The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-08-17
War Speculations.

Nothing has yet transplred on the theatre OIL wal u
accurately indicate what may be the hnai result
though there Disgusting the fact that France mas
received very severe blow. We are not much gwen
to demonstrations regards war; finance or politics
-discoura ged therefrom by daily and hourly witness
ing what miserable failures are made py would De
Notwithstanding the beautiful and finely spun
theories swept away by the logic OF one little
fact In view of the Intricate mechanism OF European
politics. it seems idle for even the best informed TO
venture prediction the progress, duration or re-
suit of the terrible struggle going OLA struggle
in which alas the groan of the dying soldier and the
shrek of the widow and orphan are all unheard amid
the tramp Of charging squadrons and the boom OF des
olating cannon Whichever win the day, the heart
must sicken over this crime against humanity, and
penetrated in obedience the remorseess behess OF
political expediency
The only safe position to assume IL that, no hatoh
in Europe will be permitted to aggrandize Itself by
territorial acquisition at the expense OF its neghbor
The question of equilibrium is the ruling principle OF
European politics. The enforcement of this settled
policy precipitated the Crimean war. Had Russia
been permitted to absorb Turkey-he dream OF every
| Gar since the time of Peter the Great-she would
have so overshadowed the other powers of Europe as
to stand 3 constant menace to their nationality.
Assuming then that each power feels that its future
safety depends upon preservation OF TINS equilo,
rium-upon checking any one OF its nelghoors IN
career of conquest strange that either france
or Prussia expect to gain any material advantage
even BY series of the most brilliant victories Can
more be gained than that prestige which results IRON
success Would the other powers permit France to
extend her boundaries to the Rhine? On the other
hand would they permit Prussia to extort from France
any concessions that would seriously weaken the latter
| Nous yer1o7tS.
| The existence OF the Napoeonic dynasty may not
be regarded as essential to the maintenance OF this
equilibrium and if So Napoleon is wsging desperate
struggle for what is dearer to him than life itselfhe
succession of the Prince Imperial In case of his de-
feat an Orleanist may be called to the throne OF
France and history will have but repeated itself In
this view the success of Napoleon is question oil
slaughtered men, weeping women and children, and
desolated fields and vineyards; but the success OF
Prussia would be all this and might be infinitely
| 1t might knel the doom Of the most remarkable man
| of Europe, under whose rule, tyrannical AT times
though it might be, and doubtless was France has
made giant strides in material prosperity and military
power.
All this is assuming that the interests of the Empe
ror and of France are identical-that Napoleon is
France. In the light of later dispatches, however
another view must be taken. If these be true, il
France disposed to throw off the Emperor in
cubug or worse whose bluuders may bring disgrace to
the national arms might not the history of the days OF
the Republic be repeaed9 Maddened by defeat, the
lion that has been held in curb by the strong hand OF
Imperial power, may cast off his shackes and again
make all the crowned heads of Europe tremble his
roar Repubcanism is smouldering volcano be
meath the surface of European politics. 1t possible,
if not probable, that republic might be declared in
France and she again enter upon that career which
brilliant though it was, ended at last in the present
Imperial dynasty.
But these specuations almost idle. Rapidly oc.
curing events may place an entirely and unex-
pected phase upon the matter even before this reaches
our readers