The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-08-10
Voice Of the French Press.
The 0ha' Side Of the Case Fully Pre-
seated-FTanee and the Enporer En-
0orscH.
rHr co1tp1ER mrs rrAs rNrs


A6G jacta est /! the die is cast !! War
is declared between France and Prus
STA, and the two greatest military pow
ers of the world are about to hurl
themselves against each other in a ter
rife conflict, of which the destinies OF
Europe are the stake. War between
France and Prussia means the most
formidable collision that the ages have
ever witnessed, not excepting even
those gigantic battles of the republic
aud. the first empire, which made as
many wounds drip blood rs could be
opened in the loins of humanity. But
let us for q moment silence the tumul-
tuous emotions that awake in us, in
rorder to contemplate the situation with
that calmness and GOODNESS which an
hour SO solemn requires. Two grea
nations are about to rtnd each other
until M of them secumbs. We
scorn false patriotism, and are free to
confess that the ere.ny who eonfronts
her is worthy of France; that, far from
despising that foe, we regard her rs
very formidable, and it is with lively
emotion that we estimate the gravity
OF the peril to which the rude test that
our country Is about to undergo ex.
poses us. But whatever patriotic
preoccupations may be, we do not feel
inclined to utter h rsh repreaches and
offensive accusations. Tho conflict
now preparing i, in III opirion, fatal
necessity which had to be met with
resignation sooner or later; it is the
last installmcnt of a debt bequeathed
to the present alone with the heritage
handed d>wn by q -mournful past.
Unfortunately, in politics, interests at
stake easily become transformed to the
condition of anger, and two nations
get TO fancy that they detest each 9TH
er when they have, in reality, only
mutual claims to regulate. 1t is from
this point Of view, for our part, that
we look upon the struggle that has be-
gun between France and Germany;
and, whatever may be the result VI:
believe that the two nations may each,
on its own side, defend from its
point of view it considers its right
and duty, without ceasing to esteem
one another for tho good qualities
which distinguish both, and for the
services both have rendered to humani-
ty. Such, too, we trust, is the thought
that will guide other nations 1t their
appropriations of tie combat hat they
are about TO witness. TO this end We
appeal particularly to the American
people, not for Its exclusive sympathy,
but to request of it an amiable impair
tiality which the old ties of cordial
feeling that unite the two nations give
us a right to expect. France has no
hltred against Prussia; she has pro-
found afinities and aspirations in com
mon with Germany. But France has
her legitimate influence to maintain,
her legitimate pride to defend. The
treaties of 1915 placed her in a posi-
ton somewhat diminished, but which,
by 4 balance, more or less exact, of the
powers who al that time parceled out
Europe between them, at least left her
safety assured and her honor unim
paired. Therehave been many chang
es since then, but nom which seriously
affected the equilibrium established by |
the treaties; none that could be a
source of uneasiness or athreat for
France. Sadowa came, and the ad-
vantages which Prussia reaped were
accepted as the legitimate and natural
fruit of her victory. This situation,
this completed fact, has been sanction
ed by treaties, and a new setting has
been given by common accord to Eu-
ropean policy. France, as no one will
deny, has scrupulously respected this
situation she has neither impaired
nor sought, in the slightest degree, to
impair IL; she has not, in any wise,
interfered with the action OF the Prus-
sian Government, or rather of the
Confederation of Northern Germany,
operating on itself. She has even
stretched her patience so tar-and
there, we think, she was wrong-as to
leave unexecuted certain pledges stipu-
lated in the negotiations of which she
became the guarantor, which the exc
cution of those pledges concerned only
the parties, and did not directly inter
est her OWN honor or her own security
But this patience was made subordi
nate to n condition, viz: that Prus-
STA should not extend her power SO
far as to make ours undergo a fresh
curtailment, relatively speaking, and
We shouldDot have to behold the
limits openly laid down for the ambi-
tious tendencies of our neighbor, over
by successive entertainments,
by occult and tortuous wiles We
Will not here retrace the marches and
counter=marches of Prussia, her steal
invasions, and her persevering
attempts to envelope within the circle
of her influence, and even of her d.
rect domination--nationalities and
sovereignitias not included within the
regions OF her recognized annexations.
We have but to recollect the latest
intrigue that she get on foot, orat least
favored, and which was to deliver up
our Southern frontier to her in con
of the right and traditions that
make the independence of the nation
in question and essential condition of
our safety. In the presence of this
exorbitant %pretension, which is n de
cisiYe manifestation of tho jealous
spirit that animates Prussia, France
has but position to assume, and
that IL 10 demand guarantees against
any possible surprise in the future =
Well, these guarantees could be of
but one kind. We cannot have our
ears continually on the alert TO hear
in what direction Prussia is digging
her mines, and it is out ofthe question
for US to be an hand to check her V
ry time upon the verge other covet-
Gus desires. There remains to US,