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Evening Star, Issue 4419, 28 April 1877, Page 2

It is a great pity that generals and admirals and men whose trade is war, cannot learn to hold their tongues. They will ‘ ‘ talk sh p, ” and tend by their gabble to rouse the fears of the timid, and to spread a war fever among people who would otherwise be content to pursue their own business in peace. Unlike the late Duke of Wellington, who invariably pronounced war to be an unmitigated curse, and tended by his strong, sound, common sense speeches to repress national frenzies tending to it, the brave Von Moltke has spoken a few words that, telegraphed through the world, will do no little to bring about a second war between France and Germany. We do not know that any special importance should be attached to his words, for beyond being a skilful general and a profound mathematician, we never heard that Von Moltke had any repu ation for political foresight. Unfortunately, such words from such men tend to bring about the event they point to. They fan national pride, keep alive a spirit of revenge, and rekindle animosities that, but for such utterances, would Lave gradually subsided. Especially are such unguarded words dangerous when all Europe is agitated by the contest just begun between Russia and Turkey—a contest into which there is every reason to believe the northern power has been precipitated by popular unreason and superstition roused by means closely resembling Von Moltke’s speech. That France has been placing her army on a better footing than heretofore, there is no doubt—it was only prudent to do so; that there is a strong desire to recover .Alsace and Lorraine is most probable; and, should a favorable opportunity present itself for an attack upon Gennany, possibly it may be availed of, especially if some political end is to be attained by it. But both countries suffered so dreadfully during the last war that neither Government will willingly renew it, is most probable. If entered into it will be the peoples’ doing. The true interest of both is peace. Jf that is maintained they will both bo rich and powerful —if they go to war, they both become weak in proportion to the damage each inflictd*bn the other, and to the cost of so suicidal a struggle.