New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-04
THE NEWS FROM EUROPE.

THE NEWS FROM EUROPE.
The dispatches which we laid before
| our readers yesterday morning in an extra,
! have been fully confirmed by subsequent
advices. The reports were, however, SO
direct and circumstantal that there was
little room for even the most skeptical to
! doubt them. A glance at our Geographic
columns this morning will satisfy the
reader that the events of the past three
days in the vicinityof Sedan will have an
influential if not decisive effect on the re-
suit of the war. Previous to the desper-
ate conflicts that eliminated in the capt.
ulation of McMahon's army and the sur
render of the Emperor Napoleon, the
hopes Of France were centered in the two
armies under Bazaine and Mcmahon.
The former has been for some time COM
pletely shut up in Metz, and repeated at
tempts have been made by the latter to
effect junction with him. The vital ne
cessity for this junction is shown in the
dispatches from Paris from day to day,
announcing that it had been effected.
McMahon's forces have been variously
estimated at from 16o, 600 to 200, 900 men,
1t is not probable, however, that all of
this force was in the immediate vicinity of
Sedan, but it is evident that the bulk Of
it was, as there appears to have been
$4,000 troops surrendered after three
days hard fighting. during which eight
battles were fought, and the slaughter is
said to have been unparalleled. One dis
patch places the French forces in the
battle of Thursday at 10000 men. If
we take this es innate as correct it shows
that 20, 900 have been killed and wounded
The contest near Sedan has resulted in
the greatest disaster to Frence that has
occurred since Waterloo. The loss in
men was even more frightful and appall-
ing at Sedan than at Waterloo.
1t is not necessary to trace the causes
that led to this humiliation of the French
Emperor. We have to deal rather with
its results, and to the effect it will have
on the nations pitted against each other,
as we'll as those not parties to the war.
In New York and London the news is
regarded as the forerunner of peace. In
Germany, also, the opinion prevails that
the war is substantially at an end.
European bankers yesterday instructed
their agents in New York to purchase
bonds and sell gold heavily. The latter
has declined more than one per cent,
and will probably continue to go
down. These views we consider fully
justified by the events that have occurred
and that may be reasonably looked for.
Prussia has in France an army Of half
million of men, well armed and equipped,
and commanded by very able generals.
The troops are flushed with victory, AID
have no thoughts of defeat or disaster.
There has not been Prussian defeat re-
ported since the war begun. To contend
against this force of veterans, France has
merely detached bodies of fresh levies,
scattered here and there, with no generals
to command them. The only commanders
Of any note are Bazaine, shut up in Metz
with so, 900 men, and Trochu, as good as
shut up in Paris with 100000 men, who
are constantly employed in preserving the
semblance of order in the capital. We
hear that an army of $4,000 has been
formed at Lyons, but that is several hun
bred miles from the seat Of war,
and cannot be made available to keep the
Prussians out of Paris. Without ruler,
without an army, and totally without
unity in the public councils, We cannot
see that anything can be done by the
French people but to accept such terms
as King William may propose. Accord
ing to the French accounts, the cost Of
the war to the Prussians has been enor-
NOUS, and it will be natural for them to
collect the amount from the conquered
enemy. Already we hear limitations Of
what the Prussian demand will probably
be: A rectifcation of the French boundary,
one thousand million dollars by way of
indemnity, and the proclaiming of the
Prussian King as Emperor Of Germany.
These are some Of the points that are
likely to be insisted upon, and We can
not see how the French can prevent their
being carried. That the people of France,
even if they establish republican form
of government, will wish to continue the
game of war so causelessly begun by Ma
poleon, and so bunglingly played from
the first, we can not believe. They will be
too grateful to the Prussians for having
rid them Of an oppressive tyranny to feel
any lasting resentment for their defeat.
Beside, their foe has been an honorable
and gallant adversary, and truly brave
men, as the French undoubtedly are,
know we'll how to respect these qualities.
Unless, therefore, some unforeseen COM
plications arise within a few days, we
may consider that the war is at an end,
and that peace will soon be restored,
bringing in its train revival of COM
merce, a establishment Of confidence,
and blessings to the civilized world.