Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-23

iskis9 hontof grin We
war has az e once made ID
d he European Con
aid with 8 celebrity that
sst % be only surpassed By the
HhtuiBgs flashes, the telegraph
mnounces that the peaee Of yes
any viii be converted into the
mrof the morrow. The precipi-
talsd conflict takes 9 world by
surprise; If anything is indeed
surprising IN this day Of action
resolve and Of performance. The
wonderful organization Of armies
On 4 peace footing, which the
tick of an electric clock can al
most place upon a war basis-the
Instantaneous massing Of i'm
mense forces-the combination Of
science, skill and art that have
been brought to bear upon the
preparation Of soldiers by hun
dreds Of thousands, their effect
iveness, and the adjuncts so freely
supplied to the art Of legalized
murder-are all so many novel but
terrible adjuncts to q campaign,
that the World is not surprisedto
realize that a Continent which
slept in peace last week, awakes
on any morrow to the volcanic
roar Of the battles storm-guns.
Il Is not an easy matter, without
occupying too much space and
time, to refer in any satisfactory
manner to the reasons why, or
the mode in which, these hostile
events have been precipitated.
The candidacy for the Spanish
Throne was unquestionably the
occasion; though the jealousy
Of France and Prussia-the strug-
gle for the Rhine provinces, and
for better defined boundaries
Is in truth the real cause Of the
impending conflict. France is
not satisfied with the growing i'm
portance Of the vast kingdom of
Prussia. With wonderful celebrity
has the latter advanced to the vast
power Of a central empire and
certainly 1t seems unreasonable
to suppose that the former could
see Prussia allie her reigning
house with the throne of Spain,
insulating and combining France to
what she considers less than her
natural boundaries, or the neces.
saTy limits Of her imperial exist
ence.
That the Emperor may have
precipitated the conflict, is very
probable. His was q display of
strategy, to exact more than
Prussia could concede without
loss Of diplomatic prestige, or Of
stoppage TO an eventual increase
Of territorial domain. The EN-
peror is as prepared for war, as
he 10 willing to preserve peace;
but be does not seem willing that
peace should only be preserved at
his expense, or that q war should
be delayed until his hostile neigh
hour may be as well prepared as
he Is. II war is to ensue, he in
tends to strike the first blow, and
strike with precision, with power
and effect.
PROFESSIONALLY It seems that
the Emperor exhibits arrogance
in his demands. He insists on
security for the future, as well as
withdrawal of present claims; but
Who can say that this is not the
policy Of q wise ruler, as well
ss the duty Of the Sovereign ofthe
French people? Napoleon would
not risk 90 much, did he not feel
confident; confident in the sup
port Of his people; confident in
that love for Sunny France, which
Is their passion; and confident in
his own genius, his strength Of
win, his foresight and his pru-
dence. It has never been his
to crush a foe. he pro.
3 peace with Austria
when , few further advances
would have Inundated her; he has
over and again proof of
lhs greatest self cOn6denCe-ap-
rsntly almost 70 lhardiness, and
a