Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-03
THE WAR BETWEEN FRANCE

tFHE WAR BETWEEN FRANCE
AND PRUSSIA.
From the Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chron-
icle, Portsmouth, England, Aug. H. ,
The state of affairs in Paris is strik-
| ing reflection of the state of affairs on
the frontier At both points the position
is in the highest degree critical. Alike at
Metz and in Paris, the Emperor is on the
eve of events which will probably be de-
cisiVe of his own, if not of his country's,
fate. 1t is reported that, in answer to
his Generals, who urged him to return to
his Capital, he only said, 'DEAD OR VIC
ToRIoUs." The sentiment is worthy of
him. Whatever, indeed, may be the men
tai hesitation or the physical incapacity
from which he has suffered at this juno
ture, it ought to be noticed TO his honor
that not word has escaped him unbe-
coming his responsible position.
If the French have in turn I'M
derrated their enemies aud ex-
aggerated their dangers, the fault is not
his. He has now had time to recover
himself. Neither his foreign or his do
mestic enemies have as yet pushed their
advantage with the vehemence which had
been apprehcnded. There is pause be-
fore Metz, and Paris is at least expectant.
Military men echo the Emperor's Ian
guage, and urge that the still unbroken
corps of the French army are capable of
stopping the Prussian advance. The
people are ready to listen to counsels of
hope and moderation, and, though the ex-
element is intense, there seems as vet no
revolutionary panic. But this sudden
revelation of the realities of war has had
the effect of instantly dispensing all IN
realities. The Emperor remains at Metz,
but the command of the army is practi-
rally assigned to professional soldier in
the person of Marshal Bazaine. In Paris,
with the first moment of disillusion, the
Olivier Ministry has vanished. 1t may
be doubted whether it ever had
substantial existence, except in the
eyes of NJ. Olivier. But it was neces-
sary that somebody should play the role of
Minister, and if it pleased M. Ollivier's
vanity to do so, why should he not be in
dulgedl In time of quiet he was harm
less. But in a great crisis harmless men
are the most dangerous of all. Accord
ingly the man of words passes from the
stage, and the man of action is summoned
in his place. Gen. Cousin-Montaubau
Count of Pslikao, is a veteran soldier,
who has seen AZ years of active service
and % campaigns. He won bis title in
the Chinese war of 1860, and has re
putatiOn for vigor and resolution. He
assumes the War Department and sum-
mons round him Ministry which seems
to be in great measure a return to the men
and the principles of year or two ago.
With NJ. Chevresu in charge of the Inter
ior, NJ. Magne of Finance, Prince de la
dAuvergne of Foreign Affairs, and Baron
jerome David of Public Works, the
Emperor may at least find the relief
of reverting to his old method
of administration. So long, how
ever, as there are men at the head of sf-
fairs who are capable of something more
than issuing vehement proclamations and
using irritating language, it is not much
matter who they may be. To Judge by
the accounts from the Corps Legislatif
NJ. de GramOnt seems as ready to provoke
domestic adversaries as he was to menace
foreign governments. The sitting on
Monday abundantly shows what inflam-
mable materials are now awaiting only a
spark TO explode them. The parallel be-
tween Napoleon l. in 1914, and Napoleon
III. in 1870, has been actually drawn by
a Frenzy Deputy. NJ. Jules Favre made
definite proposal that the Chamber
should constitutes Committee of Defence,
and the proposition found nearly quar-
ter of the Chamber to support it. But
the moment has not yet come for revO
lutiOnary move in any direction. The
only measures for which there is time to
think are those for strengthening the ar
my, and these are adopted with unani-
nous energy Soldiers no longer liable
for service of the classes from 1858 to
1868 are to be called out, and 800, 900
men who have seen service will thus be
rendered available. There is also to be
levy of all citizens who have been under
arms, and all men between twenty-five
and thirty-five years of age who are I'M
married and have no children will be re-
quired to join the army. With timely
generosity, the Chamber passed an en-
thusiastic vote of thanks to the
army, adding that it has deserved well
of the country, and this welcome assur
ance of confidence will be sent to cheer
the troops in this hour of their mortal
struggle. In domestic as in military
matters the French have been of late un-
fortunate in their leaders, but if France is
destined to suffer humiliation, it will not
be 'the great nation" that has succumbed.
We will not say where the personal blame
must rest. The fault should, perhaps, be
assigned to suicidal system of govern
ment, which, without any unpa.riotic in
tentiOns, forces a ruler from one false step
to another, and eventually, in the final
hour of peril, leaves him deprived by his
own acts of that universal support which
could alone sustain him.