, 1866-07-10
(F'om tie Spectator, June l6.J
NAPOLEON AND THE WAR.

springs from scorn, and truthfplncss an
oppression, because it is the result of
cynicism, and the Emperor Napoleon
belongs to it. The manifesto which he
has Just given to the world in the form Of
q letter to Nj. Drouyn de Lhuys is charm
ingiy frank, frank as The policeman who
delares that thief and victim are alike
nothing to him, "provided he gets his
regulars Three great Powers are going
10 war in the hope of acquiring territory,
for Austria undoubtedly hopes TO re-
cover Silesia,-and France, says her En-
peror, with reassuring mcekness, will not
interfere. indeed "repudiates explicitly
all idea of territorial aggrandizemcnt, so
long as the equilibrium Of Europe is not
disturbed" The object Of war the while
is TO disturb it. Prussia has formally an
nounced that the Confederation is to be
remodeIlcd, with herself at the top, Aus
tria as formally demands that sentence
shall be passed upon Prussia by unani-
nous Germany, the war will almost III
evitably give Germany a chief, but yet
France "Could not think of an extension
of her frontier except in case the map of
Europe should be rcmodelled for the cx-
elusive benefit ola great Power" Should
That contingency indeed occur, should
the war, that is, have the contemplated
end, then. indeed, France EcOuId," that
is would, think Of extending her from
tiers Could language by possibility be
clearer? France will not give the VIC
tory 10 any party she will only watch
as impartial friend of all but when the
three Powers, tired out with mutual
slaughter, meet to arrange a durable
peace, France, with her unbroken orga-
nization, with a power almost sufficient
to face all three ia their fall vigour, will
demand her share Of The territory for
which she has not fought. The Empc-
ror ever indicates the territory he will
demand. He wants a GOOD large slice,
not one province, but "demand 10y votes
freely expressed and as freely paid
for,-"lhcir annexation to France"
"The contermiuous proyincesn y Is it
The whole Rhine on which he has fixed
his eyes, or only the German section, or
only Belgian? 1t is a large expression
when used by a Napoleon at the head Of
600, 900 men, and may remodel the map
even more effrctually than the original
quarrel. That reassurlng sentence, right
~ read, might even now, were 1t not so
late, induce Germany to reconsider the
wisdom of waging a civil wal. So com
plete is the Emperor's consciousness Of
virtuous strength, SO convinced is he that
the war must leave him master of the
situation, that he even ventures to hope
the grand prize may be peacefully OBJ
tanned, that the "moral force Of France,
Re, the fear of her bayonets, may be as
effective as her physical force, that IS,
their exercise. lie will not, he tells the
Powers, with a reassuring smile, inter
venc in their duel, but after The combat
Congress, and then-with a side
glance at his own people, SO apt TO fret
in inaction-"none of the questions which
touch US shall be resolved without the
assent of France" All is peace and dis
interestedness, provided we have our
way. Stay, there are two other points
on which France has actual "lnterests,"
things for which she will fight, and which
may be affected in the struggle. The
equilibrium Of Europe must not be dis