The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-09-10 00:00:00

E4e 3touri2ribge Oljscrinr.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1870.

FRANCE A REPUBLIC.

What may have been the object of Napoleon,
ere-while Emperor of the French, in so Lltifiti
declaring war, is still open to discussion, but tile
evidence is very strongly in favour of his having
entered upon it with dynastic views. He seem.,
to have desired to have gained glory and in-
creased territory for France, and to have con-
nected his name with the successes of his coun-
try. Be this as it may, we know full well what
would have occurred had the French arms tri-
umphed. The telegram to the Empress in re•
gird to that miserable affair t Saarbruck, about
Louis having received the baptism of fire, tells
us this much. We should have had imperial
bulletins full of "glory " with which the Erupe.
rots name would have beau closely identified;
and had France finally triumphed the Emperor
would have received anew lease of power amid
the acclamations of his people, and could have
felt more assured than ever that his son would
• have stnmeeded him on the throne. But the
course of events has changed all this. TM
Emperor may or may not have endeavoured to
avoid being identified with defeat; now that he
is defeated and a captive we will not insist us
the affirmative ; but certain it is that fhe name
of Napoleon, erewhile so powerful, has been in.
extricably connected with the disasters of the
French army; and for some time past it must
generally have been felt that without some un-
expected and almost miraculous successes falling
to the lot of the Army of the Rhine the Empe-
ror would be Emperor no longer. The pour
Emperor—we use the word in pity and compas-
sion, not in contempt—must have felt this him-
self. Depressed by the continual defeat of his
forces, in bodily pain and mental anguish, his
ambitious designs blasted, and with further de•
feat and disaster before him, what could he do
but surrender to the mighty leader of the victo-
rious enemy ? It is said that he might have es.
caped into Belgium, as some of 3lacMahun's
artily did ; but he may perhaps have felt, in ac-
cordance with his fatalistic leanings, that his
time was come. If he could not die at the head
of his troops, he is reported to have said, he
would surrender with them. Well might the
King of Prussia telegraph to the Queen," What
a thrilling moment that of my meeting with
Napoleon! He was cast down, but dignified in
his bearing, and resigned."
_ . . . . _

And so he ImperiZl Eagle is caged in a for-
tress in the very heart of Prussiti, and bearing
the significant name of Williehoshoe, or ii-
ham's height; it is the name oftim King, and
suggests his being at the height of his ambition
and the depth of the full of the imperial captive.
How have the mighty fallen !

But yesterday tie, word of Cirser might
Have stood against the world ; now !relies he there,
And none so poor to do him reverence."
The words which Shakespeare applies to Julius
euesar are but little strained in applying them to
the imperial prisoner, treated with modified res-
pect though he be. Only a few short weeks ago
the Emperor Napoleon was certainly one of tin
most powerful sovereigns of Europe. '• To his
lightest word," says a contemporary," .' all the
world listened. For good or evil his influence
cold his name were potent in every corner of the
earth ; his nod convulsed continents ; his arms
glittered from Algeria to Mexico. A signal from
hint, and the dominion of the Austrian over
Lombardy is broken at Sqlferino, and a new
Italy arises on the horizon of Europe. A whis-
per from him and Maximilian of Austria rushes
across the ocean to found a Mexican empire, to
fluid is premature grave. What a contract to all
this in the dethroned Emperor, the defeated
General, captive in a German fortress, who, on
his being conveyed thither, moat hove learnt of
the imperial standard being torn front the Tuile-
ries, the impelial u,:ties arid emblems being cast
clown and trampled tender foot; of the flight of
the Empress, and the proclamation of • Repub-
lic !

The news we elsewhere give relative to the
startling effect produced in Paris and °Vier
towi.s by tt.e receipt. of ibe intelligence that the
',rimy under MacMahon had capitulated and th
Emperor had surrei•ilered, will he read with deep
interest ; but excitiiig as this news is, it can
scarcely be said to have been received in our own
country with wonder. Had the news been merely
confined to the surrender of Macrnahon's forces,
Sill! had the Emperor, now the ex-Emperor es-
caped, the probability is that 114 new dkaster
wouid have intensified the I,f ling iii Pad:,
which in, 1)..e _
Xi eontiint 111 C,
der ,if N•, )1!

,;1.• 7

gisclarsuuu s ropuutic. Enune iuow

in the throes of another revolution, and earnestly I
do we hope that she may work out this fearful
political problem without the further shedding '
of blood in civil strife. May this torn and
bleeding country establish a government which
shall aid in the development of the national en-
ergies and be powerful in fostering national lib-
erty, while repressing disorder. England will
not quarrel with France on account of the form
of government she may choose. What we are
far more concerned about is that this awful war
be made to cease. It is sad indeed to find that
on the one hand Prussia is so haughty and so
little inclined to listen to the voice of the medi-
ator, and that upon the other France has her
heart still so firmly set upon revenge ; but we
have hope nevertheless from the assurance that
the neutral Powers are bringing such influence
as they can exert upon the blood-stained corn-
batants. May Heaven in its mercy grant that
reason may soon exert her power over the lust
of conquest and the passion for revenge, and
that terms of peace between those mighty na-
tions may soon be agreed upon.

LATEST NEWS.

PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.

(REUTERS TELEGRAMS)

THE WAR.

SIEGE OF STRASBURG.

TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER OF THE

PRUSSIANS.

TOUL HOLDING OUT.

DEATH OF MACMAHON.

PARIS, Wednesday.
The Ministry of the Interior publishes, under
reserve, the following despatch from the Consul
at Basle :

ST. Lows, Wednesday, 10 a.m.

" 3,000 Prussians, in garrison at Mutterholz,
received orders to march immediately upon
Strasburg, where the besieged, by a sortie, had
killed 8,000 or 10,000 men, and captured several
cannon between Thursday and Friday. The
enemy crossed on pontoons between the Porte
des Julia and Porte d'Austerlltz, and was swept
down to the last man by the mitrailleuse at the
Porte des Pecheurs."

Great activity is being displayed against the
Prussians by the Francs-tireurs and armed pea-
sants between Chalanipe and limbo.
There is only a weak column of Baden troops,
with two howitzers, on the right bank of the
Rhine, and a detachment of 700 men at Fri-
bourg. _

Pains, Wednesday Evening.

The resistance of Tool continues. An official
decree has been issued declaring that Toni bad
deserved well of the country.
Marshal Maalahon is dead.

THE ADVANCE ON PARIS.

- -
THE KING'S ENTRY INTO RHEIMS.

(GERMAN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.)
RHEIMS, Monday, 9.15 p.m.
His Majesty the King of Prussia wade his en•
try into Rheims to-day.
PARIS, Wednesday Evening.
Official despathes state that 2,000 Prussians
had occupied St. Lizier.
Scouts had appeared before Leon, and 5U
Uhlans had been repulsed by the Garde Mobile.

Communications -between' 'Diann and Mul-
house were interrupted, and had been re-estab-
lished between Paris and Mezieres, and Laon
and St. Quentin.
114,000 troops are now in Paris.
Count Palikao has resumed the command of
the army of Lyons._

Brest, Ravi, and Cherbourg are being an.
tively placed in a state of defence.

A Ct;ptive balloon bas been prepared for obscr•
Vat lOU during the siege of Paris.
..„ . . .

Ihe correspondence of the Imperial faraiiy
has been seized.

BRUSSELS, Thursday.

The Munitewr Beige of to-day says that thL
number of German soldiers who have crossed
the Belgian frontier is altogether insignificant.
13EELIN, Thunday.

The Official Staatsauseiger of this evening,
saya :—" According to reliable information—
the statements namely of eye witueaaes—the
Emperor Napoleon, at the battle of Sedan, es•
posed himself to our fire in Bich a manner that
his intention indubitably was to seek death.