The Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2341, 3 October 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1870.

Terribly destructive, and wonderfully short, seems to be the probable character of present and future wars between civilised nations. It is impossible, with the fearful means of destruction at command, that they can last long. There is a limit to national sacrifices, both of men and money, and loans for Avar purposes will not in future be so easily raised as they have been. Lenders of money require some sort of docent security, even if powerful nations are borrowers. It is plain that success in Avar now-a-days depends upon rapidity of movement and firing. Given equal numbers of tAvo armies, and equal skill in handling them, in all probability the victory will be Avith

that iu which the soldiers can load and lire the more rapidly. It would be a great benefit to the world if national credit depended upon the wisdom with which loans were expended. Stockbrokers would then, look a little before them, and ask what the money was wanted for before they negotiated loans. There is not very much patriotism on the Stock We certainly do recollect one Russian loan being unsuccessfully put into the English market—thanks to the cleaiheaclness of the late Richard Gooden, and his faithfall ally, John Bright. They pointed out that to lend Russia money was to put arms into her hand that might be used for the destruction of those who lent it—and for once Russia could not borrow. We believe that were one or two European nations obliged to compound with their creditors, a general disarmament would follow. But matters have not come to that yet, although they are tending that way. We are curious to know how Prussia will deal with France. One great secret of the First Napoleon’s success was, he made his vanquished enemies pay the cost of their own overthrow. When he reduced a nation to the necessity of suing for peace, he made it pay the expense France had incurred in conquering it. England’s riches were, in fact, the snp-

port of the French army, in this wise : —England subsidised the Continental States who carried on the war ; Napoleon’ conquered them, and made them pay for his army : this could not have been done without England’s money, and thus England not only paid her own soldiers but those of her enemy. Wise, certainly ! Napoleon’s wars by that means cost France nothing but lives; and Napoleon did not attach much value to life. The people themselves —those who were left—-advanced in material prosperity, and, until the tide of success turned, suffered none of the horrors of war. Now it is brought home to them in a terrible shape ; and not only so, but that repressive force by means of which liberty was stifled in Italy is broken. There another old sore may break out. The eyes of the world instinctively turn towards Rome. What will be the consequence there 1 One can hardly expect that the opportunity so long sought wfU b.e neglected. Sooner or later the Roman States; must become part of the kingdom of Italy. It is a natural consequence of its relative position. Potentates may parcel out the world according to them will when they have the power; hut that which is held by force against the instinct and inclinations of a people, is only hold on sufferance. Opportunity alone is wanting, and there avb those waiting who will not let it slip. Sooner or later Rome must be free. Europe, when the mail left, presented a curious aspect. Spain without a king • Francs a republic ; Germany becoming united, nader Prussia, into a powerful nation ; Italy, though quiet, liable at any moment to be so deeply disturbed as to find it needful to absorb Rome in selfdefence ; neutral nations heavily armed

—each waiting to repel attack, or take advantage of any opportunity for selfaggrandisement. Now, necessarily, there must be a vast amount of capital that would have been used in commerce that cannot be employed in that way at present. Capitalists will naturally seek to withdraw from disturbed countries ; they will prefer investing where peace is probable. Tens of thousands of England’s population are again destined to be tin-own out of employment —most probably are forced to be idle now. People whose customers are liable to be ruined by the explosion of bomb-shells, or suddenly murdered by discharges from mitrailleurs, do not go heartily into stock, and naturally withdraw credit. But populations cannot live on the air; and as these southern latitudes and America seem .to promise the best return for money laid out, it need excite no surprise if many should find their way to Australasia. There is almost as extraordinary a movement going on among the islands of the Pacific as there is in Europe ; but at present it is the more peaceful of the two. In all probability enterprise will be drawn in tills direction ; and although a check may be given to the recovery that had set in, the result may be more rapid advance than hitherto.