The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-02
Tho Defeat Of MacMnhon-Thc Govern
mont Of Paris-The Future.

|
the Crown Prince at Beaumont The lates
telegraphIc details indicate that MacMahor
has escaped from his hardy pursucr and II
striking at the other Royal Prince, who debar,
his way to relieve Bazaine; but until we have
fuller details we must not allow ourselves tt
speak with too much confidence.
1t is undeniable that the forces o.
Napoleon, having failed hitherto to check the
onward march of the German hosts, have
made 1t their object to hinder rs much as pos
sible the attack on Paris. AS II
the only hope of salvation lay In
Paris, MacMahon and Bazaino have each
been doing all that could be done to give Paris
time to prepare for an attack, II not to make
an attack impossible. For the last three weeks
| MacMahon and Bazaine have been endeavOr-
ing to unite their forces. During this same
period of time the brain which has controlled
the movements Of the German forces has been
! doing its utmost to make such union impossible.
| Considering the line of march Of the Prusslans,
| considering that the occupation of Paris has
been and still is their object, considering at
the same time that France has been putting
forth all her strength to defeat these purposes,
1t has not unnaturally been concluded that out
of this double purpose would emerge the oon-
hlct which would prove decisive aud final. In
other words, it has generally been admitted
that if MacMahon and Bazaine cannot effect a
junction the game Is up so far
as France is concerned On the other
hand, it has been just as generally
admitted that If Prussia was not able to render
this junction impossible the tide of battle
might be turned, and the too confident armies
Of Prussia sent homewards demoralized.
Whatever be the actual facts regarding this
battle of Beaumont it Is not to be denied that
Prussia cannot be easily driven from the posi-
ton which she has so nobly won. There are
enough to repel the invader. We do not say
that she is not But we do say that for her
own interest, not to say glory, she has been
too slow to reveal her strength. 1t was said
by the first Napoleon that he never knew the
meaning Of resistance until he crossed the
Rhine. In Italy conquest was easy. The
bright skies and the soft climate Of the south
made men shrink from the bayonet. Directly,
however, the victorious legions of the republic
crossed the Rhine it was felt that the bayonet
was no longer an object of terror. On the
northern side Of that river men were encount-
cred who with stronger arms could wied the
deadly weapon, and with broader breasts
could receive the attack. The Germans have
not deteriorated, but improved since the days
Of the first Napoleon. Physically they are
what they ever have been-far more than
match for their southern rivsls; but to physi-
cal superiority they have added the results Of
superior intellect, the mighty appliances OF
modern science Since the days when the
Goths, the Vandals and the Huns came
pouring destructively down on the civil
cation of the south, no such revela
ton Of northern energy has been given to
the world. On this continent we know the
value Of the Northern races. All that is good
and great in these United States is tracsabie
to Northern origin. The surplus energies
which were wont to let themselves loose upon
the happier regions of Southern Europe have
been finding for many years past more agree
able outlet in the New World across the seas.
We mention this circum stance to show the SUI
periority Of the Germans, physically consid-
cred, as compared with the French. In our
Judgment, whatever be the result of this fight,
the centre Of European civilization will not in
the future be sought in France, but in Ger
many.
This war has already done much. 1t has
made Germany unit. It has been the great
| modern times to prevent this union. To make
this union impossible NJ. Theirs and NJ. Guizot
have exerted themselves quite as much as has
done Louis Napoleon. To prevent this union
the present Emperor of the French has persist
emily but not wisely, labored during the last
eighteen years. To prevent this union Napo-
leon commenced the present war. But the
| means have defeated themselves The war
which was meant to destroy German unity
has actually built it up. Hanoverians and
| Saxons, Wurtembergers and Bavarians are all
| Prussians in this contest. Result the fighting
as it may, the unity already accomplished and
sanctified by 80 much precious blood can
| never be undone. This, however, is not the
| only result. The BOnaparte dynasty is
doomed, and, through the Bonaparte dynasty,
the whole fanciful fabric of Latin unity has
crumbled to pieces. For at least another
generation the Bonapartes must retire into
private life nor are we likely for many years
| to come to hear much of the unity Of the Latin
races.
The return of the Orleans princes to power
is no longer mere possibility. Their return
Is one Of the necessities of the situation.
Orleanist contentment, not Bonapartist am
billion, Is what France henceforward will
| irruorativolv naod anna fufura aUo hut