The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-11-19 00:00:00

THE PAYMENT OF THE STAKES!

A correspondent of the leading journal writes :

- -
Those who encourage the French In the delusion that,
having begun such a game es this, they will not have to pay
the stakes, are doing no good either to them or to the rest et
Enema. It Is especially unfair for a. to tote this line at the
end of the war, because, although we admitted that the
French were ill the arog we did not enter any public pro-
test agabiet it, but confined ourselves to requiring that
it should be " localised "—that is, that • ring should be
formed, and that the combatants should be left to fight
It out so they best might. lii, urged that the transfer of
Alsace would lead to Interminable hostile excitement. Ido
not believe it. The line of the Vosges, in Gemnu hands,
would be made at strong as to be virtually impregnable;
but what I trust to more is this—for some generations the
French have been the spoilt children of Ettrope, and until
this notion that they have a divine right to do wrong is
worked out of them, and they become aware that, like other
nations, they must pay the penalty of their misdeed., there
will be no peace for Europe. The cesaton or retention of
Alsace has become a trial of strength, and if the French
carry their point with tho help of England they will be
con firmtd in glair hallucination.

Metz is another matter, and since Its capture it has ac-
quired a diplomatic importance which may make it the
turning point of the whole affair. While It is not at canary
for Garman defence, It would in German hands be a stand-
ing menace to France far exceeding anything that could be
Wei against Strasburg while it was in French hands. The
population is French, and not German, and It was won by
Fiance long ago by fair lighting, anti not, like Straahurg, In
comparatively recent times by treacherous surprise in time
of peace. No effort of Prance could now forcibly elect Ger-
many from Metz, hut it might to restored, after it has
been dismantled, &sone of the conditions of • peaceful settle-
ment.

There is all act of friendship specially incumbent upon this
country In the present critical circumstances of Paris. Two
millions of people will be destitute of food at the end of the
Idockaite, a few weeks hence. The besieging army has Itself
so much difficulty in getting supplies, and the neighbouring
parts of France are so exhausted or so disturbed, that timely
help is not to be looked for from that quarter ; but in England
our sources of supply and means of conveyance are untouched
and we are such near neighbours that Paris is practically more
accessible from London and the south and west of England than
from most parts of France. During the height of the Irish Fa-
mine we tel three millions of people for several monthsao that
this would he a small matter. Two or three of our leading
Items In the provision trade could easily undertake it, but it
would be well for our Government to see that proper ar-
rangements are actually made As neither& can of tor served
meat nor a flitch of b *con will miter Paris from England
until the siege In at an end, Count Bismarck will, by this
neighbourly act of ours, be relieved from the anticipated
s ;andel of a starving multitude suddenly thrown upon his
hands, without any interference being exercised by us with
Count Sioltke's military arrangements.