Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-08-06
EUROPEAN SITUATION.

The inactivity Of the French and Prus-
: sian armies still continues. Beyond few
! trfling skrmishes. no fighting has yet
taken place. The reason for this qnietude
lis unknown, but seems to proceed from
the national reluctance which two power
full and evenly matched enemies feel to
commence Il struggle which can only ter
inmate by the defeat of one. Perhaps also
the fear of what may come after the war
has been decided has much to do with the
will he fierce and bloody. has been ac-
knowledged by both the contending par
ties. That it will be prolonged war is
also extremely probable. In such case
when n the issue is decided not only will the
defeated nation be utterly prostrated. but
the victor will also be greatly reduced
by the severity of the ordeal through
which it has passed, and what then? The
great nations of Europe have but little
love for each other. and have always taken
advantage of each others necessities to
wrest from them coveted territories.
Neither Prussia nor France are beloved
by the other great powers. Each OF them
has made too great strides towards domin-
ion not to alarm the other great nations
whose power and position are thus threat
ened. France for the past ten years has
been the first nation of Europe. Prussia
owing to the craftsmanship OF Bismarck and
the result of the war Of 1866, has made
itself the equal of France. and the present
W ar is to determine which of the two is to
be the future arbiter of Europe. The two
nations are in arms and stand confronting
each other. Each. however. hesitates to
begin the mortal struggle and seeks to
strengthen itself by alliances with other
great powers. The fact that neither has
yet succeeded in forming such an alliance
is significant, and is not lostupon either Bis
marck or Napoleon. Austria, Russia and
England have viewed the advances in pow
er made by France and Prussia with equal
jealousy. for in Europe any power gained
by one nation must weaken the others.
Therefore it is extremely improbable that
either England, Austria, or Russia will aid
in placing either Prussia or France above
themselves On the contrary they will suf-
fer them to weaken themselves, and then
will step into the conflict with their
strength unimpaired and either end it at
once or give it such an ending as they may
desire. In any case it is more than proba-
bic that the present war will result inJu'
rously to both France and Prussia. that
neither will attain the object of their de-
sires. and that ''ihe new map nf Europe"
will not be needed for several years to
come. This war is simply duel between
Prussia and France. Each fights for its
own aggrandizement, and consequently
neither can obtain the sympathy OF any
af.the other great powers. II either Eng
land. Austria or Russia should lend its
aid to either of the contending nations it
would be To advance itself, and this would
inevitably draw other nations into the
struggle. in which case only would the
map of Europe be materially changed.
As matters now stand neither France nor
Prussia is deserving of the sympathy so
lawfully displayed in America. They fight
for power. and to gain it they are will
, ing To sacrifice thous ands Of lives, and
to check the progress OF the world. How
ever the struggle may terminate, its issue
will not benefit Christianity. nor will 1t
add to the prosperity OF happiness of the
n world. I