Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-09-21
Ths Hope Tor Self Coronniss'f
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~ Europe.
When the war between France and
Prussia began King William solemnly
declared that bis quarrel was with Ma
poleon. and not with the French pco.
bio. By that declaration he drew TO
himself and his cause the sympathy Of
tho world. When Napoleon surren.
dcrcd an almost universal expectation
prevailed that the terrible sacrifice Of
life would cease and peace be speedily I
restored. The new born French Re /
public has shown disposition to make
peace on terms that must be regarded |
as honorable to Prussia aud sufficient
ly humliating to so proud people as
those of France. The proposition
rendered by NJ Thiors in his inter
view with Earl Granville embraced
compensation for the expenses entail.
cd upon Prussia and ample guaran-
tees for the future. England refused
TO interfere as n mediator because her
rulers are not willing TO recognize the
French Republic, aud King William
declines to treat with the only gov
ernment which has an existence in
France. His armies are now before
the gates OF Paris, summoning the
city TO surrender.
France stands alone, in this terrible
crisis of her history without receiving
any sympathy from the monarchical
governments Of Europe. Every one
Of the stronger powers is hostile to
the new Republic, and there is not a
King among them who would not
gladly see this last experiment at self
government crushed out. We can not
wonder that it is SO. A Republic sue
eessiully established in France would
be constant menace to every mon
arch in Europe, not through armies,
but through the grander march OF
ideas. In the fearful struggle now
before the French people they must
receive the full and generous sympa-
thy of every friend of republican in
stitutions, no matter what may be his
nationality. Every German Who has
imbibed the true spirit of American
liberty must hesitate now before wish.
ing that King William may succeed
in crushing out the sacred principle Of
self government which is embodied in
the French Republic. France stands
to-day as the representation Of re,
publicanism in Europe, and upon her
fate depends tho life Of liberal ideas.
Should the Republic which has been
established be beaten down by the
cannon balls of King William, all hope
that the people of any State in Europe
will be allowed to choose their own
rulers will be crushed out, aud for
many years TO come kingly power
will be too firmly rooted to be over.
thrown.
That there is truth in tho reports
that King William intends to restore
the NapUleonic dynasty, or to place
one of the Bourbon or Orleans princes
on the throne of France. his own
words woald lead us to believe. Such
would be natural deduction from
the personal opinions Of the King on
the subject of government, as an
nounced by him in an address deliver
ed on tho 18th day of October, 1861,
the day before no was crowned, in
which no said
"The rulers Of Prussia receive their
crown from God. Tomorrow, therc
fore, shall take the crown from tho
Lords table and place it on my head
This is the meaning of the expression
King by the grace Of God, and there
in lies the sanctity Of the crown
which is inviolablc."'
And he fulfilled his promise. Al the
appointed hour, in the presence ot
those who witnessed the ceremony o
} onronatinn. ho plaoaA tho "gOldet
J round Of sovereignty" upon bis owl
head, with the remark, ~ wear thil
crown by the grace Of God, and no
body else" 1t is not strange that
France, clad in the robes Of freedom
should appeal 10 vain TO the monarchi
, Of Europe for help or sympathy in heI
quarrel with a ruler who holds such
sentiments. The sympathy Of king'
is with kings, and it is natural foi
them to make common cause with
each other against the people. 1t j:
no wonder, therefore, that the mon,
archs of Europe have entered into d
new Holy Alliance with the design Of
crushing out the rcpublicanism in
France. They may succeed in their
cndeavor If they should, the finger
upon the dial Of the clock of time will
be set back, and the progress Of man.
kind indefinitely delaycd.--Lancaster
hteiiigcRcer.