Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-13
Il niuu aud 9ispatsh.
Largest CIrculation in City and State
TRANcE AID PRUssTA.

The telegraph reports the probability Of
a war between France and Prussia. The
New York World gives the following as
the origin Of the trouble:
Should the conflict take place it viii be
due wholly to4he jealousy of the French
people at the enormous extension Of the
Prussian power. From a nation Of seven
teen millions Of people, with territory scat
tered in the Northern part Of Germany
Prussia, owing TO the victory Of Sad0wa,
has almost in a day become the controller
Of the destinies Of all Germany, and Wields
the military power Of forty millions of
people. Its territories now actually extend
from the Baltic to the Alps. This state Of
affairs has excited the intense iealousy Of
the French people, whose foreign policy for
generations has been subverted by this
change in the relative power of Germany
and France. Having occupied, with brief
intermissions, since the time of Louis XIV,
the first position among the nations Of
Western Europe, France suddenly finds
herself in a secondary position, notwith
standing the fact that she has had
the credit Of having the ablest and
the most astute monarch of modern
times upon the throne. The sudden growth
Of power on the part of Prussia was evil
IDENTIFY unexpected to the Emperor Napo-
leon, who undoubtedly shares with his
people the chagrin they feel at the sudden
elevation Of the Prussian power Losing
prestige abroad imperils his throne. and
the recent attacks of Messrs. Theirs and
Jules FaVre upon his foreign policy touch
l. IL l
arch, as well as his fears as the would be
founder of a great dynasty. Hence the
uImors that reach us that, spurred on by
his own chagrin, as we'll as by the great
Jealousy Of his people, Napoleon has taken
sudden steps, which, to the Bourse ard the
Stock Exchange Of London, presages war.
Ii is evident that, to offset the enormous
accretion to the Prnssian power, Napoleon
has either undertaken to demand the
Rhine rs a boundary, or has insisted
that Switzerland, Belgium and Holland,
should hold the same relation 10 the
French power that Saxony, WuTtemburg
and Bavaria do TO the Prussian power
in other words, that those nations
should form a French Zollrerein, in con-
tradistinction 10 the German Zollgerein,
which heretofore has prevailed east of the
Rhine. Should this war take place, and
there is every reason TO believe il will take
place, il will be short sharp and decisive
The experience of the campaign, which
practically ended with Sadowa, shows that
the use of railroads and telegraphs have
reyolutionized the character of great cam
paigns, when enormous masses of men can
be hurled upon given points within mar
vellous short periods Of time, campaigns
lose all the long and tedious character
which have marked their history hereto
fore. Unjust be remembered that although
Prussia was victorious in the conflict with
Austria, her military system cannot as vet
have extended over the rest of Germany.
that the needle gun is as yet confined TO
her own soldiers On the other hand, |
France at any moment is capable of put
ting into the field six hundred thousand of |
as good troops as there are in the world; |
and behind these six hundred thousand |
troops is a nation vain, proud, and at this |
moment hot with passion against Bsmark |
and the Prussian power. Should the conflict |
take place, il will clearly be for the posses
si0n Of Belgium and Holland, which coun- /
tries have from time immemOrial been the
battleheldsin the campaigns between France |
and the various German powers. 1t is not /
likely that England will be involved in this
war. Its effect upon this country is dificult
to determine. 1t may be that the result to
Us would be beneficial in sending money |
for investment here, which could not be
used with Europe in a state of war. 1t /
would also create a demand for our bread |
stufIs and provisions. So far as the public /
are aware the present condition of things |
is solely with regard TO Luxembourg, which |
il seems Napoleon had made a formal offer |
to the Dutch government but the difficult |
ty was in the fact that Prussia had already |
garrisoned its principal fortress. 1t is un-
doubtedly upon the possession of this Duchy |
that the present conflict originates.
In connection with the above, we add /
the significant speech made last month in
the North German Parliament by Bismark, |
when the new constitution was under con-
sideration:
"The union between South Germany and |
the North German confederation is in |
course Of preparation. In all questions af-
fecting the power and position of Germany, !
the North and South will be united. / do /
not believe that the Diets Of the States of |
the confederation will reject the work |
agreed upon by the parliament. Let us do
the work quickly. Let us place Germany in
the saddle; we shall find her quite able to
ride -