The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-07-29
EUROPEAN NEWS.

Of the battlefield: '.Frenchmen ! 20 to
place myself Mt the head Of that valiant army
which Is animated by Its love Of country and
devotion TO duty. That army knows its worth,
for II has seen victory follow It's footsteps in the
four quarters Of the globe" No less solemn
and determined was the closing appeal Of King
William Mt the opening of the North German
Parliament: "Then, like our fathers before us,
let us fight for liberty and our rights against
the pretensions Of n foreign conqucror and as
God was with our fathers, 10 will lilo be with
us in q struggle without which Europe can
never enjoy lasting peace" Some Of the
German people, as indicated by their dispatches.
strive to look little farther into the future,
and will be satisfied with nothing less than the
reinforcement OF Napoleon by the French poo
pie or the extinction Of France from the map
OF Europe. This has an air Of bravado unusu
nj with the German race. II Is true, neyerthc-
less, that II France had ever reason to fear a
single European power, she has reason to fear
Prussia to-day.
But modern wars are not carried to the point
of destruction, and, except In the wretched case
of Poland, no attempt has been made In our
time to extinguish q nation altogether. What
the great powers would not do when combined
they had France In their power, they will not
now suffer single state to do for her own az
graudizement. The suppression Of the En-
pcror will be found quito as difficult. The
Bonapirtes are net to be snufcd out like a
candle. II took oil Europe to land the uncle
on st. Helena. The nephew seems to be even
more peculiarly hyorite Of fortune. His
dynasty. Notwithstanding the dangers that men,
ace II from without, has never been so strong
internally as to-day. France, almost to man,
rallies around his standard. The few bold
critics who denounce the war are regulated
even by their constituents. A war with Prussia
is more effective than the plebiscii' in CONSOLE
dating and Strengthening the Empire. Finally
we need not enumerate the military advantages
of the Emperor to show with what strength he
enters upon this war, or TO prove that be can
hardly be dethroued till France is completely
overpow,rcd and PROSTATE at the feet Of the
enemy.
The determination Of Bonapartsm would
doubtless DO heartily welcomed by Europe. The
same considerations Of political prudence that
would lead the great powers to prevent the hui
initiation Of France for the benefit Of Prussia,
should lead them to regard the downfall Of the
Emperor himself with the liveliest satisfaction.
He Is the grasping, inscriptions foe t. the
peace aud the equilibrium Of Europe. The
Empire itself is monstrous anachronism. II
Ia at war with the age. One can explain the
absolute power Of the Car, the Sultan, the au-
thority Of the crown in Austria and Prussia.
The people In Eastern Europe have not been
educated to anything better. Yet even there
the spread Of intelligence has been accompanied
by liberal movements In politics. The autocri-
cy Of Alexander Is not the despotism Of Peter
the Great The Emperor Of Austria Is yielding
to the liberal sentiments Of his premier. The
Confederation will make Prussia free in spite OF
herself. But France, the most highly civilized
State in Europe, the scene Of glorious struggles
for human liberty, the home OF q proud. enthu-
siastic, intelligent people, has for score OF
years bowed to the reactionary policy OF an
usurper. It is not difficult to account for the
government of Louis XIV, which may be re-
garded as the model Of the Empire. Like Lou
Is, the Emperor has been satchful Of the mate.
rial interests Of the people, has been generous
patron of literature and art, and has made tho
glory Of France secondary only to his own glo-
ry and the glory Of his family. Like Louis, he
has humblci mobiles who could expect to divide
with him the attachment of the people. Like
Louis, he has been unconsciously under the con-
troll Of reckless, intriguing woman. But the
the circumstances Of the time. II was the cul-
mination Of pure monarchy. just as Elizabeth
and Charles v. represented the elimination OF
pure monarchy in their respective co ntries.
And as In England and Germany, so in France.
the elimination was followed by the decline. A
second Elizabeth was an impossibillty in Great
Britain. In France. too. the several reyolu-
tons, and the failure Of several monarchs to
mantain or re-cshblsh the institutions Of Louis
XIV. should seem 10 have assured the failure Of
n coup d'eiai like that Of Louis Napoleon. The
reason Of his success, the essential principle OF
the movement, the rationale Of th. Second En-
pire. have never been completely explained.
Even the brief sway Of the first Napoleon Ia
not 70 mysterious. lie was q brilliant soldier.
lie carried the eagles Of France where they had
never been before. He made the name Of France
O terror to all Europe. lie secured the support
Of the French nation by gratifying its love Tor
military glory. But the present emperor has
never won his epaulettes. Ills soldiers obtained
but fraction Of the glory Of the Crimes. His
Italian campaign was short and decisive, but
his suboriinates brought OF the hurels. Since
then he has suffered Mexico and witnessed
Sadowa, and seen hated rival power threaten
by it rapid growth the supremacy OF France In
Europe. 'Iiit
The Empire Il certainly monument Of its
authors surprising genius. For twenty years
tho Emperor has maintained himself despite
ne predictions Of the world, the jealousy Of his
neiehbors, and the attAcls Of . determined par
y IN France. Though he has respected the So
ciai proprietics and has made his court the moet
brilliant In Europe. he has hardly won the re-
spect even Of his own partisans. Though be
has profssed the grestest regard for his people.
his people do not love him even when they give
him their votes. He has been guilty Of acts
that would shake any other throne In Europe.
He has INJURED the press and the platform.
He has now sntsred upon an unprovoked war.
France with untold calamities, yct
France applsuds. The Empire Is beliered 10 b