The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 213, 14 September 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1870.

We had expected startling news by the Wonga Wonga, but few were prepared for the events embraced in tho five days succeeding the departure of the previous mail. That Prussia should have anticipated the principle of Napoleon's strategy —prompt and decisive striking—was not more than might have been expected from the astute Bismarck ; but it is surprising that France should have been foiled with her own weapons. So far, the German power has made a brilliant debut, and the effect of the loss of prestige, on such a nation olidies as the French, will'bo prodigious. It will evidently require all the ability of Napoleon—aud he is one of the ablest men of modern times— to repair tho sudden disaster, and restore the morale of the army. How he will effect it remains to be seen, but the man who lias passed through his chequered career and made circumstances bow to his will, is not .he man to yield at a first repulse. The news seems very ominous, but we should rem imber that it has come to us filtered through America, which is strongly German in its bias. And even should it all be true, and the French army has recoiled at the first encounter with Prussian needle guns, it will have the inevitable result on all France that the disaster of Bull's Run had on the chivalry of America, and from city to hamlet that excitable people will thrill with enthusiasm to fi^lit or even die for la belle France. Penniless, hungry, and' unarmed, without clothing and shoeless, the French two generations ago defied the world. It is folly to suppose that with the population, wealth, resources, and military pride of Franco at the

present time she will permit the advance of German armies. What may be the result of these disasters on the dynasty of the Bonapartes it is hard to predict ; trance herself they will but rouse to vengeance. The Emperor has been, for once, taken by surprise, and he candidly owns it; but there is nothing in the return of the "Child of France" to a place of safety on which to base the supposition of unusual impending dangers. If tho Emperor is but spared in health, the French armies, stuns with indignation, will soon roll back I lie tide of war and reverse the present results of the stealthy cunning of Bismarck. Whatever may be the final result, we are not warranted in basing much

on the present progress of the war. Tho French have, c mfesscdly, been surprised, but no oilc (hit knows the enormous resources of France, and the character of the French people, can doubt that this will be repaired. The disasters of the opening campaign may indeed be fatal to the reigning dynasty, but they will be life and energy to the people. With all the doubts that have iiet-n cast on the character and policy of Napoleon, he has steadily held in check the nation that he governs, and used the influence of Francs for generous and noble purposes ; and no one can tell what might result from that menagerie of wild beasts being let loose from restraint. He may fall ; but as to the heterogeneous elements of Prussian power overcoming the French nationality, it is not within the category of things possible.

Another mail will doubtless tell of events decisive iv their character; but however our sympathies may tend, should the tidings be of the death or detbronement of the Emperor of the French, it is an cv .it to be deplored by civilization as being likely to usher in an era of fire and blood paralleled only by the horrors and the consequences of the "Reign of Terror."