Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-08-13
French Cause and French Citizens,

French Cause and French Citizens.
The apparent apathy of the French
citizens of the United States is in stri-
king contrast with the enthusiasm and
zeal displayed by the Germans While
the Germans are holding meetings in all
the large cities, pledgng men and money !
to carry on the war, and sending messa-
ges of sympathy and promises ofmateri.
al aid to King William, the French have
not, to our knowledge, held, as yet, a
single meeting, nor sent dollar to Ma
poleon. We know that it will be said
that the Germans are much more numer
Gus in this country than the French, but
the fact is hardly the less striking on that
account. The French are numerous in
New York, but no meeting has been held
there. In Cincinnati, they have a society
organized for mutual support and assist
ance, but no meeting has been called
here. In St. Louis, the other night, a
puny effort was made to hold a meeting,
but few were present, and neither a reso-
luton was passed or speech made.
The reason for this French apathy is
not that the Frenchmen are not patriot
ic. They bear towards France the same
warm affection that Germans feel to-
wards Germany. In her past successes
they glory, and Of her position among
the nations of the world they are proud.
But they do not love Louis Napoleon
They believe that the present war is un-
dertaken, not for the honor of France,
but to crafty the present ambition of
the Emperor. The Emporer to them is
selfish, relentless, implacable despot.-
His only motive in undertaking the war
they believe is to secure his line in the
. possession of the throne. Why should
, they fight for any such end as that
How are they to be benefited by rivet-
, ing ON themselves the chains they have
been SO long wearing? Only let it be
assured to them that it is France that
calls her sons, that it is the nation that
asks for protection, that it is France that
i is fighting against Prussian aggrandize
ment, and they would rise with an en-
. thusiasm more than German to defend
y their native land.
!. Frenchmen who live in the United
+ States are not the only Frenchmen who
r look on the war in this manner. A thous
; and men paraded the streets of Paris, {
= few days since, shouting "oive Ia Pair.
h and the demonstration had to be sup
a pressed by the soldiery. 1t is not only
$ that these men believe the war was un
:, dertaken on the most frivolous ofgrounds
d but because they think it fight wageC
/. by Louis Napoleon for Louis Napoleon
/. WrrH our usual variety and amount of cor
h respondencc, tho account Of the great battle q
n condensed by the Herald was thought woul
be, perhaps all that our limits on that subec
: would warrant. But, we ind that our cola
q borer, Mr. ANDERSON, gives up for the pres
,, ont his column, which has been so prominen
Il a feature of the paper, and WORCESTER, ou
n |
:. his contributions with the adjournment O
n Congress, and it being somewhat uncertai
whether letter from the continent by Nj
MGIFFERT, would be received in time Tor thi
: week, and that in view of these facts cor
:, siderable space would remain to be tlleC
:, which could be devoted in no other way S
% much to the satisfaction of the reader as to wa
4 news, we have taken the Iri3uRe'S clear an
n comprehensive account of the relative position
n of the respective armies and the mode an
Il manner OF the attack, the stubborn gallantr
# of the Prussians, the serious discontinue oftl
h French and the results of this fierce struggl
N and decisive reverse of him whom as was gel
r- orally expected would lead off with fortul
d ate and favorable beginning We therefor
6 ing account of
k, The Great War.
t. II the truth were told we have n
le doubt that even the warmest friends
70 Prussia expected the campaign TO ope
~, with French victory. Napoleon ha
v every advantage for taking the initatv
" He had chosen his own time for begi
Is ming the war, and, though both part
ne have long been preparing for the inevit
ss BILE conflict, yet when the shock cam
n Prussia was certainly taken by surpris
IL II appears TO have been the purpose
~. the EmnerOr to hurl an enormous arm