The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-12
W4R TOPICS.
France at Bay.

These are the dark .st days France has been
called upon to pass through since 1851. Fear
and anxiety hang over every household IN
PARIS. few days ago the majority OF the
French people believed that their armies would
never be uprooted from German soil until
Prussia sued for peace. With startling sud
denness, the whole prospect has been changed.
1t is question moi OF marching 10 6criln: oat
of saving Paris. The Emperor has fed to
Chalons, apparently in the desperate hope OF
stemming tile tide Of INVASION should it pene-
trate beyond Metz. The disaster ls too vast
to be disguised. The French Ministry, III
stead OF announcing triumphs, can only be.
seecb the people 70 go forth to the defence CT
their native land. Those who have seen in
this war only question between Napoleon
end Bismarck, between despotsm ndfteedom, !,
between one man and the ascendency OF liberal
ideas, would naturally suppose tilit tins appeal
for fresh armies would b. unheeded. They leave
rnt of consideration the fact that, when O
proud nation sees It's existence threatened, It
will generally push all political differences
aside and strike for the preservation OF us
honor. III Napoleon perished tomorrow this
wur would 90 on. Already the Natloaal Guard
are c,amuring to be led to the front. Ihe
love OF sFather!und, which we praise 10 the
Germans, Is no. Extinct i'll the trench, anu
we NAV ASSUME for The present that the lnya-
a subject of rejoicing with them.
Erancc and Prussia Compared.
The conflict between France aud Prussia
makes it interesting to compare the relative
re. ources of the two countries. Francois con-
aiderablv larger than the Confederation, not
ouly IN territory but IN populat'on, f,r the last
census gave the numbers as 80 0OJ 00U Erccca-
men against % 100000 Pru>s.ars. In France,
however, the normal rate Of increase 10 popa-
lat:on is very SLOW 100 years o.'Dg The time
occupied il doubling the nurnbar, wh!;e trus,
sla takes but rJrty-tGo :ears. Ia hnancll
matters the advantage Is on the side OF Hrus-
ala. whose Budget has never been Tery EeaVf.
rh,, lpcidercc of tax ltlon in PRUSSIA may DC
put down as about one pound head, wn!Ie n
Frarce 1t is uesrly two pouuds. Iho natloHal
debt OF Prussia is barely two pounds . head'
while France has to pay interest," on hf'ern
mounds a head. In one case The lnterast IS
e. 900, 900; in the other 1t is no less than III. :
90 600. France excels Prussia Il her econo-
mic position. The commerce OF france IS
nr,p .er than tha: Of Prussia, and it has been
Computed that while the annual income OF
each P:ussian is G22 per head, that OF the
Erencumm m rs f27. Prussia, however. is IN adj
vance c! France, and IN fact OF all the European
States. as fLr o. edIca ton Is concerned.
The Prussfan Comm n,.e er-in-Chief.
The crown Prince OF Prussia having com-
nonn,c ,ted 10 the South German soVerelShS lis
annoIutment rs comnander-ln-colet of 1nelr
orm,cs. has received from each OF them con-
Grain arory mega 70 expressing their satisfac..
tion rho Kiue of Bavaria ls "vcry happy,
and thanks Lhe Prince for his attention. The
K,nr of Wurtcu burg reio;ces, "in our German