The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-19
The Left Bank.
The New York Times says:

Inc New 1Ork IlUleb ShyS'
We believe that this will be one oil the most
popular wars in which France has ever en-
rared. The same state of feeling exists In
Prilssla and North Germany. Rightly or wrong
". however, the rest OF the world will see In the
present outbreak of hostillties, On effort on
the part of France to rectify her frontier and to
possess once more the LEFT bank OF the Rhine:
Startling as 1t may appear, the historical
fact of O. Rhine frontier Is 14O0 years old. Ma
poeon only fulfilled national aspiration
when he made Flanders, Luxembourg ana
other territories between the Enlne anu tne
sea an integral portion of the First Empire.
and Napoleon III is perfectly aware that he
would cover his name with imperishable glory
bv making the Rhine, the Pyreness, the Alps,
and the Ocean the boundaries OF modern
France.
to perceive that there is species OF territorial
fitness In this much-coveted Rhine frontler.
BEGINNING ut the Mediterranean, France Is
senarated from Italy by the Var and the Alps;
from Switzerland by the Rhone and the noun,
tains of Jura, and finally, from the Grand
Duchy of Baden by the Rhine. Just at the
anrle which the Lauter forms by falling Into
the Rhine, the natural boundary ceases, anu
an imaginary line commences, which runs 70
the North Sea. Taking this line as the pase Oh
q triangle, and the further course OF tne
Rhine and the seacoast as the two sides, we
have a territory. one-half of which is occu-
MED by the Kingdom Of Belgium, and the
other 6y Rhenish Bavaria, Rhenlsh Hessee,
Rhenish Prussia and small slice of Holland,
comprehending superficial area which may
be roughly stated at "a, 900 square miles, occu-
pied by O population which probably numbers
nire millions. In language, not over three
millions of these speak French, the remainder
nsine either Flemish, Dutch or German, with
an occasional admlxture OF patoiS, compound
ed out of some two of these languages SO lar
as national sympathies go, the German popu-
latIons and the Flemish sections OF Belgium
have an intense aversion to France. while tne
avowed partlsans Of an extension OF the Em.
pire only exist IN some OF the large cues oi
Belgium, and even there have but little power
or influence.
Any obvious determination on the part Oh
France to make a comprehensive annexation
of the left bank of the Rhine, would pro6a-
bly be q signal for a contest from which
scarcely any of the great powers OF Europe
could stand aloof. The independence OF
Belgium is guaranteed by Russia, PRUSSIA,
Austria and England. as well as by France.
ON the partition of Europe in 1915, 1t was
given to the King of Holland, and after the
Successful revolution in 1880, the same pow
ers that had consented 10 the Treaty or Vi
euna concluded fresh agreement IN LONDON.
which made the maintenance OF the newly
created kingdom, shortly after accepted oy
Leopold of Saxe-Coburg. question Wnlch
each and all of them would be obliged to sup
mort by force of arms. The Prussian posses
sions on the lett bank Of the Rhine may proba-
bly become the immediate theatre OF the war,
and the development of French policy will, no
doubt, be mainly guided by the success or
failure Of the early operations there.