The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-13

| France Of the past to France of the future,
''fallen from her high estate" The mind ac-
commodities itself with difficulty to totally new
| conditions which reverse the whole previous
current of history. Our eyes have been so
long filed with the spectacle Of a supreme and
dominant France that they have long refused
| TO see what must now be her place in the
! world. And we have had our hearts filed so
long with the bright and happy thought of
civilized nations living together in progressive
peace that it has been scarcely possible fer US
to realize that the future of humanity, in the
Old World at least, will be regulated, not by
that ideal, but by the very different one Of the
stronger, wiser and more cultivated people
holding down by sheer force those who have
not reached such height Of moral and mate
rial force. But, above all things, we must
study facts as they are; and these shape
themselves now for France and Europe in a
way unexpected, but which may yet prove
benefcent to mankind.
| The great point to be observed in forming
opiuion upon the future of France, aud accord
ingly of Europe, is that her armies have not
merely been defeated in the field, but the
nation is subdued, by the German nation. 1t
is vanquished people, and will soon be
completely subjugated land; nay, 1t is 40
already. That question was decided virtually
to continue the contest with Germany after
Sedan, instead Of submitting at once to the
cession Of the frontier provinces. II is useless
now for the most ardent sympathizers with
France to regret what has happened. For it was
not to be, with the splendid traditions of the
great nation, that she should have confessed
herself unable to expel the Germans after
Sedan. Those who have held the fore most
rank in the world do not abdicate until sheer
force compels. And, whatever be the
future of the bright people of France, they
viii always be happier and more selfrespect-
ing for having tried last desperate effort to
save themselves after their wretched empire
went down in shame and blood. This last
noble and spirited appeal to the moral power
supposed to be latent in the name and idea of
republic was grand example of chivalrous
though Quixotlc exaltaton Of mind; and
Frenchmen, while their language lasts, will be
always able to say, "Our Paris and our France
fell, but fell fighting to the last with face
nru ed to the foe."
But the game is lost. and apparently lost,
future government of France, in the broad
and radical sense of the term, will now be
regulated according to the interests and deter
mination Of victorious Germany. The Ger
mans are very thorough, very searching very
scientific in their theory as well ais their prac-
tice; and it is not merely king or an en-
pcror or diplomatist who will have to settle
the future condition Of France, but the scien-
tidc mind Of Germany at large. Emperors
and diplomatists will but be the organ of this
vast general purpose Of the Teutonic people.
And we may be satisfied that the question will
be dealt with not upon any humanitarian or
cosmopolitan grounds. but the single principle
OF disabling France from ever renewing her
attack again upon the united Germany which
for the first time comes into political existence.
II is not altogether the most pleasant idea in
the world, but we may be sure that France
vii! henceforward be dependent and dsarmed,
and that from the vantage ground Of Metz
and Strasbourg the vigilant German mind
and eye and arm will henceforward
keep memorable watch over the defeated |
people, depressing every tendency to military
resurrection. Such government as France
can form now will be the creature of the ne
cessity of the hour, and virtually, though not
formally, the offspring Of the conqueror's will.
Aud he will consult, first of all, his own neces-
sty and interest, thinking only in the second
place of unhappy France.
1t is very difficult to forecast 80 dark and
uncertain future, but at moment when every
intelligent man is asking what is to become Of
France we cannot help trying to peer through
The gloom to see if haply, there may be some
brighter thing beyond; and, so striving, we
can see this at all events-that the best chance
for the brilliant French is to be so watched
and guarded from the revival Of the military
demon within them as to oblge them perforce
to turn their splendid faculties and generous
temper to culture and to commerce, TO science,
to literature and to art. But the problem is
one of inordinate difficulty, and to watch lts
solution will be incomparably the most alb
sorbingly interesting object ever presented to
the political and social observer. For hitherto
force has been the ruling principle in French
politics, and her fanatical parties have sought
war abroad to stave off mutual determination
at home. What will now happen when France
will have that resource cut off altogether
now that she needs must find some mode of
settling her domestic affairs without recur-
renee to the stimulant and sedative-fOr il has
been sedative to France, queer as the thing
may sound-of foreign war? How will her
five parties of Legitimists, Orleansts, Impe-
ralsts, White Republicans and Red Republi-
cans live together in some form of common
citizenship without the intermittent fever OF