The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-09-24
PRESS.
SATURDAY. Morning, September "a, 1870.
France Victim 10 she seihshnes Oh
Kings.


present war is only equaled by that OF frus-
STA in continuing it. Till the-everthrow of
Napoleon, America sympathized somewhat
warmly with Prussia as a people going reluc-
family 10 war of self-defence; but now the
Republic and the people of France, PROSTATE,
bleeding at every pore, Innocent of any Of
fence, receiving almost in suppliant attitude
cruel blows that cannot be returned, are on
this side of the Atlantic the objects of affec-
tionate commiseration SO profound that moth
ing but our traditional policy of non-interven-
ton prevents our government and people from
taking decided stand in favor of peace. The
civilization and humanity OF this age were
never more insul'ingly ignored than they are
by King Williams refusal to treat for peace
on any terms with the French Republic. and
by his continual advance upon an almost un-
resisting people, as Wendell Philips well says,
"amid the breathless and cowardly silence of
kings" There is something monstrous in the
position assumed by this monarch. He set
out with the avowed determination to resist
the aggressions of Napoleon. He is now I'M
dertaking to dictate government to France
and is credited with the atroc GUS purpose of
forcing the deposed Emperor back upon
France by Prussian bayonets. Meanwhile
the slaughter goes on by which no subject of
France or Prussia is benefited; by which no
interest, material or moral, of either people is
subserved, but by which both suffer an aggre-
gate OF woe, present and prospective, which
the human mind can no more conceive than
it can ihfnity. All that the obstinate and
"warlike old King" and his destined successor,
Sour Fritz" may addto their already well
established reputation as soldiers, and that
the Prussian throne may not be shaken by
the contagon of democracy spreading from
France and catching in certain highly inflam-
mable republican material there is in Ger
many!
GAY, that's the rubp' The dread of democ-
lacy, sometimes taking in Europe the more
radical form of socialism, furnishes probable
explanation, not only of King Williams con-
due, but of several other striking political
phenomena now observable in Europe Prus.
STA is happily aprogressive country, and in
popular education is rivaled only by the Uni
ted States; but unhappfly its government has
the revere OF democratic tendencies Bis,
marck is much admired for his ability. but
no we-intormed reader needs to be reminded
that this same statesman has an awkward
and unpleasant habit of taking a file of SOL
diers and turning out of doors legislative bod
les that hesitate to do his bidding. A great
deal the universal suffrage" of Prussia
mt fnf I.
cratic disturbances of 1S4s, and does not de-
sire their recurrence, being, as he unquestion-
ably is, the foremost supporter of absolutism
in the world.
The same wel-founded dread of democracy
accounts for the fact that the famous and ven
cradle Theirs is going ike mendicant from
court to court in Europe, vainly imploring in
t,rvention in behalf of France. The selfish
GOODNESS of even the present liberal ministry
of England toward the new Republic is some.
thing amazing, if it were not SO characteristic
of British foreign policy. That the Gladstone
government has some occasion for dreadino
the propinquity of a republic, is shown by the
recent popular demonstrations in London,
where the flags Of our country and of the new
republic were exalted, and the British flag ig-
nored. II is shown, too, by the outside pres
sure upon the ministry to change its deter
mination.
The fear OF the people seems to have an es-
pecial influence upon the King of Italy, and
it is said he justifies the occupation of Rome
by his troops, upon the withdrawal of the
French garrison, on the ground that other
wise his subjects throughout Italy would de-
clare in favor of Republic. By the same
monarch Garibaldi is kept a prisoner at Ca
prera, lest he should offer his sword to France.
and the hostility of Prussia be thereby incur
red. No wonder that the heroic prisoner
speaks of the Italian government as ''that YER
min."
But this is not the first time that republican
France has had to Withstand all Europe. In
the closing years of the last century, the peo-
pie, by superhuman efforts, drove back the
invaders on all sides, but soon after fell vic
tins to the ambition of the first Bonaparte.
Perhaps even now despair may give them
strength to deliver their country again from
peril, while bitter experience teaches them to
beware OF the treachery of the Bonapartes,
and the inevitable calamties that follow any
federation OF kings.