The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-11-03
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF
FRANCE.

The present condition of the war IN
Europe is a remarkable one 1t presents
the fact of a nation of &c, 900, 600 of peo-
pie, who have enjoyed for centuries, and
justly, too, the reputation of being among
the first of the earth in all the essentials
of warlike nation, now utterly helpless
in their own defence. The entire history
of France has been illustrated by the
bravery Of her troops, the skill of her
military commanders, and the intense
patriotism that induced the French pco-
pie, during centuries of degrading OPP
preston, to ell up the armies and uphold
the flag of France, even when to do so
was to perpetuate the despotism that ruled
them at home. Eighty years ago. when
the first republic was proclaimed, the
French provinces did not wait tor any
military summons they organized them
selves into companies and marched to
Paris. The people were their own re
cruiting sergeants. During the twenty
yeas OF Napoleon military career, there
was never moment of hesitation by the
people. Wherever the flag of France
was carried, they followed; whenever
France was invaded, they rallied to her
defence. They crowded into the army to
UCdI LiC CdSICS ONSi the alps W carry
them into Egypt, and to Russia The
greater the force opposed to France, the
higher rose the enthusiastic valor OF the
French. Nor did the military character
of the French pale with Napoleon. Since
then her arms have been victorious, and
the judgment of mankind has awarded TO
the French the success Of the war of the
Crimea. The war against Austria, in be-
half OF Italy, YVES a series Of brilliant
successes. and Magenta and Solferino are
recorded In the long lists of French vic
tories.
The present war; has been arapid,succes-
sion Of disasters. From the day warwas
declared to the surrender of Sedan, the
French army encountered nothing but de-
feat, yet the world attributed these to the
lncompetency of the Emperor, the want
OF harmony among his Generals, and the
universal lnelficlency and corruption of
the War Department. The surrender at
Sedan took place on the I'd of Septem-
Der. Since that. BaZaine has been shut
up in Metz, and Paris has been practi-
cally besieged. What has been done in
France since that terrible disaster? Where
are her Generals and her Marshals?
w here are the patriotism and military
spirit OF the people? The Prussians en-
tered France at one extremity of the
kingdom. The whole military operations
up to within few days, have taken place
IN that extreme corner of France, ex-
tending, eventually, to Paris. The abb
sence OF any enemy left the people of
three-fourths of France free and unem-
barrassed. All that part of France south
OF the Lore, and reaching to the Medi-
terranean, was free from the presence of
the invader. But what has been done =?
Not soldier has marched to succor Ba-
ZANE no army has been organized to CO.
operate for the relief Of Trochu in Paris.
Except few noisy demonstrations by the
Reds, Examinations and welcomes to
Garibaldl, and an immense amount of
senseless singing, nothing has been done.
Is there any other people in Europe who
would have sat still so long with the in
vader firing upon the capital and despoil-
ing part OF the national territory g? The
Prusslans have their railroads and tele-
graph communications from Paris to the
frontier, and no effort has been made to
break them.
The Prussians seem to be as securely
housed, and as firmly planted in France
as they could be in Prussia itself. Weak
and powerless Denmark, or small ard
defenseness Schleswig could not have
done less than have the renowned and
glorified 10000, 600 of French people
City after city, and town after town have
fallen, but the French peasantry and
workmen have not taken up arms In de-
fence OF country, or to relieve their coun
trymen behind the walls of Metz and
Paris. Singing the Marseilaise, and
shouting Tor liberty, equality, and frater-
nifty, unless accompanied by organized
bodies of armed men, avail nothing.-
Seven weeks have passed since the fall of
sedan, and no army has yet been Dream
lied, much less put in the field On the
contrary, the French have done nothing
but to give license to bands of brigands
and guerlllas, to go forth to pillage and
rob. The people of England have been
tenomlnated a nation Of shopkeepers,
but the intelligence that hostile army
was at Calais intending to invade the
| island, would make a soldier of every
man and boy in the kingdom. Even
| poor and degraded Mexico turned upon
It's French invader, and eventually drove
him out Of the country For five wears
the comparative handful of Paraeuavans
kept the allied powers of South America
at bay. The landing of an invading army
on the shores Of the United States would
call to arms every male in the Union over
II years OF age. 1t took England cen
turles to establish her power over the un
armed kerns of ireland and the few
thousand Highlanders Of Scotland held
her at defiance as long as they pleased,
What spell has fallen upon the French?
Why IS 1t that they can or will do moth
ing! They have had abundance of time
he rich provinces of the Middle and
South Of France could alone place an
army OF million Of men IL the field in
| twenty days. The men are there, and
all the means Of equipment, but there
seems to be no disposition to repel inva
sion, or to drive back the conqueror.
Ii france does not intend to resist the
Prussians, why, then, it is time for other
nations to interfere in behalf of the con
quered people 1t is not to the interest.
nor IS 1t consistent with the peace, of
mankind that the nationality of France
shall be destroyed. The time for inter
nationl punctilio has passed. It France
cannot and will not resist nor oppose
Prussia, then other nations must step in
and arrange the terms of peace. The
war at present has degenerated into one
OF mere purposeless occupation upon one
size, ana lmbeclle non-resistance on the
other. Tie world has too deep an inter
est IN peace to permit this to continue,
and must, in the absence of anv action
by france, lnterpose and establish peace
upon principles Of justice and interna-
tional rights.
AN AMERICAN APPETITE. A Lon
don paper, Of the % of September. is
accountable for the following ''rarebit'