The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-08-11
The European War.

thoughts and is the sole topic OF CONVEX
sation. The stirring events OF the past
few days have raised the excitement Of
our German fellow citizens 10 fever
heat, but no class OF our population has
been exempt from some participation
in the excitement of the day. Even
local politics and the momentous ques-
ton as to who shall be Sheriff of Ohio
county, have been temporarily forgot
ten, while men talked about Metz and
Strasbourg, BISMARCK and NAPOLEON,
Paris and BERLIN, little LOUIS and "our
FRITZ.
1t is certain that the French troops
have been severely beaten; they have
suffered worse than Bull Run de-
feat and whether they have strength
enough to turn the tide Of Prussian
success before all is lost, is the question
awaiting solution The presence Of
Prussian soldiers upon the soil of
France seems insufficient to make the
Partisan populace forget their domestic
animosities and unite heartily in sup
port Of the war policy of the govern
ment. The factions are quarreling
while the victorious Prussians are
marching upon the city, and no leader
has arisen in whom all have confidence,
or whose word all would be willing to
obey. The occasion affords Q splendid
opportunity for some one, of the genius
and ambition Of the first NArOLEoN, TO
rise to powerand TO fame \ revolution
in the French government seems immi-
nent and inevitable, but what sort OF
rule will be established upon the ruins
of the second empire it is impossible to
forcsee. -
Among the Germans there Is much
more Of that sentiment which we call
patriotism than there is among the
French. At home they are divided
into States and PrincipaliticS among
whom no little jealousy and iIl-will
continually exists. Many of them have
a profound and bitter hatred against
Prussia proper the result OF years Of
oppression But all is Germany, and
when any foreign power strikes blow
at a German State, their domestic trou-
bles are forgotten and Prussians, Bava-
rians, Hanoverians, Saxons, and all
rally as one man TO resent the insult
We have in America many Germans
who have actually fled from the perse-
cutions and oppression of the Pru.sian
government: men like Carl SEIZURE
who were compromised in the unsuc-
cessful revolution OF 4S and whose
lives depended upou their reaching the
asylum this country afforded But now
that Germany has been assailed, now
that the Fatherland is in trouble, all
past animosities are forgotten, and they
are ready to shed the last drop of their
blood for its defense 1t is not Prussia,
nor Baden, nor Bavaria, nor Wirtem-
burg that calls them to arms and fires
them with enthusiasn-itis Gc,manT and
in that name is wrapped up all that
they love and revere.
With France, he case is different.
Many of the people dislike the imperial
government and have been longing for
an opportunity to shake ii off. They
have no particular fancy for the present
war, and now that reyerses have come
upon the army and the German forces
are in full march for Paris, they are
only aroused to more bitter complaints
against the Emperor and are only in
spired to bring about revolt. There is,
of course, posi- bility that the NApo-
LEoNlc gov eminent may finditselt strong
enough to cope with the Prussian
armies without and the malcontents
within the city of Paris, but that posi-
bility is very remote, and, to all human
appearances, the abdication of the En-
peror will be the first step toward
peace