Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-07-20

Those of Us who have had our attention
fully occupied in the last ten years by the
events which have transpircd at home, and
have therefore taken but languid interest
in foreign affairs, are now likely to turn our
thoughts very earnestly to the current history
Of matters in Europe France has declared
war against Prussia and Prussia has accepted
the declaration and indicates determination
to fight to the bitter end They are the two
leading powers Of Europe, and this strife is
for the mastery. The portcnts Of it have for
a long time been seen by the thoughtful OBJ
server Of events. The evil ambition Of Ma
poeon aspircs to the leadership Of Europe.
victor over Austria and Russia aud Italy,
he now seeks to measure his strength with
Germany The war has not even o pretonsc.
When Leopold withdrew his name as cnndi-
date for the Spanish crown, and King William
disclaimed al interest in his candidaturc the
only avowcd reason for war was removed.
But this reasonable demand upon Prussia was
no sooner granted, than Napoleon took occa-
sion to demand still more, and required that
Prussia shall make its Withdrawal Of Leopold
permanent Such an extrayagant and insult
ing request, after all that was first asked bad
been granted conld be met only by instant
repulse. Aud the result is that France forces
war on Prussia, and Prussia accepts it rather
than submit to dishonor The manner Of the
Emperor, from first to last, has been such a.
to preclude any idea that he desired to have
peaceful settlement.
Before this, the first blow may have been
struck, but We do not suppose that the first
will be the final blow In this war there will
be more than one Sadowa and more than one
Solferino. The disparity Of forces IS not great
1t is a war Of ambition on the one side and
self-respect on the other. It's a war by Napo.
leon to extend his territory, and by Prussia e
defend itself against the greed of her neighbor
Each nation can command more than mil
lion of soldiers. The French are quick, en-
thusiastic, full of the idea Of glory the Ger
mans are slow, dull, and full Of the idea Of
Fatherllnd When the French are exhausted
the Germans will Just be warming to the
work If Napoleon expects only a summer,
campaign woimagno he will be disappointed
The war will not stop with him as conqueror
There is reason to believe that there will
be an European war. The other nations cal
hardly be lockers on in sucha conflict. Aus
tria, Denmark and some Of the smaller state,
may range themselves with France, but tn,
sympathies of Russia, England and the Uni
ted States will be with Prussia If thes,
nations should be swept into its vortex, the
war would be the most terrible in history
Its effects will be more or less felt at once
in this country 1t will increase our shipping
and commerce 1t will be likely to create
large demand for breadstuiis and appreciate
the value of wheat very considerably. L
will return most of the bonds held in Europe
lower the value of United States securities
raise the price Of gold and render our owl
currency weaker 1t will probably affect oul
currency somewhat as our own war did, though
without draining our resources, or increasing
our taxes There is no question that war is
an unmitigated calamity to the world, even
though it may be attended with some tempo
rary advantages 1t is the reason and rca.
son enough, for the misery and poverty that
have already overspread Europe And now
its course will be as of old, to build up few
already enormous fortunes, to give fame to a
few at present unknown names to bloat tn,
influence aud pride of an aristocracy and ru
| ling class, that were far better Inundated an,
disgraced, and to depress the poor and thu
miserable still more If war unrooied pala
ces, instead Of peasants houses; extermnatcC
kings and mobiles and ministers, instead of la
borers and citizens broke the china on draw
ing-room tables instead of ravaging peasants
fields subjected the higher ranks of society
to its deyilish insults aud passions, insteaC
of heaping them upon its lower orders, il
civilized countries it would not last week
would never even begin If the right mel
were shot at, rather than the men who hav
no interest in the struggle, and do not want i
at ALL such conflicts would soon be over. But
so long as rulers, when they fall out, or grow
ambitious, can get entire strangers, who hay,
no cause of quarrel with each other, to shoe
each other, there will be war If the worlC
chose to obey Gods truth instead Of thu
Devil, there would be no more reason VIII,
the Prince of Peace should not come, an,
why we should have no more wars, excep
such as are made in Righteousness and for tn
interests of the world, instead of for the ag
grandizement of It's ambitious leaders, and tn
destruction of its poor and miserable. In thi
war, the elements of right and wrong are iu
extricably mingled, and still SO far as we ar,
able to get at the question, the balance o
right seems to be with Prussia, and we there
fore give her our most cordial sympathies
The French Emperor always puts his hand oil
the sword when he says, the Empire i
peace" and if he, who, with loudest pacif,
expression, has unshcathed the sword NOR
than any one, and struck with it more thar
any, for personal aggrandizemcnt, should per
ish by the sword, no one would question tn
Nemesis which should discrown and destro.
him,
~ A too fashionable SANDER has just beef
most eileetually exposed in the following
manner In the discussion on Spiritualism il
Rochester, june 2lst-23d, between Mr. Deai
CLARK, Spiritual and Curative medium, an,
Rev 7. s Hubbard, Mr. Clark stated tina
upon enquiry il was found there were thirty