The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-15 00:00:00

THEITERMS OF PEACE.

The Telegraph asks if Metz and Strasbourg, Phalsbourg
and Bitene, were made into open places, would not Ger-
many be stronger by avoiding future difficulties
with recalcitrant Alsatians and Lotharingians than
by reversing the axiom which she enforced at
Holstein, and by dismembering France ? Nor,
after all, though the guilty aggression of France gives
her victors all but unlimited claims, is it exclusively a
question for German statesmen. Even they must, in the
end, submit to the supreme power of civilised
opinion ; the new order which they impose must be in
harmony with morality, or it will fall to nought ; it must
be shaped by nobler thoughts than those of vengeance and
pride, or it will not stand. To-day they are arbiters of the
situation; but Europe, in turn, will be arbitress of the
conduct, and what she demands—representing Christianity
and humanity—is that there shall come forth from this
horrible war, to reconcile it to our patience and our
conscience, the grounds of an universal peace, of
a repose for the agitated, despairing, bleeding
race. Well, then, will the annexation of Alsace and
Lorraine insure such ,a blessed consummation, or will
it not, on the contrary, stamp hatred as immortal,
and render troubles in Europe chronic ? Germany must
answer that question to the satisfaction of Europe before
she makes Teuton towns of Metz and Strasburg. The
victors themselves are not so great or so potent to-day
that they can deride the agony of a land like France, can
disregard the affinities of 2, 000,000 of her people, and
sut their pound of flesh from nearest her heart, blood and
all. They demand compensation and guarantees from the
aggressive nation which has condemned Europe, through
all these past years, to the intolerable burden of warlike
preparations. So far they do justly ; and we say that
France must turn to them, not to the neutral Powers, to
be forgiven. But Europe has also demands upon the
victor ; it asks, and, after the close of the war, in the
deliberate calm of peace, it will expect conditions
of a genuine and lasting disarmament as the issue of such
au ccesses.

The Manchester Courier hopes the neutral Powers will
intervene to secure for M. Thiers a patient hearing from
the Prussian Government, and obtain for France terms
not disgracefully humiliating. Warmly though such
consummation may be desired, it is almost hopeless
tinder present circumstances. It is to be feared that the
war must proceed, and the next news will probably be that
the siege of Paris has commenced in earnest.
The Freeman's Journal says the conditions sketched in
Berlin are not only unreasonable,but largely partake of the
preposterous, while those shadowed forth in the Paris
organs are equally untenable and absurd. -

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN SOUTH
DEVON.
The foot and mouth disease, which has for some weeks
past existed near Bridgewater and Exeter, has to-day
been discovered on Humscombe Farm, close to Plymouth,
several cattle being infected. Cornwall as yet is free from
the disease.
-_

FEARFUL BOILER EXPLOSION
Last night about six o'clock a fearful boiler explosion
took place at the extensive engineering works, at High
Walker, near Shields, by which upwards of fifty work-
men are more or less injured. Four dead bodies have
been taken from the ruins. The boiler was situated in
the fitting shops, the roofs of which are completely blown
off.

The Standard says :—" An Italo-Prussian agree-
ment has finally been concluded. Consequently the
Italian occupation of Roman territory commenced on
Tuesday. Italy guarantees the personal security of the
Pope and cardinals."

" A great demonstration of the London Democ-
racy," in favour of the French Republic, is announced to
take place on Monday, Septemberl9, in Trafalgar-square,
at seven o'clock. The announcement we have received of
this intended demonstration is signed, " George Odger,
President,"