The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-05
FRANCE.
Thn Pensnnts of France for Pence.

The Peasants of France for Peace.
1t is the peasants who form the peace party |
in France, as their demonstrations clearly show |
"a French Correspondent" writing to the Lon
don Times, intimates that 'the peace lovers in |
France are more numerous than at first sight |
appears" "a Partisan" writes to the Pail Mall |
Gazette (July 20) that there is party, whose
voice cannot make itself heard now, composed
of steadfast and determined Liberals, who are
deserving OF sympathy, and, might
add, of pity. They are the helpless
witnesses and the unwilling abettors of a
national sin. Our peasants are Ian 1owners and
land-workers; they are held down to the sol
they love, and are debarred from heroic flights
by their wooden shoes and still more heavy
minds. They know nothing of the Rhine nor
have they the least notion of what may be the
difference between the left or right bank of any
river. They have heard of the Prussians, be-
cause their fathers have told them that half
century ago Prussians entered France and laid
waste fields and farms on their passage. They
consider that a very good reason for driving oat
the Prussians if they invaded France once more,
but also a still better reason for not provoking
them"
Why France "eDp Sp,nion. TO- ""r-An English
The Pail Mall Gazette of London, in the
course of an able article the origin of the war;
says
France has gone to war rather from fear than
from ambition, rather from belief that it is
essential to her very existence to check the
growth of Prussia than from any conscious de-
sire to extend her own limits. She has seen
Prussia suddenly assume position in Europe
at least equal to her own. That chaotic Ger
many which excited no fears, planned no sur
prises, pursued no policy, has become organized,
and organized under influences which
must inevitably lead it to aim at be-
federation was obviously mask for
weakness, not O source of power. The interests
of its members were so conflicting that such
strength as each possessed only served to neu-
ofi tic hhnr Nar tIo
whole of Germany, north of the Main, is an
instrument in the hands of single State, and
all beyond that boundary threatens to follow
the same irresistible law. 1t is not against
Prussia merely that France has armed herself.
If Austria had been the uniting force in Ger
many Austria might have come in for the same
hostility. 1t is true that the ambition mani
tested of late by Prussia has been OF peculiarly
irritating and aggressive kind, and the fact that
| it has been grntifed at the cost of overriding
| good many native wishes to arrive at German
| unity by a pleasanter road has enabled French
| men to persuade themselves, or to fancy they
! have persuaded themselves, that it is the vio-
| lence and the greed of Prussia that most excites
| their enmty. 1t is pretty clear, however, that
| it is the end which is being brought about, not
the means employed to bring about that really
| governs the action of France. If Germany
| had become one amid the bleating of lambs
instead of the roar of cannon 1t would still have
| been a change of sad and evil omen in the eyes
| of true Frenchman. He thinks, or more accu-
/
this new atmosphere. lie cannot persuade
| himself that there can be room enough in Eu-
rope for France and Germany, supposing
Germany to become great and consolidated
empire.
Chassepot rifles to the number of $4,000 were
made for the French Government, by London
| house. in the early part of the present year.
In France, 60 out of the so principal seaports
are connected by railroad with Paris, VIII
Twenty-one ports on the Channel, 25 on the
Atlantic and 16 on the Mediterranean. Out oi
| 104 fortified places, S3 are in railroad commune
cation and of the 18l military depots, 167 are
similarly connected.
Every French soldier carries piece of can
vas about five feet long by four broad, and a
stick: when two of these pieces of canvas are
ioined together they form shelter; when six
are built up they constitute tent closed at both
ends. The French soldier is thus for his house
acknowledgements of baggage animals
The French papers are very courteous tc
Denmark. One says:-"One evening the news
of Waterloo arrived in Copenhagen. During the
general excitement it caused the Danish ma
rines smashed the illuminations at the Russian
and English embassies; on the morrow Denmarh
lost Sweden 1t is q noble and generous nation
1t stands before Russia England, Austria, anC
Prussia like an infant hero fighting with Her
cules."
The Duke de Mortemar writes as follows t
the French Minister of War:-"Monsieur Il
MINSTREL still use the spurs wore in the Is
Dragons at the battle of Jena, but could M
longer support bivouacs. Nevertheless, Wer
the events of the war against Prussia to requir
it, ] could still set an example of defense upol
rampant. Meanwhile, If the Governmen
thinks of opening a subscription for patriot
gift, bind myself Immediately to pay in 10000
francs"
Colonel Fervel, in a recent number of the
Spectdteur Militdire, publishes an article on TIA
military geography of the northeast frontier 9
! France. He considers his countrymen, includ
ing those in the military service, very ignoran
} on such subjects and cites, In evidence of tn
notoriety of the fact the ironical German say
ing, "He knows geography like Frenchman,
and Goethe's celebrated reply to Napoleon
Y Erfurt (of which the humor has not we fame,
: been thoroughly seized by the French militaI
y writer):-'The French, sire, seem 10 me to /
> distinguished not only by bravery on the field
0 battle, but also by a complete Ignorance
y geography" They are men that is, who wi
n rush in any direction, but do not always kno
q J where they are going.