The Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2587, 2 June 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1871.

The punctuality with which the new line ol steamers arrive with the mails, via San Francisco, is the best guarantee for the continuance of the service. The Nebraska performed her voyage within contract time, and thus far there is every reason to congratulate the Government on the success of their measures. Even their systematic detractors are silenced and seem to watch sulkily the success of plans that were opposed and which they prophesied would not succeed. The result cannot be doubted under ordinary circumstances. The infant commerce of the Pacific must increase year by year, and though, for a short time, the jealousies of other colonies may lead them to withhold support to the line, they will find their interest in doing so ultimately. By the Nebraska the news is of a mixed character and that immediately affecting ourselves induces painful forebodings. We can hardly hope that the news of the loss of the Queen of the Thames is untrue, but from the non-addition of the usual term of announcement “ with all hands ” there is room to hope that the disaster is confined to the loss of the vessel only. From France the news is still gloomy. The state of affairs there is so completely without precedent that the most accomplished politician would be unable to predict the result. In fact from the accounts received it is impossible to form an idea of the points of contention. We know what Communism means in the abstract, and we know what republicanism means. But to us at a distance, it does not appear that either political doctrine is enthusiastically entertained in the country generally. The present struggle appears to be confined to Paris itself, and to be a question of order or disorder; leaving the ultimate form which Government shall assume to be settled when one or other shall have triumphed. Whatever sympathy was felt with France under her defeats by the Germans, none can be entertained in view of the self-inflicted horrors of this most unnatural war. Humanity appears to hare been banished, and to have been replaced by a code of warfare that degrades it to blood-thirsty barbarism. It has often been remarked that of all wars, civil wars are the most cruel and relentless; and the war raging when the mail left confirms that theory. It is evident there has long been an undercurrent of discontent pervading a large class in Paris, that was only kept under by the pressure of force. This has been removed, and the slumbering embers have burst into* flame. Although no humane person 'will regret having contributed towards the relief of the Parisians when reduced to extremity by the armies of Germany, they cannot but feel that their generosity has been bestowed upon unworthy subjects. They gave that the sufferers might be relieved and enabled to retrieve their position j but, instead of that, they have turned their arms against each other, and for anything we know to the contrary, their conquerors will prove their benefactors, if they return and compel that obedience to law which France is unable to enforce upon herself. It is surprising how completely European attention is concentrated upon France. Spain, the original causfr of this horrible affair, seems forgotten. Italy, where such important events have resulted from the withdrawal of the French troops, is not named.. Turkey, that a few years back would have been thought a likely cause of war throughout Europe, might as well hold no place in the habitable world, and even the navigation of the Black Sea by men-of-war, is forgotten. It is fortunate (hat this is the case, for, were any of these states brought prominently into notice, it most probably would be on account of disturbances, internal or

international. The course of peace is silent and unobserved. Riches and progress are the result of persistent and commonly unnoticed efforts—unnoticed because diffused and isolated, spread over a series of years. War, on the other hand, is a combined and convulsive effort that can be noted and marked in its progress. When, therefore, we hear little of states, it is a sign of industry and contentment. On these grounds we may calculate that on the whole, beyond France, the rest of the world is better employed than in war.