Unbelief or loss of faith is one of the most extraordinary conditions of the brain, for when it exists all power of action ceases. The desire may be strong, but the power of execution so weak, that it is impossible to perform. The moment confidence is lost, and the power is called into question, that is sufficient; it is no use trying so long as that frame of mind exists. This loss of faith destroys the power to do. Over-anxiety, as well as fear, produces a loss of confidence.

The executive power, to be eminently successful, imperatively demands the presence of a united condition of faith and will. Once destroy, from whatever cause, the faith, and the power becomes weak.

If you fall several times on the ice, your faith has become so diminished that it is with great difficulty walking, under these circumstances, can take place without assistance. It is so in swimming; once lose faith or doubt your capacity, the power becomes weak accordingly. So it is in every act of life.

Nothing contributes so much to great national disasters as the lack of self-confidence. If, from whatever cause, there is once established in the mind of soldiers or sailors an impression as to the enemy's superiority, no matter whether well or ill founded, from that moment the chances of success are reduced. When once that peculiar condition of faith and self-confidence known as "the morale" is destroyed, the best of troops are rendered comparatively useless. It was the loss of confidence or "morale" caused by the terrible defeats at the commencement of the war, at Weissenbourg and Worthe, which rendered the French army an easy foe to conquer. Its prestige was gone, and in the same ratio as it had lost confidence the German troops had gained. They no longer thought the French invincible. Success begets success; once impress the conviction that you are great, that you are powerful, everything else is taken for granted. If, however, by failure, irresolution, or hesitation, a policy of mere expediency is adopted exhibiting weakness, your prestige is lost from that moment. Your influence, your power, has ceased to exist. These great mental forces are nationally manifested each passing year. Knowledge is power.

If the intellectual faculties of a nation are convinced that its armaments, discipline, and organization have been carried out according to the principles which scientific experience has proved to be the most powerful, both for offence and defence, this conviction will create an intellectual faith, and will result in the most extraordinary manifestation of will power. Faith based on the conviction of the intellectual reasoning faculties has a permanent and lasting hold on the mind; it is never subject to those frightful panics which invariably arise from ignorance; it sees a means to an end, and it is not easily discomfited by temporary reverses.

If soldiers once lose confidence in the intelligence of their leaders, that magic faith or united will power which has achieved all the great and brilliant triumphs of the past, cannot be exercised. It is this intellectual concert and harmony of mental states which conquers and annihilates all opposing forces. If these are not present, failure and defeat must be the inevitable result. Distrust your own powers and they actually cease. Whenever doubt, hesitation, or want of confidence takes the place of resolution, self-reliance, and a firm conviction of power, the will power is rendered negative.

France, prior to the war of 1870, was imagined to be the most powerful of nations, possessing complete armaments of the most improved description, her army and navy ready for any emergency. When, however, the hour of trial put her to the test, it was found that her condition resembled a mighty giant, or Samson, whom the Delilah of voluptuousness and corruption had lulled and betrayed into the fatal sleep of apathy, enervation, and false confidence. The total demoralization or want of discipline, and particularly intelligence, rendered her comparatively powerless. On the first reverses, caused by want of generalship or intellectual strategic action, she lost faith in herself: her strength from that instant had departed. It was "the cutting of the seven locks of hair;" it was then too late to cry, "the Teutons be upon thee, France," for her power of resistance had already become so weak that she had to submit to have her very eyes put out.

Disunited, discouraged in her helplessness, she became the mockery and the sport of the Teuton. Paris is fettered with an impenetrable barrier of steel guns. An enormous indemnity is exacted of 200 millions sterling, besides, "the unkindest cut of all," she is obliged to cede two of her most important provinces, that of Alsace and the greater portion of Lorraine. France, in blind frenzy, carries out the simile of Samson only so far as to commit the suicidal folly of a civil war, for she has not even the satisfaction of immolating with herself "the lords of the Philistines." "Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first drive mad."

France! yon are eating the fruit of despotism and ignorance. Educate your children; then, and not till then, will they cease to be the sport of Utopian ideas, or the dupes of bigotry.

Your revenge is in the future; let it be one of high intelligence. One which will command the admiration of mankind. Your Gallic race has all the elements of intellectual greatness; only give it freedom of action. Unfetter your mercurial people; talk no more of ruling with "a rod of iron." Those fossilized ideas have in a very great measure been the cause of your present calamitous condition. So long as you cherish ignorance or despotism, so long will you be the sport of those nations who enjoy the high privilege of being educated, and though despotism will not allow them to act, they have at least the power of thinking for themselves.

Physical or brute force has no power per se; it, to have potency, must be under the guidance of knowledge. It is the huge muscle without the rational will power.

France, arouse from your torpor; come to intellectual, conscious life; throw off the incubus of Delilah, which has bound you in fetters. Remember the march of mind is onward. Those alone who can rule themselves have the faculty of ruling. The Goddess of Liberty has no sympathy with that chaotic monster whose attributes are a combination of despotism, ignorance, bigotry, and superstition.

Note. - The principal causes which tended to the extraordinary success of the Germans were - 1st. Wonderful superiority of the artillery, which was employed with an efficiency, and at ranges never before known; 2nd. The automatic discipline and organization in every department of the army.

The writer having witnessed many of the battle fields in the late war, he is in a position to state how inferior is the military system of every other nation, when compared to that of Prussia.