up from Fredericksburg;
but its real strength is immensely diminished.
Forty thousand men added to it tomorrow
would not enable it to fight another battle