The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-11
The Gigantic War.

The Gigantic War.
With all the lights of events, as they
have passed in review before the world,
there is something not easily reconcileable
with well-founded Impressions in the his
tory of the deadly collision between France
ment doubt the courage of the French SOL
der. France in the past has withstood
combined Europe. How, then, account for
the late terrible reversesf The reasons are
not far to seek. The Prussians themselves
admit that they have an overwhelming
superiority of numbers. The French
armies, victorious and invincible in the
Crimea and in Italy, in fact everywhere
that a real effort was made, have now,
with rapidity that almost takes away
ones breath to contemplate, yielded to the
superiority of Prussia. What wonder that
these unlocked for events have aroused
France from one extreme to the otherf A
momentary paralysis, the effect of stupe-
faction and surprise, will claim it's own,
and then, as one man, the whole nation will
arise, nerved, if not with fury and ven
geance, certainly with the valor of heroic
souls-worthy the warrior genius of la
grande nation. AS in 1892, honor, and
liberty, and life, are all at stake, and
Frenchmen are able to accomplish in 1870
what their ancestors achieved eighty years
pgo. The country is rising en- nsassS3te
drive back the invader, and free her soil
from the indignity and terror of his pres
10 OF rriei in 6ho o<,fo
nation as France now finds herself in, that
history warrants us to prepare for great
changes In human affairs. A judicious and
we'll informed cotemporary-theL London
Uniuerse-reminds us that the history of
the past wars of France with Germany Is
quite similar with the commencement of
the present terrible campaign. The Ger
mans have always been victorious in the
beginning. 1t was so in 1868 when the
Triple Alliance" England, Holland and
Sweden), compelled the French monarch
to cede Franche Comte, and to sign the
treaty of Aix-la- Chapelle. But the fortune
of war soon changed, and Condo, Turenne,
Luxembourg and Vauban, swept all before
them on the plains of Flanders and along
the banks of the Rhine, and enabled their
royal master (Louis XIV to dictate the
terms of the peace of Nimeguen. The
same inrl792, great reverses, terminating
in still greater victories. The field of
Valmy, upon which Kellerman annihilated
the Prussian arms, was the first of series
of triumphs which was soon to fill all
Europe with terror of the French arms.
Two years later, still the same. Defeat,
and then the wonderful successes achieved
by Tourden, Money and Pichegru. So
also in 1886, the humiliation of the retreat
of Hoche and Massena was forgotten and
atoned for by the brilliant campaigns OF
Napoleon the Great. It is reasonable to
expect from the present race of Frenchmen
that they should remember whose children
they are. AS Catholic journalists we ara
quite aware of the especial difficulties o.
the present case. We believe in God and
in His constant providence, and we sea
with shame and indignation the base de.
sertion of the Vicar of Christ at this mo.
ment of supreme peril. But this lachet'
has been the act of one man, not Of the
noble French people,. and we have righ
Ito hope that the consequences of his deser
ton of the cause of God may not fall upoI
that gallant army which Plus TX. has 81
often and SO solemnly blessed. The Frencl
soldier is always the champion of tn
Charch. Napoleon III. is-well, perhsp
the last of his dynasty.