Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-07-21
Thursday Morning, July 81, 1870.
The Situation.

The ARMIES OF france anu Prussia are
confronting one another, along the Rhine,
in beligerant attitude, and the world is
again to witness an exhibition of national
proves, excited by national jcalousics.-
Royal puppets need restringing, "hich
must be done with heart cords, in order
ts satisfactorily render the exhibition OF
future imperial gymnastic antics. France
and Prussia are at war-lsto dispatches
record bloody battle and the world is
astonishcd at the announcement, and the
armies themselves are bewildcreI at til cir
own action, not having had time to con
slider the cause. We who are clearly out
of the Continental alliances and influence
many look philosophically at this in
decent haste and enquire tho cause. Poor
Spain nearly exhausted in her civil
commotion, asked Prince Leopold TO
accept the crown aud restore peace and
quiet to the kingdom, and PRUSSIA
acouiesccd in the demand upon one OF
Lor family and promised 10 sustain the
action of the Spanished Corte7. But
Napoleon threateniugly oh; ectod, npon the
ground that it would be establishing
prussian influence en- her pyrehecs
!ordcr, and together with her RhenIsi'
frout;cr aud The intercstin the great Rail-
roads to be constructed down through
Italy. Sic would become vulnerable to
Trussia,l attack from too many quarters
The withdrawal Of She Prince from tic
canlila;are FOR the Spe,;sh throne vas
the result Of TIE threa thening manner OF
France. The world then though that
this bauble Of war had exploded in GA
cous bullying but kingy dignity docs
not ctfervescc so easily. The next cable
dispatches announce the rushing of army
corps to lie frontier ana formal dcclara
tions Of war, upon the prstext of Prussian
indienity towards Franco in refusing to
be communicative to the French Minister
in reference to king Williams Disposition
towards Leopod's advancement. But it
matters but little what the cause may be,
Il csc powers have both been preparing
Ior auIs.o JoaIo fUr II. uss,u returned
from the late Austrian campaign flushed
With victory ana made arrogant by the
acquisition of territory and The conscious
ness of her rival position amongst the
powers of Europe Francs regards this
arrogance with displeasure and winces
under the recollection of Napoleonic de-
feat and modification at Waterloo ard
yields to the long cherished hope Of
1evengmg French pride and chagrip,
besides the national desire Of extending
French influence beyond the Rhine
What tie combinations may be among
the hferentkihgdoms Ct Europe is diff
f cult TO surnlise, but it viii be very off
fcult to prevent many Of them becoming
eaabroiiel, on account of the intimate and
intricate relation of the different crowned
heads and the many conflicting interests.
The preparations, although quietly made,
are upon much grander scale than any
Since the Crimean invasion. 1t is DIFF
fcult to surmise the probable duration or
result of the war, but we do know that it
must be decisive france may vindicate her
modification at Waterloo, and by series
of victories secure the practical result of
the pleJsicitc, which perIetuates the Nap
oleonic rule and advances a step higher in
the scale of power whilst on the other
hand, Prussia united and confident es she
is, may tbwart the designs ofthc family
Of destiny" which will result in rethrou-
ing the Bourborns, which will work the
politiea revolution Of all Europe.
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