, 1870-08-06
Origin OF the VAr-Nnti0nna Prcju.
niccs and NcnAiDllitleh-AN National
und Not II nyMnAtic Eontcse.

FTxsfs the fhH Mall GaZt7ff. July H.
The war between Frame and PTu.ia IL tho
lsst aud greatest, Illustration Of ths old DIS
tinction between the occasions and the causes
Of events. TIE existence OF Prince Leopold.
OF Hoheuzo!lcrn, is already forgotten. The
Spanish element seems to have, Altogether
dropped ont Of the quarrel. On both sides
1t y recognized that the grievances and in
latant hare no resl connection with The issue.
France and PRUSSIA a.e not fighting because
u. Deuedetti tried to take King
William by the button~ho1e, or because
King Willsan n spoka to the ai1-1s-csmp at his
hack instead Of to the Ambassador standing in
front OF him. They are not fighting SIMPLY
became the Emperor Napoleon has private
ends q his own, which can bo hetteT served
by war than br pesce, or because Count Bis
mark wants 10 revive the tagging enth!,Hiasm
Of the South German population, or te 5u;'ify
chequer. Both Of these motives may have
had their weight in determining tha preciae
moment at which the contest should be begun.
II The Emperpra lea1th had been better, and
bis pzeparafions more complete, he might
aHaiss Of the North German Confederation had
taken different turn, Count Bismark might
I hare been more careful to mske it impossible
Tor him TO find one now. But such considera-
| tions - these have reference only to the date
historian 10 explain why it is the war
ot 1870. not Of ls6s OF 1879: they
no Is wss 1 At T IL NOT do tEey he'p in ths
.ss degree to explain the popular character
with which the var il to al appearances ils-
vested, alike in pasIs and Berlin. There have
teeu wazs in which the nations concerned haze
had nothing to do but to suffer-waEs which
had their beginning and end in dynastic o.
family ambition-wars which we're AS muci,
waged for the interest Of the sovereign. spas;
from that OF the nation, as though no blood
but lis OWL were shed in them, and no pursf
but lis own lad to bear the burden 1t does
| not look II though this will ever be eaid Of the
war between France and Prussia Unless we
are deceived by false news and fslsc snalogies
the enthusiasm on both sldes il genuine ant
Who bold with u. Thiess that. The occasion
| IL ill.choeen,~ there msy be minority acEo's
the Rhine that wish the future OF Germany
| we're identified With another cause thau tha
Of Pfussia. and With smother family
Ike theee count for nothing when var ha.
cnce been declared. They do not altel
The fact that this il in IN uaualdcGrte Wa
Of natious There is hardly Frenc man OF
German who has not looked forward to 1t =
inevitable for the last four gears. It must havs
entered into the calculations u the stata5me1
Of Prussia xher they measured theiE strenGt3
agsipst Austria; il has held its place in the cal
eulAtiona ct the statesmen OF Francs since th
day when Austria Eas proved the weaker. Fo
! tho present, at Ill events. we do not dout
, dieclain al Thoughts at territorial xggsau
, 1izcment. How long thus moderation woul
,, ! endure under the e1c teucnt of great victor
is another matter, but ~ regards tho fealn
| in which the contest originates the ot2temeu
! may easily be quite true. France has gon
TO var 1athef from fear than ambition
r1thc. from belief that it is essential to be
very existence to check the growth OF Pr1ss1
, than from any conscious deti1este extend be
> ! own limits. She has seen Prussia suddeu1
to Ler own~ That chaotic Germany wlllc
excited no fears, planned no surprise,
. | pursued no policy, hla become organized, an
: organized Under Influences which must inev
tab1r lead il TO aim 1t becoming still greateI
The old confederation Haa obviously ! mas
. for weakness, not aousce Of power The i,
y terests Of its members wese 70 conflicting ths
. such strength As each possessed only serve
= to neut1a6ze the strength OF its neigbbo
Now the phoie Of Germany, north Of the Mai
: il Al instrument in the hands Of single Stat
!. md al beyond that boundary threatens to fc
low the eanne irresistible Law. II il not a6sin
;. Prussia merely that France has arued hessel
= II Austria had b<e1 the uniting force in Ge
. many. Austria might have come in for Il
+ same hostility. Il is true thst the anbitit
- peculiarly irritating and aggressive kind, a a
- the fact that it las been gratiaed At the 60
i Of overriding good uaany native Wishes
! at1ive ut German unity by p3easantef 3o'
:. | hxs enabled Frenchlnep to persuade the1
!. | selves or 10 fancy they have pessuan'
~ themselves, that it is the violence = !
:, tie sresd OF Prnssi1 that most eae!s
= tl5eir e15ity. It i. prett- c!ea1. loWeses. ~
e. it is tka I'll which II -ring nroueht a,ou'.
the tueans aplo,eI t. bring II Aboq.' =
n. really eor+r.. lie action q zatlce: = u
" manI Fad tee31;. one amid the bleasiug
I.m!x. instea i Of the rtar Of cannon, il wot
~ rtill have te, q . change OF saa and eya ON
=. in The ewes Of tfue EEenchm1u- Tie capf
W ~. nr,>uxde himself that there can be tot
~ ~ enough in Europe fer France and Gernu
no | s1..rosjrE Germany IL 10 become great
- - eorsohdnied empire. Perhaps reflect
~ ~ how useful the CIT Of nationality, the cIa
a. A. founded on identity Of race and speech /
~ ~ ftcp to his own country, helps to lncfe7sa
~ ~ aiayu,, The left bank af The Rhine was q
= wholly German. and in soue moment Of
- i ina teyerse Als4ce msr be tlched a~af
tun ,a- rive completeness to the German inhen'an
~ Even Il f5erchuaen could be 1roornt 70 Ee1
~, ~ these fears az gronndless. t1ese afe or
~ which are simple ceztsinties. Nnetner Fts
e!s !, "a nj likely to suffer u1aterial loss at
ne hs-,t,a nY = urittd Germany, she is certain
~ snder-rrr, che bag already sn1ered-alos
~ | ;nfIuerce and position which is hardly
HI rallIrc g to ! proud and sonainso nation Fr,
an Ess eioricd IL being the arbiter Of Europe,
: i po~er 10 le tila1 cousulsel and deferred /
de every European difficulty, the perma,
Ied. factor in every European ennahiuaton.
.yex kss rot leeu Ill the siuca Ssdow,. ara
cen tle1islcs bitter hostility again.t Ina D,
the | Which E1e wor5td the chas r., It NAV
are. stnt.neEs>: grievance, "a. We in E:e
self have Issaun eAouHE 20 kuow hoE keeulY