The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1881.

Temuka Leader, Issue 360, 8 March 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1881.

When England and France enlered the lists against Russia in 1854 the civilised world looked on with surprise at two of the deadliest enemies on the face of the earth becoming almost in an instant sworn fri'.-n Ib. Some accused France of sinister motives, and much search was made, and ': much looking behind the scenes took place to find out what was the object that France might have in view for thus hurrying the hatchet with Engla- d, after the great humiliation she received at the hands dfcthe latter on the memorable field of Waterloo. Others of a more serious turn of mind looked upon it as a forecast of the Millenium, which they believed, with Dr dimming, w s close at hand. The mustering of the forces against the Russian Bear ihey interpreted as a preliminary gathering to prepare for the great •battl-: of Arraag'edden, when the beast—the Anti-Christ according to their viewshud to be alain. Others, of a more practical turn of mind, saw at once that Napoleon 111. (not then very firmly seated on the throne) required a strong ally. Who so "valuable as England. The French usurper was weak in his foreign friendship. None of the great European monformally acknowledged

I him as a brother. This pleased his eue- • mies in his own country, and made him i liable to be dethroned if a strong combinI ation were formed against him. The i French ruler's policy was evidently—as ■ the more penetrating observed—to secure ! glory to the arms of his kingdom and i honor to himself as a consequence. Few I of the most sanguine, even in England or ! France, believed that this feigned friend" ! ship would continue to witness a single | battle. When the united armies left the I shores of their native country, suspicion i of France overreaching England were wide and deep ; but Napoleon knew too wt 11 the value of England's friendship to risk the chance of a rupture at this early stage, hence his readiness to be guided in many things by En ,dand, and until the battle of Alma was fought, no attempt at selfagrandisement was made. After that event proofs of France's desire to secure the honor and glory of this war were not wanting, and but for the cool gentlemanly manner of the firm but noble-minded Raglun, St Arnatid would have precipitated a rupture, and destroyed a friendship that was destined to continue many years, to the benefit of both Nations. One of the strongest proofs of Napoleon's desire to secure all the glory is to be found 1 in his determination to take the field himself and lead both armies. England, by a pradent, ingenious firmness, and showing to the new French ruler the risk to himself of leaving his own metropolis at that time was able to prevail upon him to stay at home ; but news of disaster after disaster following so fast upon each other (showed him the necessity of more dash and impetuosity. It also showed the want of England's preparedness for a war of a.iy sort. Previous to this rupture with Russia, England had enjoyed forty years of almost unbroken peace. Her army, as a natural consequence, had been neglected. Accustomed to scor9 her victories chieflythrough the heavy blows struck by her powerful navy, she had devoted all her attention to that arm; and when Sir Charles Napier pronounced that memorable command to his men to sharpen their cutlasses, the British public expected another terrible blow to be struck that would sound anew the praise of England as the mistress of the seas. This- state of expectation was considerably enhanched by that other infamous expression made use of by the hitherto rash Commodore " That he would be in Cronstadt or in h—ll within twenty-four hours. While, however, the British public were in a great state of exciteme -t, Russia laughed. Russia had her programme completed for many years, while England had been devoting her attention to her manufactures, she had been devoting her studies to improvement to her army. The torpedo was then known to her in the shape of infernal machines, many of which were sunk in the water of the entrance to Cronstadt and St Petersburgh. Sir Charles Na| ier's threat having turned out to be simply a blowing oft of a little gas. No opportunity was offered for testing the value of these machines. What little there was showed that they were not to be trifled with. People laughed at the idea of blowing a ship out of the water, and by such puny instrumentality as a box, or a tinful of powder or some such-like combustible. What has taken place in the world since has shows it was possible that Charley Napier might have experienced the last of the two alternativns alloted to him by his own choice sooner than he expected. France, shortly after this, was able to take the glory if this Blac k Sea campaign at the battle of Malakoff. Then her arms were accredited with the taking of that strong fortress while the British commander, Sir Charles Codringtou, was sitting watching the glory, like a Maori with a blanket about Ills shoulders. France, after this, took a higher place in the Councils of the World than England. While the latter got credit for laying her thousands, the former got credit for slaying her tens of thousands. France, like Russia, being till a short time previous to this a despotic power, was a stiong military power, and had devoted her attention to the improvement of her army. But Napoleon the Third knew the consequences of arousing England, and that although up till now she had come out second best, she would, if the war were carried on much longer > dim the glory that France was now enjoying. He therefore pressed Russia to make proposals for peace, and he also pressed , England to agree to the terms offered, which she very reluctantly did just as the spring was opening up, which would have given her a chance of humbling Russia and of making Fiance play second fiddle. The English public were dissatisfied with this peace. The lion's bristly mane stood on end ; he began to , ) show his teath. Gunboats had been built; powerful war vessels had been built and equipped ; her army, that had beeu neglected, were fully armed with the snider rifle ; whistling] acks, that had ploughed up the Russian trenches and ; dashed to pieces so many of her strong- ' holds, were strengthened and multiplied ; heavy, powerful Armstrongs were made more powerful still ; while her cavalry, which played so important a part on the ' Plains of Balaclava, were increased in | numbers and better diilled, and were ready to give a better account of them- ' selves than even then they did. France managed to put down the war, but she ■ could Dot put down the warlike spirit

that had been evoked. France after this, however, took one road, England another. Restless, over restless, Fiance must be at war. Napoleon must sustain the honor and glory of his family. A Napoleon must again be Emperor of France, and Irs name must continue to >3 associated with victory and conquest. Austria had at this time a name as a military power that sounded louder than France. This must not be. The. French Emperor must reign supreme. Austria must bo humbled, and France must do it; hence the battles of Sidona and Magenta, which exalted the arms of Franco to something like their former grandeur. Napoleon the Third now began to walk in his uncle's shoes. The nations of the earth became uneasy. Arm, arm, was the cry all over Europe. Even to America the warlike spirit had spread. The apostles of peace saw their hopes dashed to the ground. War after war succeeded each other in rapid succession. The Prussians and Germans got aroused. The FrancoPrussian war was the result. The star of Napoleon set to rise no more. The after destruction of the house of Napoleon took place under the most painful circumstances, and France contiuues a Republic. In our next article we will endeavor to sketch England's career and policy from that time till now, with her prospects for the future. _________________