The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-18 00:00:00

AFTER THE DECLARATION.

After the declaration of war had been an-
nounced in the Corps L6gislatif, a still more
immense crowd gathered round the building. Access

to the Chamber was most difficult, and a strong
body of sergents-de-ville had the utmost trouble in
keeping order. When the alca jacta est was
heard, the applause outside the Chamber was not

less passionate, and much louder than that within. The
Ministers were cheered, and " Vive L'Empereur " was
much oftener heard in the course of that one afternoon
than in the space of the last twelve months. Then the
multitude spread itself over the city, and carried the glad
tidings to every corner. A second edition of the Consti-
tutionnel was eagerly bought up. It contained a species
of semi-official statement :

" The King of Prussia has refused to receive the repre-
sentative of France, and has told him by a subordinate
that he had nothing to communicate to him. This fact
was published the same evening by the Official Gazette of
Berlin, and sent by. Count Bismarck to the foreign
Cabinets. To such insolence there is but one answer—
war ! Our Government has done everything to avoid a
conflict. It has circumscribed the Franco-Prussian dif-
ference to a simple dynastic question. It has revived
none of the grievances which still exist in consequence of
the non-fulfilment of the Treaty of Prague ; it wishes for
peace—a peace which would preserve the national
honour. Prussia has taken our moderation for
weakness ; to the declarations, calm, proper, and
pacific of our ambassador, she has responded
by an injury—an act of rudeness. In that she has
acted in accordance with her traditions ; we will act in
accordance with ours, The susceptibilities of France are
not to be played with. The remembrances of 1814 were
at rest ; the King of Prussia has brutally revived them.
Prussia wishes for war. Let it be. We accept it, sure
in the justice of our cause, confident in the superiority
of our arms. Prussia insults us ; let us cross the Rhine !
The soldiers of Jena are ready."
This stirring appeal was in no way calculated to
diminish the violence of the popular ferment. It
was distributed everywhere. As for the Debats
and the Temps, they printed the declaration
without adding a word, and the Siecle, which had some
articles in favour of peace ready in type, struck them out,
and appeared without a comment. But most of the other
journals took the popular side, and fed the flame of excite-
ment. Such animation has not been known before under
the Second Empire. The boulevards were thronged, the
perambulating crowds were larger than ever, and
there was more singing of Republican songs,
mingled with " Vive l'Empereur " and cries
of hostility to Prussia. The decision seems welcome,
and yet it is said that the Emperor was disposed to rest
content with the withdrawal of the Prince. The
marshals and advisers around him, however, persuaded
him to go to extremities.

An evening sitting of the Corps L6gislatif was held at
nine o'clock on Friday, when the bills for loans, &c.,
were brought up. M. Gambetta invited the Chamber
calmly and coolly to deliberate, and pointed out that
the present policy of France differed from that
followed by the Emperor in 1866. He spoke
of the responsibility of the vote which he
said the Cabinet were throwing "upon the Chamber.
He' acknowledged the necessity of saving the country,
but desired that all the documents should be laid before
the. Chamber, which could thereby come to a decision.
The Government were desirous of making the Corps Legis-
latif responsible for the war, but theyhad not sufficiently
justified the motives which had dictated their resolution.
M. 011ivier, interrupting the speaker, said, "We take
upon ourselves this respdnsibility."—M. Gambetta then
pointed out that the Government had made two contra-
dictory assertions,—After vain attempts on the part of M.
Pelletan to address the House, a credit of 50,000,000 f.
was voted by 246 against 10 votes ; a credit of
16,000,000 f. for naval purposes was also voted by 248
votes against I.—A motion to call out the Garde Mobile
to active service was adopted by 243 votes against I.
Another motion authorising the enlistment of volunteers
for the duration of the war was adopted by 244 votes
against 1.