Year: 1869

The Results of the Coming War;. q
The belligerent aspect Of affairs in Europe
still remains unchanged. Not only is war
between France, Prussia and Austria deemed
certain, but it is deemed unavoidable. In
war between such powerful nations the adj
jaeent countries cannot remain neutral. The
consequence is a general preparation for
war. England is the worst situated ofany
nation, for she has nothing to gain and
everything to lose Her vast foreign terri
tories are slipping from her grasp, and of
that "empire upon which the sun never
SETS" she bids fair to retain but Ireland.
The Canadas are perverse and revolutionary.
They are dissatisfied with their present con-
dition, and yet are unable to decide upon
any other. Probably the majority of the peo-
pie are in favor of annexation to the United
States. The French Canadians have never
been contented with English rule, and ma
ny of the Canadians of Anglo-Saxon descent,
but Americans for several generations, share
in this dislike to England Still there is a
strong party who would resist any attempt
to deprive England of the Canadas. If the
United States must acquire more territory.
the Canadas will prove much better bar
gain than Cuba or any of the West India
islands. The vast forests of the Canadas
would alone be worth more than all the
West India Islands. If England is mixed
up in the continental war, and we do not
see how she can avoid it, the Canadas are
certain to become a part of this country.
The East India possessions of England bid
fair to become the property of Russia, who
has long been anxious to obtain them. This
nation, separated from the rest of the world,
has silently, but rapidly, developed power
that makes it the most formidable nation of
Europe. With population double that
of either France or Prussia. greater than
both combined, it is plain than Russia holds
! the balance of power. Her government is
despotism it is true, but it is to be the more
dreaded on that account. Her vast popula-
ton of sixty-eight millions is under
the control of one man who is re-
sponsible to no one for his actions.
The creed of the people is "God and the
| Gar" The intentions of Russia are ap-
parent to England, but she is powerless to
oppose them. Against this foe her much
vaunted navy is useless. Her armies are
equally useless, as no army of sufficient
strength to cope with Russia could be land
ed on Russian soil. Powerless to protect
her possessions, she watches with impotent
anger the gigantic and threatening strides
made by Russia through Asia. The Rus
sian government is building lines of rail-
roads to Asia and to the Mediterranean
which will enable her to rapidly convey
troops and supplies to any point that may
be desired. Her vast army of over one mil
lion splendidly trained soldiers can be made
three millions if the Gar wills it. That
Russia can never be successfully invaded is
amply demonstrated by the terrible defeat
of Napoleon, and by the result of the Cri-
mean war. In the former case a vast army.
to whose eagles defeat was unknown, and
led by the greatest general the world ever
saw, returned with but remnant of its host,
defeated by the climate alone. In the second
case, two of the most powerful nations of
Europe were unable 10 do more than capture
one isolated seaport town, and this after
many months of constant fighting and the
loss of thousands of men. The prophecy
of Napoleon that Europe would become
Cossack or Republican seems to be coming
true in the rapid increase of Russian power.
That Russia will absorb India and Turkey
is fixed fact. She aspires to be one of the
great naval powers of the world. IIer
seacoast is situated so far north that hall
of the year her navy is frozen in. She
turned her eyes to the Meditefrean, and
resolved to obtain possession of the country
bordering upon it. She has followed this pol
icy under each succeeding ruler Province
after province upon her Southern borders has
been absorbed, and still her boundaries are
being pushed toward the Mediterranean.
Her aims accomplished, what will succeed
cannot be foretold. But whatever may be
the result of the war between France, Aus
tria and Prussia, England will be the great
est sufferer. Let America wait in patience
and she will obtain all she: wishes without
the loss of a single man or the firing OF a
single gun.