The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-04-05
FRANCE AND GERMANY.
dublin Nation, March III

Vi us Nnaueeilor. MAN OF iron az ne ls, ne
can hardly help feeling that after all, the
work OF his life may end in disaster. Aud
douoly bitter IN ust be such thought to such
a man. He had not merely used opportuni-
ties like other successful intriguers-he
had created them. Utterly untrammelled
by restraints of justice, or honor, or decen-
cy, he has plotted, and planned, and Jullie d
and cajoled, until on the ruins of truth and
liberty and International honesty he has
succeeded in rearing gigantic fabric of
imperial despotism. And now over all his
successes the mystic hand is beginning to
write its words of fate, and no Daniel is
neeCed to interpret their meaning.
Thoughtful men in Germany, and outside
If, perceive that, like the heather monarch
of old, Prince Bismarck, in the arrogance of
victory, is madly precipitating his own
ruin, aud the down fall of the empire he has
created.
Among the most ominous signs of the
near future, the military attitude of France
is specially noteworthy. 1t may surprise
some of our readers to be told that at this
moment the French army is relatively
and absolutely greater than that of it's late
antagonist. Germany, with a population
OF forty two millions, possesses an army of
Alb. 0O0 officers and men, while France, with
Six millions less of population has an
army which numbers 494 600. When we re-
member the terribly crushing defeat which
France lately sustained, we are simply
amazed at the position che occupies in Eu-
rope to day. 1t proves that che possesses
within herself an elastic vitality and
wealth of resources that will ever maintain
her in the very foremost place among
nations. In few years she paid off debt
which for centuries would have absolutely
beggared the richest of her neighbours.
Since the departure of the Germans che
has been devoting something like four mil
lions sterling annually to the reorganizs
tion of her war material while f22 900 600
per annum are expended on her army.
Altogether is an evideoce of Iecuperative
power such as probably the world never
before witnessed.
Bismarck affects to see in this vast mill
tary preparation source OF danger to the
new empire. Frenchmeu, he knows, are
keenly sensitive of their national honor,
ard, what is not less to their credit, they
will not tamely submit to a national loss
Were their position his, he would be the
last man to allow his action to be fettered
by foreign interference, it he were strong
enough TO resist it; yet he chooses to in
terpret the military policy of France as an
insulting menace TO Germany, and would
be only too glad to see his way to regard it
as declaration of war. Better now, he
thinks, than later Oh, when the enemy is
stronger. Hence any act of French imDru.
dence which would afford plausible pre-
text for resuming hostilities, would Just
now be joy to his heart, and a new life
within HIM. And, true to his old instinct,
be is doing what he may to create his op-
portunity. The German press, under his
malign inspiration, is busily flaming the
embers of international discord, in the fond
hope that the Frenchman's delicate sense of
honor will rebel against his calmer judg-
ment. But in this we think Bismarck's
calculation is at fault. The late war, dis
astrous as it was to France, has taught her
people the grand lesson or national self.
M
really fred them with fresh military ardor,
il it's humiliation they have learned to be
wary and wise. They will, therefore, bide
! their time, despite the taunts, and jeers,
and bitter provocatioa of their foe aud
" hen the time has arrived land all things
| point 70 it's near apprnach), then We can
! well believe the reckoning will be all the
more stern, because OF the patience and
Eelf- denial with which 1t has been pur-
| chased.
We lave dwelt at such length on one of
the external dangers which meuaces the
| safety of the new made empire, that we
can do little more than cast hasty glance
at some OF the more obvious dangers that
| threaten it from within. Foremost amongst
these is the increasing tide of emigration,
which day after day is deprivipg the EN- pire
of such elarge numbers of it's sturdy pea
santry. What with oppressive taxation,
and religious persecution, and the intoler-
aole system OF CONSUMPTION, the Fatherland
is fast ceasing to be home for a Catholic,
or for any humble, peace loving man. Cur
readers may form some idea of this German
exodus when we cell them that within the
last five years larger number of emgrants
have quilted Germany than were forced
away from our own country during the de-
cade of years which opened with the great
famine. Even Bismarck is being reused
from his state of cOntemptuous Indifference,
and gives indication of resolve to find a
remedy for state of things which is very
m2terially affecting the war prospects of
the empire. The only effectnaI remedy,
however, is to be found in a complete re-
Versai OF his entire line of policy. And as
this is not likely to be applied, the popula
ton will go on despite all his other efforts
to the contrary. The religious discomfort
must be regarded as one of the most serious
indications of the approaching crisis. We
nave 1t on the recent testimony of a mem
Der of the Landtag that eight millions of
Pr0ssiaD subjects have now the alternative