THE TIMES ON THE DECLARATION OF WAR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 215, 12 September 1870, Page 2

THE TIMES ON THE DECLARATION OF WAR.

We make a few extracts from the Times of J uly IG: — " The greatest national crime that we have had the pain of recording in these columns since the days of the first French Empire has been consummated. War is declared — an unjust but premeditate 1 war. This dire calamity which overwhelms Europe with dismay is, it is now too clear, the act of France — of one man in France. It is the ultimate result of personal rule. * * * It is but fair to surmise that it was with the Emperor's concurrence, if not at his suggestion, that M. Benedetti.adiplomatistot more than 20yearsstanding, and therefore not excusable on the score of unacquaintance with civilized usages — aggravated an offensive message by the unheard-of discourtesy with with he delivered it. It is only too easy to appreciate with what spirit and with what aim a negotiation which began with a gratuitous threat and ended in an insult was undertaken and conducted. It was a slap in the face given with the left hand, whilst the right is ready on the hilt of the sword. It was the deed of a duellist grasping an adversary by the throat with the cry, *■■' Your honor or your life." It is now too evident that nothing short of an amount of humiliation to which no powerful nation could submit, would have given Prussia a chance of escape. * * * Few men will be so ingenuous as to imagine that the consciousness of a righteous cause will be of much avail against the preponderance of big battalions. Yet there can be no doubt a3 to the side on which the world's sympathies will be enlisted, and, whatever may on former occasions have been the offences of Prussia, she will in this instance have on her side alt that moral support which is seldom denied to those who take up arms in self-defence. It is otherwise with France whom nothing short of a long victorious career will rehabilitate in Europe an opinion. It is still difficult to conceive what infatuation can have committed the Emperor Napoleon to a course which is as impolitic a3 it is criminal. * * * * The Prussian war now opening will, when the first feverish enthusiasm abates, appear indefensible evento'the most selfish and vainglorious patriotism. It is important that Napoleon should act upon his favorite maxim — '■ Strike soon, and strike hard." If the expenditure and the hardships of the campaign be prolonged, the French people and the French army itself will find that even tli<3 Rhine may be bought too dear. Woe to the Emperor if the ardour of his troops has time to abate— if there is anything like a check in the enterprise — still worse, a repulse. There is no possible return for him, except as a conqueror, and a conqueror on the scale to which Austerlitz anl Wagram accustomed his uncle's subjects. But it is very questionable whether one Solferino will dispose of Prussia as easily as it did of Austria; and even were Prussia utterly overcome, forces may be found drawn up behind her in second

line."