The Evening Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 317, 14 January 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1871.

The war news arrived per s.s. "Wonga Wonga, and published by us in yesterday's issue, possesses the merit of being more copious than we ever receive by the Western route. And although portions of it are exceedingly contradictory, its salient points are sufficiently defined to give us a fair idea of the stage at which affairs have arrived on the scene of European hostilities, and international complications. The Franco-Prussian war is still dragging its slow length along at a pace that contrasts strongly with the rapidity of its earlier movements. The long promised bombardment of Paris is still held in reserve, ostensibly with the merciful purpose of sparing this fairest of cities, but probably more truthfully with a wholesome dread of the terrible power of a despairing people, brought to bay in the centre of their hearths and homes, mid all the associations of past greatness, and under the eyes of those that are dearly loved Reverses have continued to attend the French armies in the field, but sorties, with terrible effect, from the walls of Paris, have given some indication of the fearful powers of resistance cooped up within the lines of defence. The Ministry in temporary charge of the interests of France has removed its deliberations to Bordeaux, where, under shelter of the fleet, it may be free from any sudden coup de main from the invaders. The determination to fight to the end seems unaltered among that gallant people, but meantime there is no indication of practical sympathy from without. The unification and consolidation of. the German nation is an accomplished fact, and is on the eve of being embodied in tho form of an Empire with the King of Prussia at its head. The insolence of Germany has grown with success, and now Luxembourg and possibly Belgium itself will pay the penalty to Prussia of coming between the wind and its nobility. The complications of the Russian question are in the fair way of solution. And the neutrality of the Black Sea, forced on Russia by the reverses of the Crimea, will, at the request even' of the " sick man of Europe," be referred for consideration to a conference of the powers that were parties to the Paris treaty of ISGB. The removal of the Crescent to the other side the Bosphorous is apparently within the book of fate; an eventuality which even the fatalist Moslem has anticipated in having, for ages, fixed the cemeteries of Constantinople on the Asiatic side. Italy, in the midst of the convulsions around, has been quietly realising its dream ; aud from the city of the Ca.sars the " People's King," congratulates the Peninsula on the era of peace, on which the nation has entered. Spain, too, whose Crown has been the unhappy cause of the desolation of Europe, seems at last to have attained its desires"; and the Luke D'Aosta has been elected to, and consented to fill the throne of Isabella; which, if permitted

by Victor Emanuel, who has a wholesome remembrance of the candidature of the Hohenzollern will perhaps bring rest to that longdistracted country. Erom America we hear of the Alabama question, which being placed in the hands of a Commission under the direct action of the President, may at length come to a satisfactory arrangement. And so the source of unnatural estrangement and heartburnings of the two great families of the Anglo-Saxon race may be for ever removed. On the whole, the news by the mail is of a deeply interesting character. There do not seem any immediate prospects of an extension of the area of conflict; but the political atmosphere is charged with electricity, and in a moment the storm might burst. Let us hope that the dark clouds may soon pass away, raid that, this terrible struggle over, the nations will soon again rest in the sunshine of peace, prosperity, and happiness.