The New York herald., 1870-09-28

War and morality have not much In COM
mon. Humanity in war--can there be such
thing? Strange as it may appear to many,
there is place in war for morality, and war
may be humane. In spite of this horrid war
this Is civilized age. 1t is expected that
war be conducted after civilized fashion.
| Barbarity, needless destruction of life or pro-
perty, would ALLEVIATE all sympathy and call
| forth against the offender the wrath of man
kind. In war, as in the prize ring or at the
duel there Is a code Of honor, and they who
| offend against the code must submit to the
consequences.
Since the commencement Of this war some
things have occurred which have compelled us
to ask what civilization really does mean. It
has been gratifying to US to know that,
although both France and Prussia and, indeed,
all the Powers are in possession of agents of
destruction which would make war infinitely
more horrible than 1t is--a something 80 ter
rife as to make humanity cry out against It
neither Power has been base or foolish enough
to have recourse to these agents. The mi
trailleuse is bad, and France must bear all the
dishonor that comes from the using of it, but the
mitrailleuse is innocent compared with the other
agents TO which we have alluded 1t Is unde-
this war has been as compared with many
wars in the past, some things have been done
Of which enlightened humanity has just cause
to be ashamed. 1t is undeniable also that
France has been the chief offender. In spite
of the aggressive spirit and actions of Prussia
in spite of her treatment of some Of the Ger
| man States in spite of her treatment of Dem
mark and of her non-fulflmcnt of the condi-
tions of the treaty Of Prague-all Of which
were unquestionably offensive to France
France is solely to blame for the commence
ment of this war. 1t was contrary to all law,
to all common sense, to make the candidature
of the Hohenzollern prince for the Spanish
throne cause Of war. 1t was criminal to
declare war upon Prussia when Prussia had
used her influence to have the name of the
Prince withdrawn from the number of candi-
dates. Morally France sinned when she COM
menced this war. We use the word France,
for no man with eyes and ears can pretend to
be ignorant of the fact that the French people,
more than Napoleon, are to blame for the
declaration Of war. NJ. Theirs is the only
was opposed to the war; but M. Theirs is
known to be the most violent anti-German in
France, and his opposition was based on no
higher ground than this-that France was not
prepared.
Since the war began which Of the
combatants has been most humane? Prus-
sian fortresses-nay, German fortresses-
are all crowded with French prisoners,
and from the Emperor Napoleon down to
the meanest of his soldiers all have been
kindly treated. We have not heard one word
of complaint. Then, again, in Germany
every Frenchman has found himself per-
fectly comfortable. From no German city,
town or village, has there been any
| forciblc expulsion. How different has it
| been in France! France has not been
burdened with German prisoners. This
| is well for the German soldiers. But from
every French city, town, village, mandatory.
| peaceful, honest, Industrious Germans, old
| and young, men, women and children, have
been ruthlessly driven. For its treatment Of
| Germans resident within her borders, France
must bear responsibility which will weigh
heavily upon her in all time. Mans inhu-
manity to man has not had SO shameful an
| illustration since the days when King John
| of England found out the Jews money box
| by means of pltcking out his teeth. France,
to her shame now, to her sorrow by and by,
has committed the sin Of which England was
guilty in our war of Independence. She has
employed barbarians The Turcos stand out
as on excrescence, and France must submit
to bear the burden of the sin. The Laon
massacre, too, in spite of the soft and, to
some, beautiful Interpretation thereof, must
rebound to the shame of the French people.
war 80 sinfully begun and SO wickedly
though feebly prosecuted could not end we'll
France has been terribly punished, awfully
humiliated, and Germany has been gloriously
triumphant. Ought it to have been otherwise
To-day Prussia is mightier than ever. To-day
France is PROSTATE and desolate. To-day
Germany is proud, and rising stronger ant
stronger in the majesty Of her might. To-day
France is shut up in her last fortress, ani
piteously, but unreasoningly, calling for mercy
To-day the Emperor Of the French is Prus.
sian prisoner. To-day the Prussian King
knocks at the gates of Paris and demands ad
mission. For once, at least, the gods ar
just, and the laws of morality and the right
Of humanity are vindicated. 1t is time in the
history Of mankind that right were prevailing
PhM SAYS IL 1I5zAaax;, :'Why did you re
cognize the republic of France?" U"."zaga say
to Prim, Because it has the sympathies o
myself and Of my country. If you don't lik(
i Il MI El.,