The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1872-02-14
General Banks on the Politi-
cal Situation in Europe.

cal Situation in Europe.
Thursday evening: General Banks dc
, liTercd en- address in Naltbam, Massa
chusettS, in which he stated the i'm
preSsions he lad received on his Euro
pean tour in regard to the political as
poets Of Europe. lie said:
The cause of the destruction of France
; WAS what has brought on the ruin o.
every government which ever existed
the spirit Of senseless, remorscless, soul
less and goddess faction. at the end o
the war Of 'GS, it was proposed that the
French army should be increased from
300, 900 to ], 100000 or 100000. The
warnings Of Marshal Neil were UNDECIDED
by the French Chambers. They de.
manded liberty Of the press, the right to
meet and discuss public questions, and
to bear arms in fAct, all the rights
which Republicans enjoy. In face oi
this opposition, not only was the army
not increased, bnt it was diminished by
some 10000 men. The men who had
recommended this measure were raised
to power, and the first act Of the French
Republic was to restrict all those privi.
ieges for which It had before so strongly
contcudcd. The Interference Of Europe
in the German French war was made
impossible, because great power in the
!, North said to every nation you mus,
not be party to this war" Thus ali
were held in check, and the war went
on. 1t seemed strange that such should
be the case, but the wisdom Of Russia
was the greatest political act Of the cen.
tury. Her situation, with Asia upon
one side and Europe on the other, both
Of which she hoped 10 control, with 9
population Of nearly 1Oo,000,o0O. with
an army Of 2,25o, 600 ready for the field
her people entirely devoted 80 thei,
country, she was able to hold all the
States in balance. Germany must 90 ir
the way she has started. The scheme:
OF development opened by Frederick the
Great has been followed out, anc
Prussia aims for tho Baltic and Black
Sea. Her war with Denmark xas Il
gain the former, ard that, With Austria
to gain the latter. Russia can reach tht
Northern Ocean only through the Gul
Of Finland, where navigation is slow ant
dangerous, and where Prussia can com
!rc:and. 1t is impossible that Russia vii
submit to this, and the contest "iicomt
between her and those who stand in hcl
way. With America, Russia is unitec
by community Of interest. Both need <
reach the sea, and are prevented by
other pow crS. The United States have
no control over any one Of their grea
rivers or lakes, and Russia is in o simila>
condition. This is the secret Of Russia''
friendship for this country. Russia il
waiting for the opportunity to begin
When that will DC, no one knows, but i
is certainly coming, and will complete
the destinies Of nations begun in th'
war of 1870. We may assume tina
nothing is settled. Germany is NO
autocratic nor France destroyed. A.
soon as .ny difference occurs between
States, Russis's opportunities will hav'
come, and the sympsthies of the civil
| lied world will be on her side, if sh'
aims to check the expansion Of Prussia
France has, in some respects, bee:
strengthened and purified by her mis(or
time, and she, too, is waiting to regair
the position she has lost. The lntrres
Of the United States is that the States o
Europe should be preserved distinct, &C
cording to their nstonalitics for TIN
nationality is like family, and the fam
lily is the work Of God. Whenever Flu
rope is united under one dynasty, thel
will come an attack upon the Cnitct
| States. So long as each has its own, W
have nothing to fear but if any one be
Comes prcpondcrant, its power must b
exercised somewhere, and we Shall b
the only object left to attack. Our safet,
lies largely in the irmress with whIcl
we support our own institutions ant
make the force Of our example felt
Everywhere tie common people ar
filled with respect for US, and want t
know the secret Of our power. We haV
to fear the same enemies which have dc
stroyed other nations. Faction is q
work among US, and is encouraged b.
the respect paid the lcaders-mcn VIII
are aiming for personal power and in
! hucnce When We act for selfish oh
: icct, then the foundations Of our librrt