The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-10
Tho Prospect OF WAR in Europe.

The eyes of thinking men, both in this
country and abroad, are turned upon France
at this moment with no small degree of in
terest and anxiety. 1t seems to be univer-
sally conceded that continuance, for any
length of time, Of the present state of
things in Europe is impossible. All the
signs Of the times are pointing to an out
break between France and Prussia; and the
restless and vivacious journalists Of the
former Empire are buckling on their armor
and girding up their loins editorial, in
preparation fas-x1aa N 7urtherance of, that
grand scheme of Franco. German dominion,
which lfas been such an alluripg vision to
the Gallo mind ever since the downfall of
fthe great Emperor. The adherents and the
opponents of the present French dynasty
are united on this point. ZG1RARDIN, one Of
the most vigorous Of the Paris teuilletonists,
aud an uncompromising enemy Of the ad-
ministration, concludes significant article
In late issue of La Lt6ertf, in which he
sketches out scheme for the extension Of
French dominion in the Rhine lands, with
the following words: "In case Prussia
ssshould refuse to accede to this pacific ar
arrangement, we demand that France should
ssno longer hesitate in pushing the line of
sher actual, to that Of her natural, frontier.
awe demand, in word, what we last year
SCALED sour share Of the river"
The French people are in state of ex-.
treme Observation-Disclosures normal condition
This can only be remedied by the substitu-
ton of condition scarcely less normal
by a war. The idea of q recovery Of what
M. G1RARDIN calls "their natural frontier"
has always been q popular one among the
French. A war for this object would unite
the whole nation. And indications Of some
such scheme are not wanting either In
France or Prussia.
Within the last three years France has
been quietly sccumulating at Vincennes
munitions of war in enormous quantities.
Large masses of troops are concentrated on
the Prussisn border; and on the other hand,
the Prussian frontier garrisons have been
doubled, and drilled into the highest state
Of efficiency. The King Of Holland, appre-
hensiye Of being crushed between the com
batants, is now in Switzerland striving to
obtain the protection Of Queen VICTORIA.
And finally, LOUIS NAPOLEON talks peace
more strongly than ever. All this ia omin-
GUS enough.
So much for the probable chances Of war.
Now for its probable consequences. There
can be no reasonable doubt that war
between Franco and Prussia would unite
Germany against the invader. Community
of Language is a strong tie, snd, with the
possible exception of Belgium, whose inter-
ests lie the other way, there is not single
Teutonic State which would not make COM
mon cause against the hereditary enemy.
Nor would the proximate consequences end
here. Russia would undoubtedly take ad-
vantage Of the European imbroglio to seize
upon Constantinople, which she has long
coveted; and this once achieved, England
would be forced into the field to protect her
Indian possessions, which such move
would seriously threaten. No wonder that
Queen VICTORIA is reported to have urged
EUGENE to use her influence with the EN-
peror to avert 80 dire and so universal
calamity. The first gun fred by France in
Prussian territory will be the signal for
convulsion, whose final results no man can
/ foretell.