The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-12-31 00:00:00

THE STOT7RBItIDGE OBSEEI FR.

German prey; while town after town has fallen
into the grasp of the victorious foe, and even
defenceless towns have been bombarded while
others have suffered severely from heavy requi-
sitions, and scenes of mime atrocity have, alas!
been very numerous. While we think of what
the war has done, is doing, and will still do, we
may naturally ask what is it all for? when and
how will it end? and what will be the ultimate
result? It is strange, though true, that no sat-
isfactory answer can be given even to the first
quesion, which deals solely with the past. That
two powerful nations should go to war because
a comparatively poor, powerless, and insignifi-
cant nation had chosen a German prince for
their King, especially after the princely candi-
date for the Spanish throne had retired, is so
absurd an idea that it is scarcely outdone by
Swift's celebrated narrative of the wars of the
lifg-endians and Little-endians. The true rea-
son of the Franco-Prussian war perhaps was the
mutual jealousy of the two nations, and even
this, now that we see what horrors have ensued,
appears intensely grotesque, though the gro-
tesqueness is ghastly. When and how will the
war end? Who Gan say? France has been
brought down and humbled in the dust, but like
Antieus, who is fabled to have received new life
on touching the ground, she regains new life and
energy; she is cut down, but not destroyed or
dismayed; and her new levies, her fresh efforts,
her continued determination, and her untiring
bravery, cause many of her friends to hope and
believe that she may yet be able to turn the cur-
rent of German success, and may even ulti-
mately gain the victory. Whether such • hope
be wall-grounded or not remains to be seen, but
whensoever or howsoever the war may end, what
will be its ultimate result? Who can venture
to prophesy? But, without attempting anything
of the kind, we may at least express the fear
that, should France finally succumb, and have
to submit to the German terms of peace, that
will not be the ultimate result of the war.
France will inherit a hatred and malice towards
her German conquerors that will not easily be
placated or satiated. If she lose territory, as
will in all probability be the case, she will never
rest till she has struggled to win this back; and
her revenge would not even then be satiated.
Deprived of territory though she be, she will yet
be powerful, and will not wholly have lost mili-
tary prestige ; her love of war may be lessened,
but it will not be destroyed, and she will prob-
ably not only nurture the spirit of revenge, but
will persistently make efforts ultimately to gratify
it. But we forbear from further entering on
the domain of pure speculation. Such reflec-
tions, however, added to all the horrors of the
past and the present of this awful war, may well
make peaceful nations dread the slightest encou-
ragement being given to warlike policy.

he! of hrr by the frock. She afterwards threw
a si at him, and struck him several times on
the Lice. Complainant was tipsy. Defendant
was muddled. Reuben Parsonf gave corrobora-
tive evidence.—The Bench considered the cases
proved, and should fine on both charges. On
the charge of assault 30s and costs, in default
one month ; and lOs and costs, in default 14
days, for refusing to quit.
FELONY CASE.—John Bennett was charged
with stealing a man's jacket and a pair of Wel-
lington boots, on the 22nd met, the property of
W. Lane, of Alveley The ease was proved, and
defendant committed to take his trial at the en-
suing Worcester Sessions.
CHARGE OF TRESPASS.—James Minnett 11118
charged with trespassing on land at Pedmore, in
the occupation of Mr. N. Smith, in search of
conies, on the 19th inst. George Noke, keeper,
proved that he saw the defendant lay down three
nets, and put in a hole a ferret. Defendant
pleaded guilty. Fined 511 and costs; in default
14 daye.