The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-08-12
feated: Napoleon wished to beat Prus-

feated. Napoleon wished to beat Prus-
sia "single-handedIn He cannot do it.
Unless the troops Of other powers come
to his assistance, he cannot save Trance.
Accordingly, the intelligence transmitted
to us from our own correspondent at
Paris, is OF the highest moment. It
states that Italy has despatched an army
to the relief Of Napoleon, aud that Aus.
tria will at once follow the example. It
is quite possible that Napoleon had an
understanding before the campaign with
Italy and Austria, but wished to do with
out their assistance, if possible. We
stated on the authority of our cores
pondent at Paris, some time ago, that
Austria had made treaty with France.
Now is the time for her interference.
France is in dire extremity, and nothing
but help from outside can bring her
through it. The series of battles fought
on Friday and Saturday will henceforth
rank among the most men orable in the
annals of history.
Is TT A MENACE TO EURopE?-The New
York World says, referring to the Impe-
rial hints thrown out by Napoleon:
Between the victories of Hagenau and
Worth, and Saarbrucken and the fall of
Paris, intervene many serious matters:
an army actually in the field, from Stras-
burg to Nancy, and Metz to Verdum, of
nearly half million of men, two thirds
at least of them veterans of tho regular
forces; many fortified places; the in
domitable hatred of the most passionate
and dangerous Of European peoples.
Yet the Emperor calls upon all French
men to rise and save their country, and
the Ministers of the Emperor declare the
capital in state of siege. This, to our
thinking, is supremely the significant
feature of this days news-and this
means not so much defence against the
Prussians as n menace TO Europe For
it means plainly this, that if the Empire
cannot within very brief period repel
the Germans beyond the Rhine, France
will rise to repcl them in her own fash
ion, as of old, to follow them, with the
flag of the Republic in the van of her
armies. This truth, blazing up in q
night, means more and worse to the
King, and the royal princes Of Prussia, if
they would but see it, than all tue mi
trailleurs Of NIcAIahon, aud all the Chas-
sepots of DaZaine. 1t means us much
and as much sevil to other princes and
sovereigns also; and those who know
how deep and how wide are the mystic
rious qualifications throughout the Euro
pean Continent of the new revolutionary
spirit, and the still newer revolutionary
organization of our times, know we'll to-
day that things infinitely more serious
than the glory or the downfall of dynas-
ties, moro serious, too, than the political
unity, or the political parceling of q
race, are hanging in the balance of the
tremendous conflict, the first fierce clash
of which breaks on our ears to-day.
News of military and naval prepara-
tions come to us from every side The
French navy is ut work in the North.
Transports by the score are hurrying
forward to the Baltic with armies of in
vasion. Denmark opens to them her
harbor of Elsinore, and stands with the
sword of the Vikings half-drawn in her
vengeful hand, almost visibly painting to
join them in the assault upon her leu
tonic spoilers. Everything now compels
to action. to action prompt, fierce, and
decisive. No intervention of foreign
powers could do aught but aggravate the
general peril to Europe which sm moulders
in the particular peril to France of the
present moment. Whether that smoul-
dering peril shall burst out into famo,
the events of very few days-of an
hour, one may almost say, who compares
the swift moments with their pregnant
and dreadful possibilities-mus decide.
To draw the sword is one thing, to
shenthe it another. a decisive defeat Of
the Prussians and the invasion of Ger
many by the French may still save the
Empire from expulsion. It may be
doubted gravely to-day whether even
such successes rs these can still save Ell
rope from revolution.