The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-19
sPxRxx or TEE PRzss.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
THE VANDALISM OF THE WAR
WHERE LIES THE RESPONSIBILITY
Epro,. fbe Herald

THE VANDALISM OF THE WAR
WHERE LIES THE RESPONSIBILITY
From the NJ Y. Herald
The beautiful capital of the civilized world
is about to be ruined, and the selfish and un-
pitying governments of Europe will not raise
finger to prevent this vandalism. Paris and
its innumerable art treasures are to be sub
jected to terrible storm of destructive mis-
siles and fire, and no potent voice, no hand
is raised to avert the catastrophe. What
blot this will be upon the boasted civiliza-
tion of Europe! What stain upon the his
tory of the great nations of Europe The
monarchs and princes who have been the
honored guests of glorious Paris and of the
French Government and people stand with
folded arms ooolly looking on this disgraceful
spectacle. The hundreds of thousands of
ruliDg&leading, and fashionable classes of
European nations who revelled in the refine
ment and luxury of the great city are silent
while destruction hangs over it. The world
seems to forget what it owes to Paris for
science, art, literature, and progress in civili-
zatiop AS little regard is paid to the doom
of this proud capital of the world and it's
splendid monuments of art and science as the
savage tribes of America have for the burning
OF remote village in the far off prairies of
this country.
The war, on the part OF Prussia, has be-
come war against civilization as we'll as
against republicanism. Well may Bismarck
aud the liberal minded Crown Prince of
Prussia hesitate about bombarding Paris if
the report that they do so be true. General
Won Moltke, who looks at everything in a
strictly military point of view, and the stub
born old King William, may be in favor of
bombarding the city, as is reported but il is
reasonable to believe a man of Bismarck s
far-seeing mind must fear the verdict of his
tory and the enlightened opinion of the
world. 1t is natural, too, that a generous
minded man like the Crown Prince should
shudder when he contemplates the destruc-
tion of the heart and centre of the civilized
world. If such an act Of vandalism would
close the war, or were necessary to that
end there might be some excuse for it,
though hardly justifable even then; but
the destruction or taking of Paris is no
more likely to lead to that result than the
taking of Sedan or any other place. The
Government is not there, and if it were, the
capture of one government docs not prevent
the formation of another, in the transition
condition France is in now. The capture of
the Emperor and flight of the Imperial re-
gency did not end the war. provisional
government of defense, like the present one,
could be formed anywhere, and the French
nation would rally to it to the last. Although
the ject of the Prussians may be to drive
the French to accept the humiiating terms
tion, the destruction of Paris would arouse,
probably, the whole nation to more deter
mined resistance. We cannot see what the
Prussians would gain by bombarding Paris,
while we do think they would lose much by
prolonging and intensifying the war and by
the revulsion of public sentiment throughout
the world at such an act.
Then look at the fearful destruction of
property and lives in every direction at the
hnp do off dc If ma oil oil ot1fi
lated-the flower of both France and Ger
many; at the numberless houseless and home
less innocent people who know not where tc
lay their heads or find living; at the vine
yards and cultivation destroyed over a large
area of the most productive region, and at al
the other heartrending horrors of this terri
bile war. And for what? For monarchica
ambition. The war was commenced for tina
by Napoleon and urged on by his creatures
and fatterers. Now that he is out of tn,
way and the object attained which Prussii
took up arms for, as avowed by the Prussian
themselves, King William still continues tn
war. 1t is no longer to defend Germany, bu
is aggressive and ambitious. The pretens
that's Germany, iss fighting for guarantees
of future peace can deceive no sensible men
Germany has ample guarantees in the sue
cess of her arms and the wonderful pewe
she has developed. Besides, there has ap
peared no reason to doubt that the Frenc
Government would accept terms, short of
sweeping dismemberment of the nation, fo
treaty of permanent peace. 1t is prepares
to accept sacrifices if the Prussans be no
too exactin9.
But while the belligerents appear unable t
solve the difficulty themselves there is wa
to do this through the interposition or me
diation of the rest of Europe. The gres
powers-England, Russia, Austria, and Ital
now could stop the war. And were Franc
not q republic they would probably hav
taken energetic measures to that end befor
this. Still we might suppose that the states
men of these nations would see the futility @
resisting the progressive ideas and intell
gence of the age-would see the folly G
fighting the republican sentiment which i
growing and spreading over the continent
At least we might expect they would, in th
interests of civilization and for the sake G
humanity, make an effort to stop this dread
full effusion of blood OF all the gres
powers England is most to blame for nc
acting. She is more advanced in politics
liberty and approaches nearer a free govern
ment. The masses of the English peopl
favor the French republic, and wis
their Government to interpose to sto
the war. Had England recognized the Frenc
republic Prussia would probably have bee
arrested in her devastating career. Had sh
called upon the other powers and proteste
energetically against continuance of th
war for the sake of conquest it would hav
been closed But, alas! the evil genius Z
the British monarchy and aristocracy has il
huenced Mr.. Gladstone and his colleagues
They have forgotten that friendship an
entente c0rdidEe which, happily for both cour
tries and Europe. had existed for nearl
twenty years. France, the warm and gen,