The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-05-15
Ille South eBter1l
A Calm View Of the Luxembourg Difficulty
SHREVEPORT :


Just now it is the MoselIe and It's tributaries that
France wishes to make the line between it and the
growing power beyond. The German Confederation
have hitherto found necessary to defend that line
by converting Luxembourg into fortress capable Of
holding, and therefore requiring for its Defense
considerable army. Such fortress filed with Ger
mans and surrounded by German population, within
short days march of the French frontier is doubt
provocation land the Germans, who, to do them jus
tice, have not been much given TO the spontaneous
and unproVoked invasion of France, have fancy for
calling Luxembourg the readiest way for that purpose
It's value, however, is simply defensive and such
the most ordinary English tourists can form some no.
ton ofits real value for they may cross and recros
the French and German frontier several times every
year OF their lives without seeing Luxembourg,
approaching it nearer than Metz or TreVes. What
ever power holds Luxembourg must in time Of war,
bury it in many thousand men and so to the best eff
belief it would never be necessary for FRANCE to
mask it with larger aggregate force than the ordna-
~ garrsons of Metz, Ferdun, and other minor for
tresses. The fact of the country population being
German must render it somewhat less costly to the
German side than the French but to neither can it
be essential. As the position is there it be held
and in the event of that involves more loss than
gain to the master oft. Military critics may have an
answer to these considerations, but they have no
reply to the stubborn lessons of history Or to the
right of inference from the existing state of things
How is it that after ages Of power and conquest after
the-use OF vast resources and opportunities, great
empire like France does not hold this province lying
20 does far within the old goal of French Ambitioa
How is it that the people themselves are still German
though Germany is on the whole not pOpulous as
France Or advanced in arts or arrnss The more
attractive and plausible the ideal rights of the case
and the argument that Luxembourg ought to be
French the sterIsr and more irresistible is the logic
of factS-that it Is not French and therefore most
probably never will be.
But lateral defense can be compared with that
political security which is founded moral causes
and which consists in mutual confidence, without
menace and without fear. The acquisition of Lux
embQurg by France, which even pretends to confess
fear of Germany would certainly inspire it to more
serious degree Even the Germans have good reason
not to like it, while Belgium could not regard it with
out unmitigated and undisgused alarm. As for our
selves pretend to nothing more than a by
sanders interest in this question, and only wish
to see the matter settled much as possible to the
satisfaction CT all sides, but certainly have no
positive wish to France annexing German popu-
laon, outhanking Belgium, and pushing salient an
gle half way to the Lower Rhine. We wish to see
her content with position which may stand COMPARE
with that of any country in the old world. What
indeed, does France want more than France? She
combines the climate and the races of Italy and of
ttese isles, of Germany and of the Spanish peninsula
II not equal on the Atlantic she is more than our
equal on the Mediterranean; and it is through her
that communicate with Indian Empire. No
country has greater natural privileges thrown into her
lap and almost thrown upon her, sitting on her an
cient throne, within her inviolabe pale. Why
should she herself about the only frontier which
nature has not made? Her anxietes if they are not
assumed, can have real foundation in history, and
only have the imaginary support Of wild and Wis
onary forecasts. But if we are to forecast the dis
tant future, does the bodest prophet venture speak
Of an aggressive Germany? Is that, indeed, a nation
to burst its bonds and emulate the Roman, Frank and
Norman examples The continent, and not less the
hereditary character of races be changed before
that becomes worlds alarm. France will he France
and Germany will be Germany in time, and long
after and it is for France to decide whether she will
be content with her magnificent inheritance Or
will relapse into the old insanity of gambling for
worthless land with countless treasure and priceless
men.