The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-15
THE WAR CLOUD IN EUROPE.

THE WAR CLOUD IN EUROPE.
A Wiesbaden letter in the Cincinnati Volks-
blatt speculates as follows on the question of
an outbreak between France and Prussia.
Political interpretations OF various kinds are
attached to the interview Of the king OF P-us-
sia with the Emperor of Russia lat the Ger
man watering place, Schwalbach). which are
believed to be directly connected with the men
acing attitude shown by France to Germany
LATELY lately.
Nobody believes in the imperial assurances
Of peace (gIven by the Emperor Napoleon in a
speech at Troyes), which may be simply e1-
piained by the fact that Napoleon, after having
flushed his military preparations, now only
wants to fill his war treasury, and for that pur-
pose has thrown loan Of five hundred million
francs on the money markets Of London and
Paris.
I believe war between France and Germany
is unavoidable. 1t may break out this year, or
it may be delayed by diplomatic tricks till next
must as matter Of necessity. Although there
exists no cause for war yet, at present, when
war is wanted cause, and fragrant one, too,
ia easily found, as WAS seen In 1866. In Prus-
sia, as well as in France, everything tends to
war, which will become more and more ne
cessity that must be obeyed.
In Prussia Bismarck knows that war against
France, especially II France is the aggressor,
will effect perfect union Of Germany at once,
and put rapid end to the desire OF German
princes, with small territories, for separate
confederacy. For that reason preparations Tor
war are made; for that reason the national
vanity Of the French is tickled, from time to
time, and the Emperor is placed more and
more in false attitude toward the French peoi
ple so that he c4nn)t help commencing war,
and then in Berlin they will say that he is thY
aggressor. ::
But In France Louis Napoleon, if he wants
to be the 6ohnder of dynasty, is forced more
and more to that war. He by no means likes
to undertake it, feeling that he has grown old,
rather too old, but he mLst. 1t ls certainly
significant that the ruler who managed the
D ,htical affairs Of Europe, and by whose arbi-
tration all pchtical questions we're settled but
few wears ago. is compelled now, in order to
secure his throne and the succession Of bis
son, to put ut stake the fate OF France IN the
great game called war. That is sad affair for
France, but still worse one for those who will
have to bear the burdens OF that war.
AS things stand now, the breaking out OF the
war is expected as soon as the harvesting is
over and the new loan will be realized. In
deed. circumstances and causes OF different
kinds Especially the very cool attitude
Of England to Napoleon III, or the
stipulations between the King of Prus-
sia and the Emperor Of Russia at
their interview) may render such a
rapid commencement of the war not advisable,
and it is possible peace will be preserved yet
for the winter; but that war must and Will come
surely, and France will certainly also be the
aggressor-Count Bismarck will know how to
ax that. And when France is the aggressor
and disturber Of the peace. prete1t tora Eq-
ropean coalition against France will be found;
and even II Napoleon should succeed In max,
ing Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and
Holland more or less his allies, what could
France do, together with those allies, against
an alliance Of all Germany, England and Rus
sia?-while Austria IN respect to the German
part OF her population, her disturbed finances,
and her dangerous Muscoylan neghbor, would
be obliged to remain neutral. But not even those
small second-rate alliances are secured yet TO
France, and that the favors Of the small
powers ID sought 30 aealously is proof enough
that there is no prospect at oil Of alliances
with great powers. And will those allies
help France any more than the South German
allies helped Austria in 1852 They hardly will
Spain will soon havo her hands full at home.
Belgium knows ii she ,abandons her neutrality
warranted by Europe, she will lose her inde-
pendence as State ut the next treaty Of peace.
In Sweden a powerful party is decidedly
ayerse to French alliance, and to interfer-
ence IN the quarrels OF Central Europe.
There would, therefore, be left only Denmark,
with about Is 700 men and some old men-of-
war, and Holland which could furnish still less
French papers, it is true, are talking also OF an
alhance with Switzerland. but I consider the
statesmen of Switzerland too judicious and
patriotic to act thus against til, liberty and
Independence of their country.
The whole talk about those alliances seems
to me to have only the design of encouraging
the French, and Of showing them tnat in The
war against Germany they will not have to
fight alone.
THE WAR RESOURCES OF TRANCE AND PRUSSIA.
The London Spectator (not very kind to
France) compares the resources of France and
Prussia in view Of their possible hostile rela-
tions. It says:
Prussia has no reservoir of energy like Paris,
30 dangerous in peace, 30 valuable in war; that
France coutains forty-fve cities, with more
than $4,000 people, and North Germany only
thirty; that old Prussia has but 4,17S,000
acres under GRO }, and France 81, ,661, 900; but
we have stated enough to SHOW that IN avail
able resources, IN the power to tight on great
scale for o long time, the Hohenzolierns are
not yet the equals OF the Bonapartes.
Many things n.ay remedy this dispari-
ty-individ.ial genius, organization, or
the national char cter--but on these
points observation can tell us little
beyond few general facts. We English, m "
ed 1t may be, by all instructive sympathy with
all or leu. onic blood are apt, especially since
Sadowa, to tuiuk the Germans the higher race,
and no doubt they are physically stronger than
the French. But they labor under great la-
bllity to disease, citizen Ire uot qualifying
them for the open field. Arms OF precision are
as fatal to physical power AZ gunpowuer was
to armor, and Frenchmen can march when
driven rather the quicker. lu mental power
the Prussians may be superior on the Whole,
but it must not be forgotten that the very
best qualities OF the French character-its
courare. iuyuutivenes5 aud eastlclty-come
out most strongly III war; that In a cam
paign its main dofect, vanity, Ceases 10 Do
INJURIOUS while Its greatest folple, IeDr1ie
in1patience, has all the effect OF energy, A
Freuchmau in SPIRITS Is very dncull soioler
to beat, and III TINS war he would begin with
the cony ctIon, inspired If not justified by his
tor. th at he was the better soldier OF the two.
He NAV not, of course, be equally we'll led, but
the impression OF Euglishnen that he would
not be is little more than guess. Prussia
possesses in Count yon Moltke very great
strategist, strong alike III his genius and in the
full conviction that il ID the first IN the world;
but tile seven weeks war did not develope gen-
erals of exceptional ability aud the Prusslan
Court has a tendency to put its trust IN princes.
Napo con is embarrassed IN that way also, be-
ing unwilling to eutrust armies to men who hate
bis dynasty, but between princes and political
marsnals there is not much tu choUse, aid the
French chieftaln can stoJp for general among
the masses OF the people, while tne Prussian i,