The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-12

very oOotS, ana themselves, unfortunately
addicted to habits of provocation. may b
happy. 1t is to be hoped they will be happ,
on these conditions, for it is all the Happiness
Germany is likely to enjoy for many year
the happiness namely, of an even chance will
desperate and would-be deadly foe.
If this enormous, this preposterous arma
me1t is provoked by the attitude of France,
provokes in return. A man who goes abou
armed in the time of peace is suspected G
hostile intentions, and Germany lends itsel
easily to the delusion, if such it be- 1t find
itself unexpectedly great military power
and even maritime power, victorious, sue
cessful, and its luck by no means exhausted
On every side-north, south, east and west
it finds that which it still wants to its com
pleteness, and which it sees a way to. 1t.
turn is come. After minority of ages under
evil guardianship, it steps into its patrimony
and is once more an Empire. For ages Ger
many had possessed all the glories, except
those of policy and war. Now it has these,
and the others as well. 1t is surrounded BY
great Empires.
The prosperity of England and Russia
to ambition. Like the King, Germany asked
only for wisdom, and now has it with riches,
honor. dominion, and the life of its enemies,
which it did not ask for. But now that it
has tasted these delights it is different be-
ing, with new and nobler consciousness.
and not content or satisfied on the same easy
terms as before. Why should it now shrink
from an appeal to arms, which cannot but
give it more than ever? This is the new atti-
tude of Germany all or nothing; for in her
case not to advance is to recede.
Accordingly, the more she arms, the more
does France, the more does Russia. The
former now commands, under all heads, about
million and three-quarters of men; the lat
ter more than three millions and a third.
Austria. Italy, Denmark, Holland and Switzer-
lard are arming as fast as they can. 1t is a
universal strain on the energy and resources
OF the world. But self-preservation never yet
was found sufficient to keep up high tension
long. When all nations arm, it will be tor
something, and they will look before as we'll
as behind. dozen millions of men cannot
be withdrawn from common industry and
civil duties and engaged in the most costly
OF all employments except to the hindrance
of the people. Where the women work like
horses, as they do in Germany and France,
the presumption is that both men and horses
are wasting or misapplying their power.
Germany is nota rich country. Even with
its singular wealth OF parsimony, it cannot
keep even million Of men long under arms
without appreciable sacrifices. In fact, a time
will arrive when the burden of a much larger
armament will compel a question between
and initiative in war. If only
to secure peace, Germany will have to appeal
to arms, or, If not she, some other power in
volved in this wild sword dance of nations
Such is the inevitable result of an imitation of
proceeding upon rivalry and pro-
vcation; and it can only be averted by
timely resolution to be content with what one
has, and to stand only on ones guard against
aggression.
When ornaments are measured by millions,
almost within sight of this land, it costs a
positive effort of gravity to talk of our own.
The utmost amount of land forces we could
turn out, under all heads, for the protection
Of these isles, under the most critical circum-
stances, would hardly be fifth or sixth of
what France could put in the field one-tenth
Of the forces which Prince Bismarck could
raise out of the ground by stamp of his
loot. All that our army is equal to is to gar
rison our forts, to guard our coasts and to in
struct our volunteers and reserves. We can
not people remote continents and isles and
have our men at home. We cannot have
hem working day and night at factories and
learning at the same time the arts of offense
md defense.
The navy is our one arm in the scale of
war. Here we are beyond rivalry,
aud have only to remember that we have little
else but ships, and must make the best of our
single defense. Continental writer's taunt us
with the low condition of our military arma-
nent, and tell us it is nothing less than our
luty to make ourselves valuable and trust
worthy ally. They are ashamed Of the meager
display we make even when we seem to be
putting out our strength. But SIS we are an
sland, circumstance not without its disad-
Tantages, we may as we'll take the natural ad-
7antage of that accident. We are, or should
'e, one great port for iron-clads, sufficiently
trong and well equipped to maintain the
mastery OF the seas, not only in our own mar
ow straits, but wherever the British flag
marks the path of commerce, emigration, or
discovery.
We cannot allow jealous rivals or scarcely
concealed foes to dictate to us the element or
he exact form and manner in which we shall
,lay our part in the great work of the world
We have only to do what we can, and if we can
lot resort to consumption, or make voluntary
ecruitlng do the work as well, we may re-
member that we were great sea power and
leld high place in European politics when
We had no army at all. The navy is our
trong point, and navies, it must be remem-
ered, have often given the command of the
and as well as of the sea.
They are costly, it is true, and, what is
lore, they are no sooner made than super
eded by some improved form and construc-
ion. But they spare our flesh and blood |
he dearest commodity in these isles They
lake wood and iron do the duty of frail NOR
Il frames. The great war when it comes
ever it comes-will not find us unprepared. |
will find US indeed at home, but secure and |
ell guarded at all points, and even able to
o some tritling service to our friends As
" the men, it is vain to cry for more men
ON England; they are not to be found. |
hey are too well employed where they are,
every region of the habitable globe.
Nilsson was ''really" ill it appears on the
'ening Of the Grand Opera opening. Some
ne describes the fair Swede as covered with