North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-07-20

either side into Germany and France
forming the natural "divide' between
France and Prussia. Westward along this
high land runs the German jurisdiction
and language, and from Bingen down the
Rhine to Holland the cities are, and have
always been, largely German. The title
Of France to Holland and Belgium as part
Of the cleft bank" is quite as natural and
well founded as to the Prussian territory
for which she now proposes to fight.
Coblentz, the fortified capital of the
Prussian province of the Rhine, is town
Of $500 population, with stone bridge
across the Moselle and one of boats across
the Rhine, uniting Il With the great fer.
tress of Ehrenbreitstein on the ri sht bank
constructed by Carnot and Montalembert
and capable of accommodating 100, OOC
men. Coblentz has SO long been point
Of refuge for French fugitives and emigres
that, for this reason, it has more French
blood than any other of the Rhenish cities.
1t is, distinctively, however, German
town. The futility of the pret,nce that
the Rhine can be national boundary be.
tween France and Prussia is seen in the
fact that no military power could hold the
town to France, if Prussia retained the
castle of Ehrenbreitstein on the opposite
bank.
We next come to Bonn, world-renowned
for it's great university, which has an anu
al grant from the Prussian Government of
100000 thalers, whose university build
ings are the finest in Europe or the world,
and whose library numbers l4O, 900 vols.
No German city is more thoroughly Ger
man than Bonn, where Beethoven was
born, Won Schlegel lived, and Niebuhr
died. Its historic associations date back
prior to the Christian era. From the ter
rife fortitude with which it has again been
defended through eighteen centuries, it,
no doubt, III any regular siege, would hold
the largest army seriously in check. I'm
der the dominion of the First Napoleon,
the university was closed. To make the
Rhine a national boundary would destroy
the city Of Bonn.
Fifteen miles below Bonn, on the left
bank stands Cologne, or, as the Germans
spell it, Koln, so-,alled because the Empe-
ror Claudius, about twenty years after the
death of Christ, planted "colony" in
honcr of his wife, the Empress Agrippina,
who was born here. 1t is fortified CAPT.
tai, and contained, in 1855, with a small
town of Deutz, across the river, which is
suburb Of Cologne, about $780,
1t is we'll known to us for It's
the chief Of which is the
Eau dc Cologne, and is attractive to trav-
elers for it's magnificent cathedrals and
their works of art.
Dusseldorf lies upon the right bank of
the Rhine, but so closely associated in it's
with Crefeld and other towns
On the left bank as to make the Rhine
bond of union and commerce between
hem, rather than line of separation. 1t |
s chiefly celebrated as the centre of the
art union for Rhenish Prussia, and has
been under Prussian dominion for centur-
es. In 1855 it contained $4,000 inhabi-
ants, and was the capital of district on
10Th sides of the Rhine, numbering L.
100000.
The last Prussian town Immediately on
he left bank of the Rhine, before it en-.
ers Holland, is the half-Dutch town of
Clevs, the centre of q 'scircle" of 100000
shabitants. 1t came into the hands Of
he house of Branderburgh (Prussia) in
.G99, and has since SO remained, except
when conquered by France in 1905. and
Until receded to Prussia, by the treaty of
.Sl5.
The local subdivisions or provinces of
Joblentz, Cologne, and Dusseldorf, lie on
both sides of the Rhine, showing that not
wen in the uarrowest political. sense has
he river ever been line or division be-
ween states or districts. When Napoleon
made Murat the "Dukc of Berg" and as
signed him dukedom on the Rhine, his
lukedom crossed the river instead of boun-
ling on it.
OFF the Rhine, the cleft bank" is thick
y studded with cities and considerable
owns, including Treves, Dusseldorf, and
AK Ia Chappelle. The last is near the
border of France, and was the birth place
md residence of Charlamage, and is the
most nearly French in its associations of
my of the towns of Rhenish Prussia. Any
conquest of Rhenish Prussia implies the
Of the whole of it, the east as
we'll as the west bank, and the humbling
If Prussia to her former condition as one
among the many petty and diminished
German Powers.
it's not wise to underestimate the means
at Napoleon's command for the work he
has undertaken. France proper had, in
1866 population of 3s,O76, O64, while
Prussia, including the territorses it had
recently absorbed had in 1863, "a, O43, 1866.
Its treaties of alliance with Bavaria, Wurt-
emberg, and Baden bind to it population
of 10, 600, 900 more. France has an active
army of 4OO, 600 men, reserve of 400, 900
and Ga,de National Mobile Of $4,000.
Total 1850, 900 men. Prussia, it is claim
ed, can control about one million men,
Her military returns foot up as follows:
Standing army, 100000
Contingents Of Saxony, Brunswick, Mecklen-
burg Strelitz and Hesse Darmstadt, $4,000
of Baden Wurte mbcrg Bayaria OOO