The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-09-09
THE BALANCE OF POW Err.

Every circumstance in the policy of
any European government that has
evoked a manifestation of the antago-
Aistic relationship existing between the
transatlantic powers has, from our ear
lest recollection, been made the occa-
sion by American journals, great and
small, to declare Europe on the verge OF
q war that would likely involve the
whole continent and deluge its cities
and color its streams with human blood.
The past two years have been exceed
ingly prolific in this respect; and espec-
tally at the beginning of the Franco
Prussian war did we hear that events
were propitious to bring about the
long told, anxiously looked-for struggle.
Napoleon III, ambitious and unscrupu-
lous, tyranical and hated, it was ear
nestly believed would Cypress the peo-
pie, whose eyes were already turned up
on the great American Republic with
an earnest desire to enjoy its system of
political and religious liberty, until
they should rise in their might, and I'M
der the inspiring sentiment of liberty,
hurl kings and emperors from their
thrones, and establish governments &C
cording to the example furnished them
by our own. How visionary and I'M
reasonable were many of the long edit
orials written upon this subject, the ed
itors themselves may learn while wait
ing for the fulfillment of their prophe-
cies. For three centuries it has been a
continual struggle in Europe to destroy
or preserve the balance of power. All
those nations have been directly inter-
ested in the advancement or destruction
of any other nation, and every govern
ment is affected by whatever is to the
interest or loss of any other. For this
reason they watch each other so jealous
ly. For this reason do they keep large
standing armies in time of peace. The
effort to sustain this condition of affairs
accounts for the apparent barrenness of
all the wars that have been waged by
Euopean nations. One nation or one
government is not allowed to dominate
another. Napoleon 1 attempted it
and failed, Napoleon III has tried it
and been defeated. He would have
been defeated in his war with Prussia
if 1t had required the interference of
every European power. The protest
ant world was united in the wish for
his defeat. 1t has been accomplished by
the direct interposition of Prussian
arms alone. His defeat has been
speedy, overwhelming and humiliating
to his nation. France seems to be at
the mercy of the triumphant invaders.
And now it is the desire of the neigh
boring nations that the war should end,
and the Prussian armies will recede to
their own boundaries, or England,
Austria and Russia will interpose to
check the extension of Prussian author
ity, if she should undertake to use her
triumph to extend her dominion over
the French empire. 1t is not likely that
Prussia will take the responsibility
of involving all the European powers
in a war, and when her terms of peace,
which'must, to insure peace, be consider
ed favorably by the neighboring gov
ernments, are adjusted, the war win
cease between the two nations, and
France will be left to patch up the rents
of war and popular strife within her
borders as she can. If the cry of the
people for a Republic shall prevail,
Americans will say amen; but unless
the Napoleonic dynasty is superseded
ment the results of the war will simply