Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-01-20


though highly praised by the press wher-
ever he has lecturcd, has not been over es-
timated. His gifts are of high order.
lie is man in the prime Of life, hardly OF
medium stature, well built, of n fresh,
healthy countenance, and full of vigor and |
enthusiasm. Ills voice is clear, enunca-
ton distinct, language chaste and elegant, |
and at times his speech rises to true elo-
quence. lie uses no notes. is perfect mas
ter of his subject, speaks without hesta-
ton, arranges his ideas in an orderly and
logical manner, and constantly keeps on
the track of the main subject. He gave
clear, methodical and Ineligible history
of the causes and main incidents of the
war from the beginning to the present
time, and graphically described the charac-
ter and peculiar traits of several of the
chief actors in the bloody strife. The al
legged cause of the war by Napoleon was the
seleation with its accompanying crcum-
stances, of n German Prince for King of
Spain the real cause was the desire on
the part of Napoleon and the French TO
get possession of the territory the left
bank of the Rhine and so make that river
Prussia. Napoleon found that his power
and his influence were on the wane, and
he thought he could regain his prestige and
popularity by bold and successful war
on Prussia. And so taking advantage of
the military spirit Of the nation, their love
of victorious warfare, and the ill-ieeling
they cherished towards the rising and pow
crful nation now threatening to overshad-
ow them, which feeling had been indus
triously cnGamcd by Theirs and other wri-
tiers and orators, Napoleon proclaimed war
against Prussia in July last, and immedi-
atcly set his armies in motion, thinking
that he should find it an easy task to march
across the German borders and move on
his victorious armies to Berlin. He select
ed Strasbourg, Metz and Nancy as points
Of rendezvous, where his troops were to
concentrate, and whence they were to in
wade the territory of the enemy. But his
army not being organized as lie had been
led to believe, there was delay in their
movements, as well as deficiency in num-
berS and preparation. The Prussians at
first intended to fight only on the deien
SVc, to drive back the invaders of their
soil but ON seeing the dilatory move
lnents and ill-organzed and poorly officer
ed armies of the French, they changed
their plan and massing their forces with
celebrity they commenced aggressive move
ments, and the scene of the war was at
once transferred to French soil. Napoleon
went TO the seat of war greatly worn down
in body and mind; the independence and
ability of former years had forsaken him,
and he had become weak and vacilating,
changing his plans and purposes from day
TO day. His officers had been selected less
for their ability than their devotion to him
elf and the interests of his rule, and so
were not the most talented men of the ma
ton; these, many of them at least, he had
eNiled, imprisoned, or put to death, and
others he had set aside and would not avail
himself Of their talents. So neither he nor
his generals were able TO cope with the
leaders of the armies he expected to over
whelm. King William though over sew
onty years of age is yet robust and strong,
able to mount his horse and to ride like
any trooper, and though in intelligence
and ability not by any means remarka-
BILE man, yet lie is honest and honorable,
has strong WILL is of Il religious turn OF
mind, and has the good sense to know that
he does not know everything. He is fort
innate in having a son and a nephew, who
ca ch in his way, are able generals. But he
is still more fortunate in having as the chic
commander of his armies and the plannel
of his cam. aigns the ablest general alive
Won Moltke is perfect master of the arr
and the science of war. He plans before.
hand the grand movements Of the armies
and all the minute details with almos
mathematical accuracy, and his plans ar,
carried out with wonderful precision and
certainty. Though 20 years of age he has
all the mental and physical energy of on,
in the prime of life. He is like our OWL
Grant, a man of few words, and it is said o
him that he knows how TO keep silence ii
nine different languages. With such amal
TO plan and execute, with able officers un
der him, and with an intelligent and wei
trained soldiery to constitute his armies, i
is not strange that the King of Prussi;
should prove more than match for thu
imbecile Napoleon and his inferior gener
ais. William is fortunate too in having {
control in civil affairs, man, who though
not free from some of the grosser vices
has a wonderful intellect, and as diplo
matist aud statesman probably has no pee
in Europe. He is not in the usual sense o
the word popular man among the Ger
mans, yet they put up with some of hi,
rough ways knowing that he seeks the uni
ty Of the German States, and is laborns
through that unity to make the nation
great and strong, able to defend itsel
against all attacks from other powers. Ant
so between these two powerful nations thu
war has been carried on forseveral months
and though the French have in many bat
ties shown great bravery and fought val
iantly, yet they have been beaten, drive
from their strong holds, their country de
vastated, their beautiful towns and cite
laid waste, and Paris, that elegant city
their renowned capital, besieged, bonn
barded and threatend with ruin. Napoleon
the once proud and powerful emperor o
the French, Is prisoner and an exile iron
his country; a provisional government ha
been instituted, and what is to be the end
who can tell? Prussia cannot safely max
peace without sufficient safeguards agains
insult and aggression in the future, and tn
war spirit in France is evidently as rife a
ever. And yet there is hope for France
She cannot become conquered province
There are good, noble and able men anon
her people, who will yet show them wha
is to be done, and guide them Alright. The.
must acknowledge the wrong they hay
dana In wapinn this unjust and unreasOna
BILE war, and make all due reparation. I'm
perialism, now ended, must sleep in ever
LASTING forfetgulness. The war spirit will
which the nation has been so long infatu
ated must give place to the spirit of peace
and the people laying down the destructiv
wnannns of Mnr must cherlsh and nresnrY