The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-08-16
THE EURoPEAN SITUATION.
The View Taken in Finan cial circles

The View Taken in Financial Circles.
From ne NJ z. Financed chronlelS. 81"
Probably the sympatiies Of q minority
Of the American people arc on the side Of
Prussia In the present conflict, As TO the
reasons for this condition Of public opin.
ion, or the wisdom or justice Of that oplnf
ion 1t would DO useless at present 70 speak;
but We think there is one error growing
out Of; it which should be corrected. We
refer TO the belief which appears to pro-
vail quite generally that because the
Prlssians have gained the first battle the
war Is likely to be short. First Il looks
to US very improbable that Franco will
make a Illuminating peaceT7or in other
words will consent to. close Of tho war
which rObs 1t OF a foot Of territory until 1t
is near exhaustion. The North German
Confederation is TO 10 sure rich in all the
elements that constitute vast national
strength; but it ought to be re.
nembcrcd that France, also, is an
empire of great resources. United Ger.
many, now Us q consolidated nation.
atty, Is doing and suffering great
things for great national object Pride
Of race and Intellectual achievements, the
love of independence and influence, and
ambition for military prestige To pc won
from the most renowned military nation
OF tho world, constitute n high and strong
inspiration for the Germans; but France
is an old and developed nation, with IN
intensely patriotic people who cherish its
traditions with love that is almost pms.
sion. These traditions they feel that they
are called upon to maintain in the present
war. All that Germany Is ambitious and
determined TO gain, therefore, France Is
equally ambitious. and determined to keep;
and with resources Of intelligence, skill,
wealth and numbers go nearly balanced; It
Is altogether premature to predict, from
one great battle, either the CONTINUOUS
success Of Prussia or the permanent defeat
OF France. ,,.... ''..
This error grows, We think, out Of
another which appears to exist, and that
is in regarding the French nation and the
NapOleOnic empire as ono and the same
thing. They arc not ut all Synonymous.
Indeed, it is the fact that they are SO little
synonymous that caused the war. Napo'
leon is q man who has made many re.
markable successes but within the last
few years he had made some failures
which, whether by his own fault or other.
wise, were very I1ortifylng to the French
national pride. Many think, and not
without reason, that II 1t had not been that
Napoleon felt the necessity OF retrieving
these failures, there would not have been
war in Europe to-day. It he shall succeed
in his present undertaking, he will be
welcomed back to Paris with acclama.
tons, and his sons succession will BIO In
great measure assured. II he fail again,
France will most likely dismiss him. and
will show tho world that NapoleOnismis
by no means essential TO her national sue.
cess. A republic would probably follow
tho Emperor's dethronement. T" Whether
II would DO enduring we IRE not prepared
to say; but in no combination Of CirCum.
stances could France be nationally con-
quercd or its territory mutilatcd BY Ger
many, except after n long and exhaustive
war, unless we entirely misConCGiVG the
French character. .,' Stly,,'l
Then again, We should remember that
although In tho recent battle near Worth
tho Prisslans were certainly victorious, II
is by no means certain that they orc to
continue victorious. They once gainetla
victory over the French at RalstGdt. But
against Radstadt the French can place
jena as an offset; and II the generalship
which is said now to be leading the PruS.
SLAMS into the heart Of France be not equal
to tho greatest that was ever displayed,
one would naturally expect that the Ger.
mans must meet many grave difficulties
before they quit French soil. France, VIC
should bear in mind, Is not Austria; hence
some exultant military critics think that
Prussia has erred In 80 early leaving her
strong line OF defense 10 make On aggres.
sfve war. Had she allowed France TO
strike unsuccessCully against her iortifca.
tions until weakened and wearied, and
then given IN offensive blow, It would
have been very effective. The present sue.
cess, however, has resulted in accusing and
armiug the whole Of France. Besides, it
Is very evident, that every mile the Prus.
SLAMS advance eastward removes them
further from their base Of supplies, and
gives q numerous and alert enemy nd.
ditiOnal facilities for attack. Prussia Ger.
tainly exhibited great gencralship in her
Austrian campaign, but there %, perhaps,
danger that her remarkable success then
may make her q little incautious now.
AT least, after but one victory II too soon
to anticipate the course or close OF the
war,