The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-21
THE FRENCH PRESS.
The Other Side OF the Case Fully Pre-
sented-France and the Emperor En-.
dorsed. q. :
THE CoURRIER DIES ETATs UNIs.

THE COURIER DES ETATS USIS.
Alea jdcta est the die Is cast War Is de-
clared between France and Prussia, and the
two greatest military powers Of the world are
about to hnrl themselves against each other in
q terrific conflict, of which the destlnies Of
Europe are the stake. War between France
and Prussia means the most formidable COLI
sion that the ages have ever witnessed, not
excepting those gigantic battles OF the Repub-
lie and the First Empire, which made as many
wounds drip blood as could be opened in the
loins of humanity. But let us for moment
silence the tumultuous emotions that awake
in US, in order to contemplate the, !, sit
uation with that GOODNESS and calmness
which an hour so solemn requires. Two
great nations are about to rend each other
until one OF them succumbs. We scorn false
patriotism, and are free to confess that the
e,lemy who confronts her Is worthy Of France;
that, far from despisingf that foe, we regard
her as very formidable, and 1t Is with lively
emotion that we estimate the gravity OF the
peril to which the rude test that our country ls
about to undergo exposes us. But. whatever
our patriotic preoccupations may be, we do
not feel inclined to utter harsh reproaches and
offensive accusations. The conflict now pre-
pairing is, in our opinion, fatal necessity
which had TO be met with resignation sooner
or later; It is the last instalment of debt be-
aueathed to the present along with the heri-
tage handed down by mournf1l past. Unfor-
tunately. In politics, interests at stake easily
become transformed to the condition Of anger,
and two nations get to fancy that they detest
each other 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 begun between France
and Germany; and, whatever may be
the result, we believe that the two nations may
each, on its own side, defend what from its
duty, without ceasing to esteem one another
for the good qualities which distinguish both.
and for the services that both have rendered
to humanity Such. too, we trust, Is the
thought that will guide other nations In their
appreciation of the combat that they are about
to witness. To this end we appeal particularly
to the American people, not for Its exclusive
partially, which the old ties of cordial feeling
that unite the two nations give US right to
expect. France has no hatred against Prussia.
She has profound affinities and aspirations In
common with Germany. But France has her
legitimate influence to maintain, her legitl-
mate pride to defend. The treaties Of 1916
placed her In position somewhat diminished,
indeed, but which, by balance, more
or less exact, OF the powers who at that
time parcelled out Europe between them,
at least left her safety assured and her
honor unimpaired. There have been
many changes since then, but none
which seriously affected the equilibrium
established BY the treaties; none that could be
o source OF uneasiuess or threat for France.
Sadowa came, and the advantages which Prus-
sia reaped were even accepted as the legltl-
mate and natural fruit of her victory. This
situation, this completed fact has been sane
toned by treaties, and new settling has been
given by common accord to European policy.
France, as no one will deny, has scrupulously
respected this situation; she has neither i'm
paired nor sought, in the slightest degree, to
Impair It; she has not, In any wise, interfered
with the action Of the Prusslan Government,
Germany. operating on itself. She has even
stretched her patience so (ar-and there, we
think, she was wrong-as TO leave unexecuted
certain pledges stipulated in the negotiations
of which she became the guarantor, when
the execution OF those pledges concerned
only third parties, and did not direct
ly interest her own honor or her own
security. But this patience was s. made tsae
Prussia would not extend her power so far as
to make ours undergo fresh curtailment, rel
atively speaking, and that we should not have
to behold the limits openly laid down for the
ambitious tendencies of our nelghbor, over
steDped by successive encroachments, by oc-
cult and tortuous wiles. We will not here re-
trace the marches anu counter-marches OF
Prussia. her stealthy invaslons and her perse-
yerIng attempts to envelope within the circle
of her influence, and even Of her direct doml-
nation, nationalitles and sovereigntfes not IN
cluded within the regions Of her recognized
annexations We have but to recollect the
latest Intrigue that she set on foot, or at least
favored, and which was to deliver up our
Southern frontier to her in contempt of the
righ.s and traditions that make the indepen.
dence of the nation In question an essential
condition Of our safety. In the presence of this
eXorbitant pretension, which Is decisive man
Hesitation OF the Jealous spirit that animates
Prussia, France has but one position to
assume, and that Is to demand guaran-
tees against any possible surprise in the future.
Well, these guarantees could be OF put one
kind. We cannot have onr ears conunuaiiy
on the alert 10 hear In what direction Prussia
is digging her mines, and it Is out of the ques-
ton for us to be on hand to check her every
time upon the verge of her c0Vetous desires.
There remains to us, then, only to make sure
of an extension OF our national boundaries to
compensate for the aggrandizement Of our
adversary. Such Is the meaning OF the wal
now opening. The right Is on our side; the
world cannot refuse to see it, but France feels
it, and that is enough. At this hour the hearts
of all Frenchmen beat in unison. ITO the
Rhine" is the cry of the whole nation. United
as it is now, as it has always been, and as il
always will be In any great question OF ma
tlonal honor and security, 1t is invincible.
May God protect our arms. Vive Ia France.
u q