The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-10
GOSSIP FROM PARIS.

The Frontier Extension Question-French National
Feeling Respecting Annexation
Between Napoleon and Bismark on German
Unity-The Empress Carlotta's Visit and the
Mexican Troubles-The Emperor Napoleou's
Health-The Imperial Fete-Literary Items.
PARIS, August l7.-As you will have concluded
from the silence OF that Atlantic telegraph, those
French folks who were looking to find in the
MonitetH of day before yesterday simultaneous
announcement of dehnitlve peace between
Austria and Prussia, and of the extent OF terri
torlal compensation" made by the latter to their
Emperor, have been disappointed. There really
were many folks whose expectations were at
that height last week. But so early as Sunday,
Government, some what anxious at such exalta-
tiOn OF the popular sentiment, took means to
let il down easy.
A report from its Berlin correspondent was
published IN the Steele OF last Friday, TO the
effect that France had offered pro positions to
Prussia respecting the Rhine frontiers, and that
Prussia had declined entertaining them. That
eminent telegrammarian, Reuter-, whose posi-
tive style we became so familiar with that it
bred contempt during our civil war, flashed il
on the English world as a fact that France had
formally demanded territorial compensation,
which Prussia had as formally refused. How
this sensational tid-bt was relished IN England,
and with what highspiced dishes OF editorial
discourse it was served up hot-and-hot, your
London papers, by last steamer, will have shown
you. France was insuted, was on the point of
going TO war with Prussia, etc. etc.
l said something In my last of the French
national feeling respecting this annexation
business. the Siecte report was additional
stimulus to that feeling; the spiced comments
on the stronger Reuter- version yet further irri-
tated the feeling, which, meantime, numerous
journals here were keeping up, aud more stimu-
lating. Herr Bismark's organ, by-the-way, is
entirely. mistaken, as its editor, of course,
knows, in saying that it is only the opposition
journals here who we're engaged in the stmu-
lating process. No two newspapers, for instance,
have been more busy in that way than UEten-
ddrd and La Presse. That some OF the daily
organs OF the "old parties" have had for a part
OF their motive in the case a willingness to
create embarrassments for Napoleon's Govern
ment Is possible, but this has affected their
manner OF treating the subject only. The gene
raj proposition that il Prussian power is im-
mensely augmented, that of France should be,
in some proportion, augmented also, is an article
of the national creed-VariOusly defined in
special practical application, and more or
less earnestly insisted on by different classes of
minds, but peculiar to no party.
There IS small, enlightened class-not nume-
rOus enough or combined enough, unhappily,
TO be called party, but deserving attention
here-who, fully believing in the doctrine of
compensation, are preaching that this compen-
satiOn, sufficient to balance the suddenly en-
larged power of Prussia, which has by no means
yet reached its limits OF growth, is 10 be sought
within the actual boundaries OF France, Landau
and Saarlouis, and other Complementary bits OF
territory and defensive frontier stations we ought
to have, and it is the duty OF Government to
strive by all peaceful means to obtain them.
But the real and only sufficient compensatory
addition to the strength of France lies latent
within herself, and can only be developed, as it
is strainng tor development, by granting 1t
freedom of action. The restrictive laws of
1852 on the press, and on the right of free
speech and public meetings, are more detestable
than the treaties of 1875 as the natural boun-
daries of human thought are immeasurably more
sacred than polirieo-geograph frontiers. AL
though the preachers of this doctrine seem as
vet TO be preaching in the wilderness there are
take effect i should guess that they and their
growing, though still select audience, were
nearer out of the woods than those fanatIcal,
anti-slavery evangellsts with us seemed to be
ten years ago. To an observer who does not
conioupd the latest news by telegraph with his
tory, a consideration Of HtS view of Prussau
ACKNOWLEDGMENT taken by some OF the keen
sighted Frenehmen Of today, is seriously com
mended. And now to return TO the contemporary
and temporary reporters review, which this
paragraph has interrupted.
need not tell any one at all aware OF the
conditions in which the French press is per
mitted to exist that the single fact of 10 out o
the IL daily Paris political papers harping more
or less loudly on this frOntler-cXtension note
proves that, for the time aud the occasion, th
Emperor was aot unwilling TO have Prussia 81
warned and his own people lattered, or, in pos
sible CASE provoked.
In the visits of Bismark to Compeigne, AM
afterwards to BiarritZ conversation doubtles
turned in a general way, on the ulterior puI
poses and probable results of the visitors aCtiv
PoicI, ana Oh the hOstS passive policy. NOtnln
got set down on paper more than on occasion
oil Cavours earlier visit to Plombleres. So ia
as any historical result is certain German Uni
bcauOn IKE Italian UniiCation, was certain Il
some future The Italian experience ha
already shown how unpleasantly surprisin
was the rapidity OF such national DRIFT whe
once well under headway. Suppose that th
dialogue, stripped of lllusive wells ran sem1
Thing like this: - BismaTk-Germany tonG
fatally to unity. Either Prussia must lead :
the revolution will anticipate. L.N.B.-I can
stop, perhaps in the long run but can inte
rupt yO1T game. Bismark-Whereby you wi
take nothing and only interrupt. L. N B..
Welly Bsmark-I will do the right thing /
you, or make it right in the morning. l.. n
Well -. Meantime, your hand.
While Prussia is just gathering in her iii
winnings, the attentively neutral French b
Stander at the game suggests:-Now is a go
time TO settle our little account on the bal
say, for starting talking point, of frontiers
l792-not that you are direct master of all I
countries through which they ran, nor that
insist definitely on them now; but we will sti
from there and thereabout to talk over the
question of compensation, you know,
BismaIk an immeasurably more kingly M
than bis nominally royal master, was obliged
consult this last. 1t is conceivable that Bismal
left 10 himself might rise many degrees neal
than he has vet reached to the height of CavoV
not TO the height of that great statesman's N
Falism, but to the height OF his large nattol
pstriOtism. But the obstinate King OF Prus
II King of Prussia, ready not only 70 Oe Pr
eisn King Of Germany but German King OF
..auv EYaderic William has inherited "