The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-03-10

ness So, Gen. Tarleton had the doc
trine of Mr.. Fox in his favor, who wish
ed for the pencil ola Cervantes to be
able to ridicule those who desired to en-
ter upon Continental war"
Yet it happened, as it often happens
in the order Of Divine Providence, in the
moral as in the physical world, that the
night was darkest just before dawn.
Amidst all this universal dependency
and sinister foreboding, events were pre-
pairing which in few short months
changed the whole face of Europe, and
forced back that torrent of revolutionary
success which had spread over the whole
continent, until it overwhelmed the coun-
try where it had its source in complete
ruin. The discussions in Parliament to
which we have referred took place in
February, 1919. With the siege of Ciu-
dad Rodrigo on the 18th of January of
that year, with the fall of Badajoz on the
26th of March, the first battle of Sala-
manca on the Goth of July, and Napole-
on's invasion of Russia in June in the
same year, began the downfall Of the
French Empire.
Wellington at last reached Madrid in
August, 1879, more than four years
later than he ought to have done, accor-
ding TO the strategists OF Parliament and
the press. This was all forgotten at the
moment, so magic a wand is held by
success. The tickle voice of popular
applause was again heard, echoing the
spirit of confidence which his persistent
and undaunted conduct had revived in
the hearts of his countrymen. His ca
reer Of victory, however, was destined
not TO be unchecked and when, after
his occupation of Madrid, his unsuccess.
ful assault upon the Castle of Burgos
rendered retreat TO the Portuguese from
tier and the evacuation of the capital
proper military movement, although that
retreat was compensated for BY the aban-
donment Of AndaIusia by the French, in
order 10 concentrate their whole force
against him, still the blind multitude
could not be made to understand it, and
began again to murmur.
1t is now difficult 10 see that the yic-
tory at Salamanca was really what the
far seeing sagacily of Marshal Soult pre-.
dicted at the time il would become. "a
prodigious historical event" that it was
the pivot on which at that time the des-
tnies Of England, one of those battles of
which we see perhaps dozen only in
the whole course of history, which are
really decisive Of the fate Of empires 1t
completely unloosed the French power
in the Peninsula, aud prepared the way
for the great success Of Ylttora, the next
year, which gave TIE coup de grace to
the French military occupation Of Spain.
II IS not our present purpose TO trace the
history OF the next campaign, but ii is
curious TO observe tie effects produced
by assured success upon that public
opinion which had shifted so often and
so strangely during the progress Of this
eventful struggle. The opposition. as
their only hope Of escape from political
humiliation. and thinking to swim with
the popular current, abused the ministers
for not supporting Wellington with suffi.
cient earnestness, complaining that they
had taken the advise which they them
selves had SO often and SO eloquently
rendered. But il was OF no avail This
wretched charlatanism was too transps-
rent to impose upon any one and of the
great PARTY who opposed The war, no one
ever after rose TO office or power In Eng
land. 1t required Whole generation,
in the opinion Of the English corsltuen.
cies, to expiate the faults of those who
had sneered a, the great Duke. and had
called the glorious fields of Nmiero.
Busaco, Talavera, Fuentes donor. Gu
dad Rodrigo. and Badajoz. names which
have become associated with the 1roud.
est recollections OF English renown,
mere barren victories, equal in their
effects TO defeats"
We pass now to the consideration Of
another class of difficulties inherent in
the prosecution of every war, and gener-
ally of far greater magnitude than any
other-those connected with the raising
of the vast sums of money required for
the support Of military operations. In
this important matter. ID we mistake not,
there are some striking points OF resem-
blanee between the English experience
during the war, and our present situation.
IL II tie Ht~Hiou among HanA WHO seek
to excite the public alarm on this subject
from unworthy. and sometimes, it may
be feared, from reasonable motives, to
represent the enormous OUTLAY Of tho ma.
TONS wealth which is poured out to save
the nations life as wholly unparalleled
in history. Yet il may be asserted.
without any fear Of contradiction. that
England, with population then little
more than half OF that which now inhab,
its our loyal states. with resources inf.
nitely less in proportion at that time than
our own, her manufacturing industry. So
far as external outlet was concerned.
wholly crippled BY the operation of the
French Continental system. aud her own
Orders in Council, expended. during eve.
~ year of the Peninsula war. MS large
sum as has been required here each year
to create and keep mp The giganiin force
now in arms 10 pu, down lhe rebellion
During the five years that the var lasted,
her average annual expenditure exceed
ed ninety millions OF pounds sterling. or
l. 4 4 =. a 4