The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2503, 23 February 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1871.

When Napoleon announced the declaration of the war to France, he expressed the opinion it would be of long duration. At first it seemed very likely that his prediction would not be verified ; but notwithstanding the extraordinary successes of the Prussians, it has been drawn out to a longer period than in view of them could have been anticipated. Its present phase is a very extraordinary one. The first cause of the war seems to have passed out of sight altogether. There can be no doubt that Napoleon sought to maintain for France that leading position as a military power that has always previously been accorded by national consent, and that was threatened by the consolidation of the States of Germany into one nation?- Jliul he succeeded, he would have founded a dynasty, and his successors might have looked forward to reigning over France and dictating to Europe for generations to come ; but he miscalculated the power of Prussia and the effect of his own measures. That very effort to effect separation led to unigm between North and South Germany, They felt there was a common danger, and they combined to meet and to repel it. The utter failure of Napoleon’s object, and the destruction of his enormous army being accomplished., the Prussians might with every credit to themselves have offered moderate terms of peace. But Continental politicians do not reason as men of business reason. The Prussian monarch seems to have succeeded beyond his own wishes, and has not only destroyed the array of France, but the form of government his royal instincts taught him to sympathise with. The puzzle now is what to do with France, nor do we see that it will be materially lessened by obtaining possession of Paris. King William and that arch successful plotter, Bismarck, are evidently somewhat nonplussed. They commenced fighting with an Emperor, and are now reduced to negotiating with a Republic, if they condescend to treat at all. At one time there appeared a probability of all France being roused to resistance ; but the system of employing standing armies to fight the battles of a nation, has produced its inevitable consequence of destroying the feeling of patriotism. Standing armies have no sentiment in common with the rest of the people, and the populations of countries employing them are very rapidly brought to feel it is no part of their duty to fight, as others are paid for doing it. We should think tiie experience of this war has sounded their doom. It would be well if, with a change of system, security for peace could be given to the world. Terrible as have been the losses of France during this war, Prussia lias really suffered more. The armies of France at first were soldiers, and soldiers only ; but those of Prussia wore not only soldiers, but citizens, merchants, bankers, tradesmen, and artisans— each in himself a producer or distributor—perhaps a man of science or of high scholastic attainments. Each one that falls is therefore so much skill—so much mental as well as physical power lost to Germany ami the world. We may deplore the ruin of cities, the destruction of works of art, of public buildings and of churches, the monuments and sign posts of thef past. But these can bo restored in need, A few weeks or months and the wreck may be cleared away, or Imply the remaining stones replaced each in its due relative position to all the vest. Nay move, those ruined temples, were it needful, could be replaced with others that future ages would admire more as displaying higher art than the past. But in the words of the author of “ On the track of the “ war,” these Germans being “ most of “ them men of a certain position and “ cultivation, they aro almost too pre- “ cious stuff to be sacrificed on ordinary “ service in the ranks, and the sending “ them to shoot and bo shot at by “ French peasants, to charge eraanci- “ paled .Russian serfs with the bayo- “ net, is like cutting grindstones with “ razors.” What victory can compensate for the loss of men of this class to the world ? There has always been a tendency to set a money value upon human life. Amongst our Saxon forefathers there was a scale of chai'ges by which felony might be compotifulecl, and latterly the money value of a British soldier has been computed. We do not like the style of comparison

but it is u very practical way of putting the matter. It is estimated then that each soldier in the army, when fully equipped and trained for work, has cost the nation £IOO. This is the outlay on his military education, outfit, and accoutrements. Applying a similar test to Prussia’s citizen soldiery the cost would be enormously multiplied. The same writer says, “We sec “ Science travelling in the rear of the “ armies, all ready to be called into “ consultation, and civil engineering “ prepared to play its part; telegraphic “ and postal communications opened “ up to the positions that were stormed “ yesterday, and drilled corps of nav- “ vies laying railways round Metz, <• before the army in occupation there “ has made up its mind it is sur- “ rounded.” Germany will lose hundreds of thousands of such men, by battle and disease before the war is finished. It is impossible to count the cost.