The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-08-24
Our New York Correspondent
Among the Green Mountains
che North Carolina Election -
Some good advice to Democrats
gsnerally-The French and Frus-
sian War; principles involved:
"Reminiscences of history, etc.
BARNARD, WIsDsoR Co.,
August 10, 1870.
Concluded from \ yesterday.


Concluded from Yesterday.
Whatever may be the prejudces against
France, history shows that III the true sense
of the word Prussia has never been liberal
and il not now liberal. Was it not Prussis
that deuged Europe in war to wrest Silesis
away from Austria, in order to make tht
Silecsns nation of slaves? Was it no
Prussia that was the chief villain in tn,
tragedy of Poland partitloned? Was no
Prussia the first to let loose her dogs of wa
upon THAI great uprising for liberty, tn,
French Revolution, and the last to cal
the of? Prussia has never once tough
for freedom she bas never once championeC
the cause OF an oppressed people she has Il
this day perslstently kept down the risi ne
spirit of independence within their owl
territory. But she has hundred times
fought for conquest, for greed, to secure her
royal race, 10 make despotism permanent
Neither is the cause of Prussia that OF "
united Germsnv. Prussia has ABSORBED
Germany, not Germany Prussia. Wilism
|. il the modern impersouation OF the divine
right of kings and hates republicanism with
ali the stubborn hatred of his naughty
nature; and Bsrnark, 80 far FROM being the
conciliator Of the people, is the promptest
and most logged foe OF the popular viii
extant When men tell me that Prussia is
the liberal apostle of continental nations,
cannot forge: that she is still relentless
trysnt over unhappy Poland: that she still
insists on coercing Schleswig Holstein to
obey her will; that she has trottied Hanover
and has greedily grasped Frankfort
Ham burg and Nassau; that she still assumes
to govern with Arbitrary power and the
proves Of her arms not only her own people
but thousands of people who detes. her. and
whose liberties she has filched without rhyme
ror esson.
The history of Prussia and of the broken
promises of the Prussian crown from ISIS
90 1913 is not much more favorable TO the
prospects OF constitutions" government in
Germany than the history of the con.em ptu-
Gus hostility with which Bismark and King
William have treated their Parliament ever
since the .'grapeshot prince" of lSIs be
came, in 1861, the divInely const tuted ruler
of the Inheritance of the Hohenzollern.
What the sword helps princes to win it is
apt to help them to govern.
But France, however, governed still
represents the age of oceanic canals and
Alpine tunnels, OF steam lines, of manuiec.
lures, art, science and advancing civilization.
Louis Napoleon, the greatest sud best civil
twenty years in the path OF order and pro
gress; his power has maintained she
equilibrium OF Europc-Russia, Austria
and Prussia, all having found in bin an
insuperable obstacle to their dt.potil
ambition. Commerce and the peaceful arti
hsve thrived, the French people have been
freer than ever before. and peace, not war
has been the grand object OF the reign
Nor should we forget that France was our
ancient ally when her aid necessary &c
our independence. But somebody writing
from Iowa to the New y ork EceniHq Post
actually believes that France assisted the
colonies in their struggle because she was
''at war with England, - and thinks that the
case OF Lafayette and other generous
trenchmen who came over to us of their own
accord has parallel in that nj the Prussian
Baron Steuben and Of De kalb."
France did not assist America because
she was at war with England; but England
went 10 war with France because she assis-
ted America. The Prussian Baron Steuben
came out to America. not because he was a
Prussisn. but because he was urged By the
French Count De St. German 70 come. He
was not in the Prussiau service at all at the
time, but was living in Paris, where his
French friends sympa hizlng with America
put him in relations with the American
commissioners, who finally persuaded him
TO accept commission from the young
republic. De kslb was not Prussian at
all He was a lieutenant colonel in the
French army when Choiseul. in 1867, having
made up his mind to stimulate the movement
towards independence in America, invited
him to visit this country a secret mission
to study the feelings and temper of the
of military resources and preparations. aud
to inspire them with hopes THAT assistance
from France which they eventually received
and which secured their triumph. De Kalh
discharged his mission with skill and fidelity;
and az ne was q soldier of faith and honor
rather than offortune he held himself bound
to give the help of his sword and of his
science TO the colon!sts whom he had
encouraged into revolt. He fell gloriousy
on the field of Camden, sealing with his
blood the cordial alliance of the Oldest of
Christian nonarchies with the Youngest of
Christian republics. The army of CORVALLIS
against which he faught was largely made up
of HessIau mercenaries.
A few radical demagogues are now at
tempting to make votes among democratic
Germans, by zealously espousing the Prus
sian side of the controversy, probably sup
posing that Prussia represents all German
speaking countries but In this they will
signally fail. Democratic Germans are not
so ignorant as to throw up their hats for
Prussian despotism, or for q party which az.
proves it. The attempt to make party cap
ital in this country out of foreign wars was
never success, and probably never will be-
1t was tried in the first French Revolution :;
again In the contest of the Spanish South
American colonies then IN the Greek Revo
luton, and failed miserably in all The
flight of Louis Philippe next furnished
field for the display of demsgogueism and
with the usual result. Then many of our
people went wild over the cause of Hungary
and made great hero Of kossuth. Ii
seems like dream to .ook back upon the
scenes of that dBy,-and the subsequent
sneaking out of the country, by kossuth,
under an assumed name, and the final tiat
collapse of MS cause. GarlbalGi mex. furn.
Ished food for weak demagogues, with much
the same result. The foolish attempt of
the republican party to utilize the present
outbursts OF German or Prussiau sympathy
will prove no exception to the uniform rule
German democrats see through and des pise it.
1t Is perfectly idle, also to attempt to enlist |
the psrtisanship of Americans for or against
one the other of these contending peoples |
on the score of the disposition shown in |
past times by the government of one or Of
the other toward the United States! If We !
are hidden remember, for example, that the
Emperor of the French avaled himself OF
the opportunity afforded BY what he, in
common with English statesmen like Mr.. |
Gladstone, not to mention personages near,
er home. since conspicuous for loyalty
considered the final disruption of our Union,
70 attempt the establishment of an empire In
mexico. we cannot forget that the prince
VINO accepted the offer of the crown in Mex
icp was herman OF the ancient and imper
la house Of Hapsburg, and that this prince
was cordially recognized as the lawful ruIer
Of NJ no H. L.