Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-09-03
TIE WAR IN EUROPE.

lEOA y PAVAuAheht AAASALSAuy uuW
in Ems, giving an account Of the
insult offered Count Benedict OF
that place by the King Of Prussia
and which is the ostensible cause
Of the war.
It was far from being the cause
Of war. It was simply the ex-
cuse. Self preservation on the
one side, and q desire for the &C.
QUESTION for territory on the other
were the prime causes of quarrel.
To these may be added mutual
jealousies and hatreds.
Napoleon is growing old in
years, and is much older in physi-
cal prostration than years. The
dissipation INDUCED in, and hard
ships endured by him in his early
life have shortened his life by
many years. There are none who
more fully appreciate his true sit
uation than himself. He is pain.
fully aware that to the majority Of
his people he is known as an usur-
per, and as such is hated; his
throne, from the very moment
when he came TO it ensanguined
in the blood Of Frenchmen, has
been tottering and trembling
through the influence of local
dissenslon and dissatisfaction.
Well has he appreciated and ex-
perienced that uneasy rests the
head that wears a crown" He
has ever felt that he was entitled
at birth to the position which he
now occupies, and it has often
been remarked by Americans,
who knew him intimately during
his sojourn in this country, that
he was commonplace and dull
socially, until the succession to the
French throne was the theme, and
then he was all enthusiasm, and
invariably declared that he would
eventually be made Emperor
Thus ho feels in himself, that he is
not an usurper, but thatln in assum-
ing the position which he did, he
simply obeyed the unalterable de.
cree of fate, and it has ever been
the titular deity of his family. But
he knows the estimate which is
put upon him by his people, and
as q shrewd, far-seeing, and pru-
dent statesman, his policy has been
to bind his people to him by the
ties of affection. To this end be
has made many concessions TO the
people, and sought by every pos.
sible act to wear away the preju-
dice which exists towards him, but
has failed. The Empress, although
lovely, beautiful, chaste, and pure,
has ever been unpopular in France.
It is true the native gallantry Of
the nation has won for her out
ward marks Of respect that the
heart of this nation did not enter
tain. The Prince Imperial is but
child, and of course has, as yet, no
place in the hearts of his country
men. Old age and disease hurrying
him swiftly to the tomb, Napoleon
sorrowlully and painfully beheld
these portentious signs. The am
bition of his life has been to sur
render the throne of France TO his
own heir in flesh and blood.
There was but one way in which
it could be done. The French are q
martial people-they glory in war,
and blindly adore the military hero.
Could Napoleon lead them through
q successful war, he felt that he
could then die in the full assur-
ance that his son would succeed
him, firmly seated upon the throne,
and in the hearts of his people.
The rapid strides which Prus-
sia has made in military sciences,
have caused her to be viewed by
all Frenchmen with jealous eye,
and hence Napoleon, above all 9th
er powers, desired to engage in
battle with Prussia.
Bismarck, the great statesman
and ruling mind of the Prussian
Court, has ridden into power and
position upon a hobby which is
dear to every German, and which
is an union of the German States,
provinces, principalities and little
duchies. He has educated the
German mind up to a perfect fe-