Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-13
THE EUROPEAN WAR.
Eucfs.
Il. wHITMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.l
Nations, like individuals, must stand
or fall, when the verdict of enlightened
opinion is made up by their life record.
The prejudgments of partisan hate, the
offspring of international jealousy, the
dogmatisms of ignorant prejudice, and
the babblings of poetical dreamers, must
all give way to the sober second-thought
of enlightened humanity. The present
contest between Prussia and France can
no more be narrowed down to q mere
dynastic struggle between the Hohen-
zollern and Bonaparte families than
could the wars of the Dutch Republic,
or the contest of Wallenstein and Gus
stavus Aldolphus..
4 There are points of honor which self
respect will permit no man and no ma
ton to concede, and there are no ques-
tons in European diplomacy, a decision
of which is of more value than thou
sands of precious lives. The restora-
ton of the unity of Italy, with Rome as
its capital the expulsion of the Turk
from Europe, and the re-establishment
of the Greek empire; the freedom Of
I, Ireland the autonomy OF Poland, and
the readjustment of Germany, are mat
ters of vital importance affecting all the
worlds future.
The stolidity of England and the slug
gishness of Germany have given way;
the warning genius of Italy has been
awakened; the reforms that have consti-
tuted the European society of to-day owe
their existence mainly to the freedom
and incisiveness of French thought.
If the question be asked, "What ma
ton has done the most for Europe" his
tory replies. The Gaul struck the terri
BILE blows that most effectually shattered
the rottenness of the Western Roman
empire. Charles the Great, with his
army of Franks, first brought Europe
out of the deluge of barbarism which fol-
lowed the overthrow of Rome, gave Sc
curity to the authority of the Christian
bishops, and did what the great Caesar
could not do, namely; He rescued Europe
from the sayageFy and brutal ignorance
maintained by the German chiefs, and
gave TO the nations in its stead order and
civilization. The power Of France,
through ChaFlemagas, became the sue
cessor and rightful heir of the crown and
scepter of ancient Rome.
France, under Charles Martei, rescued
Europe from the tanatical followers OF
Mahomet, that had never before known
defeat, and who, but for France, might
to-day have uttered the cry of 1slem from
the spires OF every civilized city that
" Great is God, and Mahomet Is his
prophet. n .A
To the consummate diplomacy OF Rich
elieu was Il due that Professionalism, as
represented by the oeTipan Protestant
Leagues, was not oYerthrown, and, al
though he was both Cardinal and one
Of the MOBILES, he, the greatest OF French
statesmen, struck the sturdlest blow at
class privileges and fepdal despotism
they had then ever experienced. France
alone among the Catholic pations never
vielde,i, to the demands Of the Ultra
montane marty n Rome, but preserved
intact the RIGHTS Of the ,nslliean Church.
We now come 10 the time when t,nrou rh-
ont Eurone during the reicns of Lo1is
XIV and onis XIV Torvism in ENGLAND
and desnot;sn, ererrnheSe were trinmpb-
ant and when sune,st;t;on and rel;gion
and monarcbv and divinity were consid-
ered svnonvmons terms England had
,v;tne:saJ % he rule Of the fanatical Puri-
w. Lad tolt tbe IRON hand Of Cromwell
and then cast herself beadlong into the