The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-10-29
eiJ pat III



Fysm ths lopasg 1Aas Octoh4 .. II
Disappofn,ed - We 80 oflen and % happily
have See9 shout Il snm;de& oahs3ak Of
hostifities between Fsaucs and Epalaud, ~
ought nov to be less essilI moved By TIN
paI,er war which has besu fora few montkS
raging tetxesn Paris snd Bsslia. Az much
provoeation - may afsss freu ~ - -
abuse OF foul language has, it il trua,e been
given on either side. But NE should not sui.
Ter the mad philippines ofthe Krus Ieitung, OF
the scarcely less insane retDs6 Ofahe1 ibeste,
to disquit us. The pretexts for war are not
certainly, wanting. But although the wolff 10
never at b loss for one against the lamb, q
takes great many % bring them 70 sst-to
with another wolf. The plain question y, not
what reasons have France and Germany to
70 to war hnt rather what has either ofthose
Two countries to hope from going to war
France might wresl the ssGallic bank of tie
Rhine from her Teutonic neighbor. But
there are many other things that they could
achieve with less trouble and danger, and
with greater hope OF impunity, If they dared.
They might, without war, share the Nether-
lands and Switzerland between them, or they
could find ampler scope for ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
frlissia on the siie OF Austria, and France at
the expense Of both Peninsulas. But there
are crimes from which men shrink from mere
awe Of their enofmi,y, and among them must
be numbered no less the unprovked agrees
sion OF the weak by the strong than an IN
usiible war, fought evenly the strong against
the strong. Take the sorst possible view Of
the human racer, and suppose them capable
IF the most henious offences, but never ex-
pect them to overlook the cost and gains Of
any enterprise. Look upon them as ruthless
and unspairing to their neighbors, but reckon
upon their utmost considerateness oil them.
selves. Had Prussia only her lust for terrific.
nv, Bavaria, Wurtemburg and Baden were IS
fully at her discretion as Hanover, Sch'eswig
or Hesse. She sieeped short 10 her mad ca.
reer of conquest because further progress
might have involved her in risk is incommen.
surste with any possible gains. And it was
from some consideration of that nature that
France was deferred from pressing those
claims to compensation which formed the
theme ofthe Auxerre address. France and
Prussia were at that crisis INCIDENTALLY afraid
Of one another We speak out that word
freely and without any intended disparage-
meni OF the gallantry Of either nation. For
a mere international duel, such as would be-
fit ehivalrous times, they would both 60 eager.
" enough on the ground, but in a real mod
srn war it is not merely nations valor that
is engaged. Its all IFS wealth and substance,
the life blood of its prosperity and all this
is seldom yentured unless the game is so
aaie or the stake so great as to justify q dis
regard OF common prudence.
= c are to allow that irritation has gone
further in atwe.yemonth between France aud
Prussia than II was ever suffered TO proceed
between France and England during tho
lapse of two score years. Bot il is precisely
because the animosi,y is so much more VIC.
lent that ii may be expected to exhaust itself
more rapidly. Men cannot be forever hold
ing their fists in each others faces They
must either strike or be laughed at for their
eiunty blDster. Between Trance and England
me feeling was for many years one OF fancer
the aim was revenge mere shedding Of blood
might have assuaged it ; one victory might
have hlunted the smart Of a never forgotten
defeat Bat between France and Prussia
there is an instinct of Jealousy the subject Of
contention Is supremacy. Halt score OF
bloody campaigns could settle the dispute, or
determine permanent advantage on either
side. ! he world has seen many draw games
such rs il is supposed to be here contempla.
ted-between Athens and Sparta in ancient
Greece, between Venice and Genoa in the
Middle Ages. between the houses Of Hans
burg aud Bourbon in modern Europe. Bat
the circumstances are no longer the same !;
the object of war in olden times was merely
the conquest OF lands its results in our days
must be the subjugation Of nations. For the
former treaty might award the title deeds
but the latter must depend on the consent of
free beings Louis lslY had only to over
run and rarage a province, and he enriched
himself to the full amount ofits revenues
but who will say that Asace or Lorraine
would be benefit to Prussia, or that France
would be stronger and happier for the pos
session Of the left bank of the Rhine The
annexation of n Rliihon of willing subjects
nav be en- addition to o State, bat the enslave~
ment Of ten reluctant millions neutralizes IT'S
power by double that number. The surren-
der Of the Roman Islands was reckoned no
loss u England. Expulsion from Iombar
dy and enice may be accounted clear gain
10 Austria. Napoleon was well aware ofthe
change In the worlds destinies when he ac>
knovedged the strong instinct Of modern ma
tious toward 'nsElQmeraiinn, and shrank from
any vain attempt TO resist it. Followed up
to rational results, there is no doubt that the
Ct nationality furnishes us with the
best guarantee for the continuance of Euro,
peaa peace. United Germany, like united
Italy, can be no danger 70 her reighbor The
OF france is not that those nations
can ST any time become too strong for her, but
that she may one day cease to be as strong
against them as she was Yet, there is no
doubt I'll It the strength Of France grew in
proportion as her Ill feeling against England
atatel Her amisy with Germans and ital-
iaus may be fraught with no less certain ad-
vantages than her cordial understanding
with u.s.