The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-09-06
Mioolebrp Atgisttr.
Tuesday. SEPT. o, 1870.
who Is Responsible

VINO Is RespOnsibleI
Harper's Weekly sound on most all the
grave and complicated questions of for
eign diplomacy as well as the perplexing
internal issues of popular government,
speaking of the responsibilities Of the war
now waging in Europe says;
A daily paper lately asked, did
Prussia 20 to war to resent an insult to
German honor, to defend the unity of
Germany, or to break up the unity of
France2" and proceeded to argue that,if
it was for the first purpose, its honor had
been avenged; if for the second purpose,
that Gerpan unity was no longer threat
ened by France but if for the third pur-
pose it was beginning an endless struggle.
Now Prussia went to war because Louis
Napoleons Ministry declared war against
her, and marched an immense army to
the frontier to invade her. At the time
the paper spoke the attempt at invasion
had apparently been at first baffled by
Germany. But series of tremendous
battles had been subsequently fought,
leaving, as the same paper said upon an
other page, the French commander mas
ter of the situation and the assalant. If
that was, indeed, the fact, Prussia was
still menaccd by the wanton attack of the
French Government, and the questions
were all superAuous. She was at war to
defend herself against the most criminal
aggression.
But, assuming that the statement of
the paper was incorrect, and that the
Germans, and not Marshal Bazaine and
his army, were the masters of the situa-
ton, what should the Prussian King have
done? If he had proposed from his
headquarters before Metz, with his vic
torious armies encamped upon French
soil, that the French Government should
abdicate and that the new Government,
whatever it might be, should give pledges
not to renew such an abominable enter
prise, does the paper think that France
would have assented, or even patiently
listened? Or, having won victories at a
fearful cost Of life, was the King to as
sumo that France was hopelessly beaten,
and would behave herself, and so with.
draw into his own kingdom Or was he
to invite the attention of France to the
fact that she was conquered, and ask her
what she had to say? 1t is plain that at
the time the paper assumed that it was
the duty of the King of Prussia to pro-
pose to end the war, if he had made such
a proposal, it would have been received
by the paper itself, whose sympathies
were French, and by France, which be-
lieved that MMahon had just joined Ba-
zaine, as proof that he was unable longer
to continue it.
Prussia went to war because she was
attacked by France, for their was no eff.
fcient protestagainst the war, as we have
elsewhere stated. Prussia must therefore
fight until France, by some sufficient au-
:hority, asks for a respite; or until she
has gained such an empowering advant.
age that she may propose it without the
certainty Of contemptuous rebuff OF
until other states propose friendly med
lation. To throw upon Prussia, while
the advantage is still claimed by France
the responsibility of further continuance
of the war is mere insanity. When the
French have had enough of the war, either
by reason of defeat or of the deep convic
ton of the great crime committed BY
Louis Napoleon in their name when h,
began it, they will probably say SO. Ant
if, after Gravelotte, Marshal Bazainc
acknowledging defeat and speaking in tn
name Of the French Government, hat
asked for an armistice, with the view o
proposing satisfactory terms to German,
for ending the war, there is no reason t
doubt that the Prussian King would
have granted it. Up to the Prussiar
victory at Gravelotte the German attitude
in the war was irreproachable, nor hav,
we any doubt that it will continue to b,
50.