The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-08-24
The Origin of the War.


Doubtless of Our readers have been puzzling
their brains satisfactorily for the present
in Europe. The probable ends be accomplished
vague and lily Defined and the for hos
tility SO trivial that the mind is confused in
deavoring find sufficient justification for terrible
a war, in which thousands of lives will be lost and
millions CT treasure expended The Pail Nall Gazette
has explanation of the which have led to the
war, and We think them rational that append an
extract from the article. After stating that the war
is the last and greatest illustration Of the old dstnc
ton between the occasions and causes of events it goes
on to that both sides it is recognized that the
grievances and insults which have been paraded by
either combatant have real connection with the
issue-that if Napoeons health had been better and
his preparations complete, he might have found
pretext for war two years ago. and if the North Ger
man Confederation had taken different turn Count
Bismarck might have been careful to make it i'm
possible to find one now There have been wars in
which the nations concerned have had nothing to do
but TO suter-wars which were much waged for the
interest OF the sovereign apart from that of the nation
as though no blood but his were shed in them.
and no purse but his own to bear the burden. The
Gazette thinks the present is unlike thesethat
it is war of natonaites and not of dynasties,
and which has been looked forward to Tor the last
four years by every intelligent Frenchman and Ger
man as inevitable. The Gazette thus continues
1t must have entered into the calculations of the
statesmen OF Prussia when they measured their strength
against Austria it has held its place in the calcula
lions OF the statesmen of France since the day when
Austria proved the weaker For the present, at all
events, we do not doubt that Frenchmen are quite in
earnest when they dscaim all thoughts of territorial
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, How long this moderation would
endure under the excitement of great victory is
another matter but regards the feeling in which the
contest originates the statement may easily be quite
true France has gone to rather from fear than
from ambition, rather from belief that it is essential
to her very existence to check the growth of Prussia
than from any conscious desire to extend her own
limits She has seen Prussia suddenly assume posi- |
ton in Europe at least equal to her That cha
otto Germany which excited fears planned no sur
prses, pursued policy has become organized and
organized under influences which must inevitably lead
it to aim at becoming still greater. The old Confed-
GRAFTON was obviously mask for weakness, not a
source of power. The interests of its members were
so conflicting that such strength each possessed
~ served to neutraiZe the strength of its neghbor
Now the whole OF Germany, north of the MAN, is an
instrument in the hands of single State and all be-
yond that boundary threatens to follow the same ire
sstibe law. It is not against Prussia merely that
rance LAS dfuieu ueFSeIl II austria naQ Deen the |
uniting force in Germany, Austria might have come in
for the same hostility. It is that the ambition
manifested of late by Prussia has been of peculiarly
irritating and aggressive kind and the fact that it has
been gratied at the cost of overriding a good MANY
native wishes to arrive at German unity Dy pleas.
aner read has enabled Frenchmen to persuade them
selves, to fancy they have persuaded themselves
that it is the violence and the greed of Prussia that
most exctes their enmy. 1t is pretty clear however
that is the end which is being brought about, not
the means employed to bring it about, that really gov
erns the action of France.
If Germany had become one amid the bleating of
lambs instead of the of cannon would still have
been change of sad and evil omen in the eyes of
true Frenchmen He thinks more accurately he
feels that he breathe freely in this new atmos
phere He cannot persuade himself that there can be
room enough in Europe for France and Germany, sup
posing Germany is to become great and consolidated
empire Perhaps reflection how useful the cry of
the claim founded identity of race and
Speech has been TO his own country, he increase
his alarm. The left bank of the Rhine was once
wholly German, and in moment of future re-
verse Asace may be flched away to give completeness
to the German Inheritance Even if Frenchmen could
be brought to reject these fears groundess there
are others which are simple certaintes. Whether
France is is not likely suffer material loss at the
hands of united Germany she is certain to suffer-
nay, she has already suffered loss of influence and
position which is hardly less CALLING to proud and
sensitive nation.
France has gloried in being the arber of Europe
the power be first consulted and deferred to in every
European difficulty; the permanent factor in every
European combination She has not been this since
Sadowa, and she chershes bitter hostility against the
power which has worked the change 1t may be SEN
timental grievance, but we in England have reason
enough to know how keenly sentimental grievances
may be felt, and how largely they affect the conduct
and attitude OF whole people. The natural growth
Of Germany operates necessarily a check upon
France, and the natural resentment which the sense of
this check arouses finds expression in the present war
The political difficulties of the Emperor and his dis
,overy-too late-that personal government is not
Easily transferable from father to son, have FASTENED
he occasion and precipitated the disaster.