The Portland daily press., 1870-10-27
PR ESS.
Thursday Morning, 0rtobar 2h Ielo
The prospccss of Peace.

The prospects % ~e~s'
The mapy and conflicting rumors which
have come across the ocean daily for tue last
three weeks concerning the negotiations for
peace in Europe, have at last, without doubt,
taken tangible form, ard we may look for an
early cessation of hostilities. There is
general feeling all over the civilized world
that the war ought to come to an end: and a
re7iew of the military and political situation
of France and Prussia, and the effect of this
situation upon the other powers of Europe,
strengthen the opinion that the initiatoly
steps taken by England in the interest Of
peace will yet effect the object. The war has
accomplished all that it can and its further
prosecution will but increase national expen-
ditures and popular suffering. Both parties
earnestly desire peace, and if one looks be-
hind the weak denials and arbitrary "condi-
tions,' which the newspapers on both sides
impose, and considers the actual status of the
belligerents, this opinion will be confirmed,
and the natural feeling that peace should be
the next step.
But never until now has France been
enabled to conclude a peace that would be
honorable to her as nation, from her lack of
military strength TO enforce reasonable de-
mands. Her government, formed after the
surrender Of Sedan for purposes Of defence
only and not with view to permanency, has
been the slave Of the revolutionary spirit
which called it into being. The educated
classes and the statesmen have been power
less agoinst this spirit, infamed by the pas
sions of war, and France has been but little
better than mob whose sole object was a
frenzied and impotent hatred of the invaders,
with no leader that dared to or could make a
peace that would be assured for an hour
Meantime the nation drifted on to disasters
and humliations, until there seemed to be no
hope of mercy.
But amid all these disheartening circum-
stances the zeal, energy and ability of the
men at the head of affairs has finally brought
something like order out of chaos. New ar
mics have been organized in the provinces,
the people have been armed, the capital has
been put in a state of defence and popular
confidence inspired. A way out of the diff
Guilty is apparent, without losing national
prestige, and the Republican appeal to Gam
beta on Friday for peace is but the beginning
of powerful demand.
The progress of King William until he sat
down with his army in front of the walls oil
Paris was series Of brilliant successes. His
situation now is not inspiring. With Paris
Almost impregnable before him, his lines dali
ly extending and correspondingly weakening
an enemy in his rear that he succeeds in
checking with great difficulty, disease in his
camps and hard winter close upon him, he
is more susceptible to the demand for peace
which comes from his army; and the nego-
tiatons for an armistice to allow the election
OF aFrench Constituent Assembly will doubt.
less be followed by more direct expression
for termination Of the war from the Prus-
sian nation, and treaty with either q
Republican or Imperial government in France
as the case may be-.
The real object Of England in initiating a
peace movement after refusing the overtures
of Favre and Theirs, is not yet explained, but
there is no doubt the combined efforts of the
great powers are yet to accomplish the object
SO fervently desired. The rumor that the SUI
perintendent General of Prussia has refused
to renew the contracts has reasonableness
in it that accords well with the belief thai
within thirty days the position of France and
Prussia towards each other are to become "a.
cifc