Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-09-02
The European War.

Il my stcry TO many well informed people
that they will be glad to have little
light--if they can get it-trom one oil The
highest French authorities. the Hernes
des Ducr Mondes, which handles the SUBJ
ject with manifest ability. In answer to
the inquiry. What is the real question at
i,suc?" the writer says:
"The situation and power of Prussia
are permanent menace TO France; and
if Prussia really wished peace, she surely
shut her eyes upon the greatest danger
of all--shc did not see that it was piece
of offensive rashncss to throw one de-
fence more into situation, tchtch, Of u
self, is continued prorocation. That Is,
in substance, the truth OF the matter. In
itself, certainly, the lIohenzollcrn incl
dent would have amounted 10 nothing, or
at worst, it would have passed away
quickly with little dust and noise. ~
is the entire situation Of Prussia, which,
for tour years past, has been \ challenge
to France"
In other words, it viii be seen, says the
Boston Journal, lh~k Prussia, from the
French point of view, has no right to be.
come a great, united and prosperous
nation. 1t is the will Of France that the
German people should continue to be
split up into petty principalitics, without
powcror prosperity. Then France would
be tho undisputcd arbitor of Western
Europe. In seeking her own welfare
and dcvelopcment, therefore, Prussia has
become n continued menace, to the
French Empire, and must be punished.
1t is well to have this frank expression OF
the French position on the real cause OF
the war.
OF Louis Napoleon. there is little
known The Imperial head, like the king
who slept IN different chamber every
night. values his crown too highly TO
trust it too long IN one place. We read
of one narrow escape at longuevillc,
where tho Emperor and household en-
can'pcd for the night. Early in the
morning they were awakened by cannon
shot. Rushing out of their tents they be-
held shells falling all about their cncamp.
ment. The escort mounted instantly,
and the Emperor tumbled into his carriage
in the utmost haste. Meanwhile, the
Prussan reconnaissance, which had caused
this alarm, was easily driven back, and
the Imperial carriages, surrounded by q
strong escort, made their way through
| Grayclotte toward Connans; thence, the
next morning from Connansto Vcrdun.
The escort was without food, except
what they could CLEAN by the way, from
Metz till Yerlun WAS reached: this re-
treat. or flight Of the Emperor, was
made through the very midst of the Prus-
sian army, then laying abOu. Mars In
Tour, where the next battle was to occur.
The Emperor and his escort had no idea
what peril they ran until afterwards, but
they had actually passed, during the
night, just on tho edge Of the Prussian
lines. It is 10, probable that he will go
TO his capital very soon. Nor would he
find. could he get there, such an ovation
rs was talked Of at m early stage OF the
war. On the contrary Paris may lose all
It's attractions for him: his palace be
swept OF its old rctaincrs, and n new
order OF things instituted. A committee
Of safety is already the government, and
Gen. Trochu the executive head.
The Partisan government is preparing
for the worst The animals in the Zoolog-
ical garden in the Bots de Boulogne have
been removed some retained in the city
and others sent TO Belgium. The master
pieces of the Louvre are being deposited
in some safer place. Already. it is re-
ported, removal of the French copital
is talked of: and the ancient city Of
Bourges (boorzh,) l23 miles directly
South OF Paris, is being iortiiicd-a city
of high antiquity, bcscigcd and taken by
Cesar 81 years b. c. II is matter OF
no ordinary interest 10 the civilized world
whether Paris is to be exposed to the de-
vas,ation OF siege: The second city on
the earth in population. it ranks above all
others in culture and refinement: il is the
repository of the choicest treasures OF
Science and Art. Are these, with so
much architectural beauty, to be thus
exposed? The greatest breadth of Paris
is but three miles, and its maximum
length only about five. Guns like our
swamp angel" can easily compass it in
both directions. For its defense there is
q chain of detached forts (l7,) each in
itself complete forlilication. There is
too ditch of 90 miles in circuit around
the city embracing both banks OF the
Seine. But this is interrupted at every
gate by the road, which will have TO be
cut through, provided with drawbridges,
and these protected by some field work;
there is no continuous wall, eRcieRte con-
time. The victory of Paris by the Allies
in 1911 cost them 5000 soldiers, and the
French nearly half rs many. We shndder
at the probable sacrifice of life and pro-
pcrty, from such an enemy as the Prus-
slams are sending--an army whose front
extends 80 to 40 miles
LATEST.