The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-11

L
II our latest dispatches from tho seat of war
be strictly correct, William, King Of Prussia
and President (note the title y Of the German
Confederation, defender Of unity and liberty,
and bearer of the German confederate tricolor
standard. is, we fear, assuming burden too
heavy even for the sturdy muscles and brave
hearts which, within two brief months, have
rolled up the power of the proudest military
State in Europe like scroll. 1--we be rightly
informed his Majesty, now knocking at the
gates of Paris. refuses to recognize the new
French republic. and by his demeanor inti-
mates that he still recognizes Louis Napoleon
Bonaparte as the sovereign of France. We
incline to the belief that these announcements
are totally erroneous but should they, unfor-
tunately, prove to be true, we can but regret
that monarch who has, In so many things,
shown evidence Of moderation and wisdom,
should make 80 fatal Q mistake before
the world When the war began King
William proclaimed to France that his
quarrel was with him who had brought war
upon two peaceable nations living in the centre
the French people. When Napoleon III. left
Paris for the Rhine frontier he transferred all
authority to the Empress Eugene, to have and
to hold during the term of his absence. Sub
sequently, by battle after battle lost, the mill
tary power of the empire was utterly over
thrown, and Napoleon himself was made a
prisoner. The representatives of the people
in the Corps Legislatif at Paris demanded q
committee of defence, and special authority
was deposited in the hands of General Trochu.
After the terrible catastrophe at Sedan the
members of the Right in the Corps Legslatif
withdrew, and abandoned oil action to the
members of the Centre and the Left, who at
once proceeded to reconstitute the govern
ment in the popular sense No protest or re-
sistance came from the regent, Eugene, who
retired precipitately and without menace
or coercion from France; no protest
or resistance came from Count Pail
kao and his ministry, who withdrew
and disappeared without sound; no protest
or resistance came from Napoleon's partisans
on his behalf. The people, by apparently
unanimous impulse, called for republic, and
it was proclaimed enthusiastically all over
France and received without one dissenting
voice. Not one act of violence was committed,
not one life was lost in this transition, and this
choice of the people has been ratified by the
recognition of both Europe and America.
The Prussian King having been referred to
Paris by Napoleon himself, goes thither to find
no other government than the republic, and by
his own showing, as well as by the force Of
events it is with the republic that he must treat.
None regret more bitterly than we do that the
first words of the new administration were not
shaped into overtnres Of peace, involving, not
submission, but rational guarantees; yet the
idea that any king, potentate or power on
earth may, in these days, ignore the popular
will cannot be admitted for one moment. To
assume such a position is for Germany to stul-
tify herself and to become exactly what she
has reproached France so long with having
been, to wit, the superserviceable vassal of
the most arrogant despotism. But we can
hardly believe that 80 enlightened monarch
as King William and so far-sighted a states
man as Count Bismarck can possibly spurn the
very lesson that their own successes in this
conflict present. No! they will be admonished
by the downfall of their great military foe, and
not tempt fate by an overweening reliance on
the force of arms alone. The people are up
from the Baltic to the Adrlatic the tricolor
waves even in the German camps the cry Of
republican liberty awakens responsive shout
in every part Of Christendom, and the bayonets
of Fatherland, which began to think as early
as 184S, when they long fraternized with the
masses in Berlin, Dresden, Leipsic, Frankfort
and Baden, are thinking now.
In America the voice is one, and it is strong.
1t rises from lips that still tremble with praise
of the defence that Germany has made and
the chastisement she has inflicted on the en-
pire. That voice acclaims the young republic
Of France and cries halt! to the excessive
pretensions of any and of every monarchy on
earth.