The New York herald., 1870-07-31
WAR FOR AN IDEA.
What the War Means to Europe and What It
Means to the World.



rulers or the settlement of issues that may exist
between them They become in such cases the
representatives. perhaps unconsciously- prin-
cples that are working in the hearts of their peo-
pies. and by some act they set fire to the fuse
that communicates with the vast magazines of
explosive material heaped together there as
though prepared for just such an occasion, and
instantaneously the national sentiment bursts
wildly and dehantly forth and the kings become
to 1t the incarnation of the principle struggling
for expression. During oil past time it has been
quite impossible for any two separate Powers to
exist beside each other without frequently resort
ing to arms to settle their--so they are called
disputes. 1t is not stretching presumption too
far to presume that. SO long as two separate
and distinct natonalities do exist beside each
other upon the faco Of the earth, questions for
arbitration will arise that will compel conflict of
some kind to settle them. in which the more pow
erful will triumph, whether for the time human JUS
tce is vindicated or no.
III terrible tornado passes over any portion of
highly civilized country, carrying destruction on
its wings to all resisting obstacles and dismay to
all hearts, we look upon its effects as horrible and
straghtway begin asking why just that section of
country should have been thus visited ?-just as
though it had been special visitation of Divine
justice. But when we inquire deeper and learn
why the tornado happened, just there it is found
that was one ofthose operations of nature impos-
sible OF other means of expression and that though
that special section of country suffered the general
good of the general whole was promoted aud
therefore that the tornado, instead of being
curse, was blessing, and that too, in the best
sense Of that word.
If we look back over tho history of the world il
will be clearly that had there never been war
there would never have been civilization. War mas
been in all time the greatest and best civiizer the
world has had. All the gigantic strides civiliZa-
ton has ever made can be traced as the legitimate
results OF some terrible strife between races or
nations or within nations. What would the world
have been to-day had the Egyptian Persian, Gre
clan and Roman conquests never been made? II
would have still been barbarism. Instead then,
of denouncing the Aexanders and Caesars Of an.
cient time, they should be regarded as the instru-
ments difiusivc civilization made use Of to re.
claim the earth from barbarism. The lesson Of
our late war is but one more eXempication of
the same general principle. All wars have had
their uses aud have performed their several parts
in the great drama of general civilization, and all
wars that may occur in the future will also per-
form their several useful parts lesscnng of course
in their Importance as applicable to progressive
civilization as time moves on and thus assist in com
pleting the drama begun by that most ancient of
conaicts--that between families-when there was
no more extended rule.
Viewed IN this general sense, what does the pre-
sent war in Europe mean? Does it mean simply
that Louis Napoleon and Bismarck Disagree or
that the Celt and the Teuton wish to measure the
strength of their arms! 1t would be very su-
pericial understanding that could thus decide.
But il does mean that there are obstacles in the
way OF the onward march of civilization that are
required to be removed, which can be accom-
plished in a no less terrible manner than by ex-
in hnn de mt do nf III,
Shall we pr judge the case and say that the ends
to be attained do not justify the means that must
be used? The teaching. OF the past do not war
rant such prejudging OF the casc and no con
sistent verdict be made up without first
knowing what the case is aud to what it will lead
1t is very easy to look upon the map of Europe
and see why Russia. Prussia and France should
desire to divide Europe between them. II is only
to be wondered why it has not been done before
this. Nor should il be deemed matter Of indif-
ference to France that Hohenzollcrn was pro-
posed for the throne of Spain Louis Napoleon
saw in this the beginning of scheme to leave
France out in the division Of Europe. and though
it was temporarily banked by his d scovery of
the meaning of the first move he knows right well
1t will be pursued by other means. He knows
that Bismarck has policy, and that his purposes
are liked and that he is infeXible, and knowing
this he also concludes that there will come
time when Prussia will be weaker and France
stronger And thus il is that the current of events
forces war upon Europe, that current having
now arrived at the point where nations tend
towards consolidation. Neither France nor Prus
sia fight to preserve what they already have.
They both light for more, and more they cannot
get without absorbing third Power.
How this third Power remain a neutral
spectator of the fight that will go on to
determine it, destiny If Holland and Denmark
are the prizes Bismarck plays for, and he should
win them of Napoleon, it is hardly to be supposed
he would stop to ask England whether lie was en-
titled to them. But England couId not quietly OBJ
serve from her position across the channel any
nf nIlArn finn xts,ft.f
than demonstrate dipiomatcally. Nor could Nor
way and Sweden be entirely indifferent to Prus-
sian growth when she il viewed by them with an
anxious eye for the advance steps already TAKEN
And so on until every country Of Europe should
have consideration. Each one Of them has direct
interest in the present c0niigura,on OF Europe and
can scarcely fail to be drawn into the strife for
supremacy between Bismarck and Napoleon.
This is the external, the superficial view of the
situation. What of this situation when tested by
the barometer which indicates the character of
the atmosphere out OF which it arises and which
determines just how severe and extended the
storm must be to bring about an equilibrium in
its conditions?
Everybody knows that there has long been
gradual growth of sentiment in the minds OF the
people OF Central and Western Europe that is
tagOnstic to monarchical form OF government.
1t has found vent in numerous places and among
q number of nations. AS yet monarchical Europe
has been strong enough to confne this sentiment,
but no one knows the real depth nor the extent of
it. II but an occasion be given it IL will surely
not count for nothing in determining the conditions
of Europe. II is well known that Louis Napoleon
retains his control of the French nation by having
seemingly waived some of the pc possessed by
him, which waving the people as yet have not
awakened to find was no real extension OF liberty
to them, but only clearer formula than pre-
viousy existed. Was this growing sentiment of
freedom confined to France it might have no rcla-
tion to the general situation but il Is not conined
to France; it exists nearly diilnsivey il not as
constructively in several other nations, while none
OF the European nations arc exempt from il, with
the possible exception OF Russia proper and
Turkey. 1t is this sentiment that has risen into
power of sufficient magnitude TO modify the
present current Of general events which has
brought Prussia and france into collision; and it
is this sentiment that, when the fight shall wax
warm, viii burst into free aud open expression,
and 10 such volume and fury as to cause the
thrones OF Europe To totter aud TALL in complete