Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-10-26
The Vandalism of the War--Where
Lies the Responsibility

The beautiful capitol of the civil
lied world is about to be ruined, and
the selfish and IMPLYING governments
Of Europe will not raise a finger TO
prevent this vandalism. Paris and
its innumerable art treasures are not
to be subjected TO a terrible storm of
destructive missiles and fire, and no
potent voice, no hand, is raised to
avert the catastrophe. What n blot
this will be upon the boasted civiiza-
tion of Euroye! What a stain upon
tho history of the great nations of
Europe The monarchs and princes
who have been the honored guests Of
Paris and of the French government
and people stand with folded arms
coolly looking on this disgraceful
spectacle. The hundreds of thousands
of ruling, leading and fashionable
classes of European nations who rev.
elled in the refinement and luxury of
the great city are silent while des
truction hangs over it. The world
seems TO forget what it owes to, Paris
for science, art, literature and pro.
gress in civilization As little regard
is paid to the doom of this proud cap.
itol of the world and its splendid
monuments Of art and science as the
savage tribes OF America have for the
burning Of u remote village in the far
off praries of this country.
The wal, on the part of Prussia, has
become a war against civilization as
well as against republicanism. Well
may Bismarck and the liberal minded
Crown Prince of Prussia hesitate
about bombarding Paris, if the report
that they do so be true. Gen. Won
Moltkc, who looks at everything in a
strictly military point of view, and
the stubborn old King William may be
in favor of bombarding the city, as is
reported, but it is reasonable to be-
lieve a man of Bismarck's far.seeing
mind must fear the verdict of history
and the enlightened opinion of the
world. 1t is natural, too, that the
generous. minded man like the Crown
Prince should shudder when he con-
templates the destruction of the heart
and centre of the civilized world. If
such an act Of vandalism would close
the war, or were necessary to that
end, there might be some excuse for il
though hardly justi6able even then
but the destruction or taking Of Par.
is is no more likely to lead TO that re-
suit than the taking of Sedan or any
other place Tho government is not
there, and if it were, the capture Of
one government does not prevent the
formation of another, in the transi.
tion condition France is in now. The
capture of the Emperor and flight of
the imperial regency did not end the
war. A provisional government of
defence, like the present one, could
be formed anywhere, and the French
nation would rally to it to the last.
Although the object of Prussians may
be to drive the French to accept the
humiliating terms of peace they pro.
pose by relentless devastation, the
destruction Of Paris would arouse,
probably, the whole nation TO more
determined resistance. We cannot
see what the Prussians would gain
by bombarding Paris, while we do
think they would lose much by pro.
longing aud intensiiying the war and
by the revulsion of public sentiment
throughout the whole world at such
an act.
Then look at the fearful destruc.
tion ofproperty and lives in every di.
rection; at the hundreds of thousands
of men slain or mutilated-thc flower
Of both France and Germany; at the
numberlcss houseless and homeless in.
nocent people who know not where to
lay their heads or find living; at
the vineyards and the cultivation des.
troyed over a large area of the most
productive region, and at all the 9th.
er heartrending horrors of this war.
And for what For monarchial am.
bition. The war was commenced for
that by Napoleon and urged on by
his creatures and flatterers. Now
that he is out Of the way and the oh.
Ject attained which Prussia took up
arms Tor, as avowcd by the Prussians
themselves, King William still contin.
pes the war. 1t is no longer TO de.
iend Germany, but is aggressive and
ambitious. The prctencc that Ger
many is lighting for guarantees of N.
ture peace can deceive no sensible
man Germany has ample guarantees
in the success Of her arms and the
wonderful power she has deveIoped
Besides, there has appeared no reason
to doubt that the French government
would accept terms, short of a sweep.
ing dismemborment Of the nation. for