The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1867-04-17
Prospect of war BetWee N
France and Prussia.

The indications thicken that there will be
a rupture ending in war between the gigau-
tic nations of France and Prussia, and that
the pretext Of the war win be the little ter.
i,ory of Luxembourg. now belonging to
Holland, but which she proposes to scll to
France. As this sale gives France foImi-
dable fortress and outpost on the German
territory, Prussia is determined not to ac-
quiesce in it.
II the war breaks out, we shall then see
whether Napoleon's late policy of neutrali
ty in German affairs, by which Prussia appar-
emily acquired such an immense aggrand-
izement Of power, was founded in wisdom.
Previous to that war, quarrel between
! France and any Germ; State about Ger
man matter would have brought against her
the whcie strength of the German Conied-
Grafton embracing Au tria, Prussia and the
minor German States, altogether having a
population Of seventy five or eighty millions
of people. The population of France is
less than forty millions. Prussia is far
stronger than she was under the Germanic
Confederation, but is she as likely to have
| the aid of Austria, aftef what has occurred,
as before, when twas a part of the law
that they should mutually assist one anoth-
er?
The government OF Napoleon belier not,
aud are under the impression that there is
now a ftud between the the two great Ger
man Powers that will leave them weaker
and more divided as against France. There
seems to be but little doubt that, in case of
war between France and Prussia, Austria
would embrace the occasion to regain the
place she has lost in Girmany.
The only guarantee which Prussia would
have against such contingency would be
an alliance, offensive and defensive, with
Russia. Then, indeed, thus protected in
her rear, she might well risk any combina-
tions thst France or England might form
against her. 1t is natural to suppose that
there is some such understanding between
these great northern Powers Prussia never
has manifested opposition to tie extensions
of Russia towards Constantinople, the darl-
ing object of Russian ambition, in. which
she has been thwarted by the jealousy and
ambition of France, England and Austria.
On the other hand. it is more than doubt.
ful whether, in case of serious war, Prus
sia would long derive much advantage from
the minor German States, which, in defiance
of their wishes, as in the case of Hanover
ard Saxony, she has absorbed and conquer
ed or Bavaria and Wirtemburg, which she
has over-awed and menaced 1t is very
certain that she would lose them in case of
any considerable reverse.
1t is for the interest of France, if she
encounters Prussia, to do 50 before she has
had time to consolidate her power in these
new acquisitions Even war, single hand
ed, between these two mighty States, would
be war of giants, as they are both armed
with all the latest applicances in the art of
war, and both would draw out, almost en-
mosSe, their fighting populations But the
contest would be very likely to emhroil all
Europe in it nn one or the other side, and a
spectacle would be presented such as the
world has not seen since the battle of Wa |
terloo
AS to the comparative merits of the
French or Prnssian soldiers, they are each |
among the bet in Europe. They had fire.
quent combats in the great wars of the
French revolution. in which the superior
ability of the French soldier was generally
made apparent. The last time they were
in collision was when Butcher and his Prus
slams, who had been beaten at Ligney by
Napoleon. turned up at Waterloo and help
ed turn the scales in favor.of Wellington.