The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-09-23
Some Ideas about the Franco.
Prussian War, by our New
York Correspondent.
New York. Sept l7th 1870.

New York. Sept l7th 1870.
WIS there ever a more dismal failure
than the attempt of q few radical managers
to make party capital out OF the franco
German war L. was fiat failure from
the beginning. Aud since the organization
of the French Republic, the revusion OF
sympathy with the Bismarck-W iliisn
cause has been something wonderful
Radical newspapers and radical dems
gogues have backed out of their awkward
position as fast as possible. 1t has been
really laughsble to see the poor, des
pissed demsgogues hunting for some place &c
hide their diminished heads. How is il
with that tall, unsturslized Irish doctor. il
Rock Island, who showed his ingratitude to
France BY siding with the despots who
ride over the people of Germany, at the
Prusian sympathy meeting in your city
lngrstitude does not belong TO the true Irist
character. but was not greatly astonished e
see him turn his back upon the nation
that befriended his countrymen OF
that he belied the true instinct of the
Irish heart. One may cease to be aston
ished at any ungrsteful act Of man who
attended the "hoss supper in Rock ISLAND
and toasted the leader Of q mob for sssss
sinating and robbing the editor of a free
press. The editor of thsi paper had ever
been the doctors friend, and the doctor was
always glad to avail himself of the aid OF
that paper in promoting his personal objec
and position. But when, for free and
honest expression of his. the editors views
bigots and shallow psted tools sough, to
inumidase him and destroy his paper, the
doctor showed hls gratitude by yielding &c
the clamor and Joining the crowd. / was
not, therefore, at all surprised to ace him
when there seemed to be breeze spriuging
up to catch German votes and German
favor, trim his sails to turn his back on the
nation that welcomed his prosecuted coun.
tryman two centres ago, and on the braYe
and chivalrous blood which flows in the
veins of lion-bearted McMahon and Sc
many other distinguished Franco Irish
families. But Irishmen generally are no,
80 ungrateful. They know that what
America is, to day, TO Ireland, the home
and refuge of her expatriated son, France
WAS two centuries ago, and up to our revo
luton. They have not forgotten Fontsnoy,
nor the Irish Brigade, nor the McMshon
who was driven from Limerick by English
oppression two hundred years ago, who.
with huIdreds Of others, the flower
OF the Irish chlvslry, found a welcome and
equality among the noble people of France
Nor do they forget that, but for the aid
afforded the American colonies, BY France
10 the struggle for freedom here, this land
would not, to-day be the refuge and home
for the oppressed of all nations. Is 1t any
wonder then that Americans and freshmen
love France; that they mourn with her in
her tailur, and rejoice in her successes =?
Germans cannot have this feelng,-it Is not
expected Of them, l should not respect
them for exhibiting any such sentiment
But hope their love for their native land
and the consolidation of the German speak
ing countries, under our government, will
not lead them to approve OF the monarchis
rule, and increasing power of Bismarck u
Co. And whatever the traditional svmpa
tines OF our foreign population may be with
one or another OF the now contending Eu
ropesn States, they will prove Themselves
but little worthy of the great privileges
which they here enjoy if they allow those
sympathles for q moment to rise into com
parison even in their minds with their obi
cations and their love 10 the mighty
nation which has adopted them
aud set them free. | hope yet to
be able 10 rejoice over the Establishment
of a republican government for the Omitted
States OF Germany" and to throw up nv
hat for the downfall Of kingly rule in all
lends-Germau and all.
But the whole aspect of this terrible war,
has changed from war against the French
Empire, to q war against the French Re
public and people. Can any German, who
toreswore all allegiance to any foreign
prince, poten,ate or power-and especially
10 William, King of Prussia, approve Of
that? | think not. Jules Favre, in his
circular to the diplomatic agents of France,
save:
The dynasty of the Napoleons has fallen and
France arises free. If the King of Prussia, who
marched upon us declaring that he wsrred up
on the empire and not upon France, means to
continue bostilities now become impious, and
war against humanity, upon his head be the
spon slbilty. If this be his decision, France &C
cepts it. We win not cede one inch of French
rtory, stone of the fortre.ses of Fran ,e -"
How is i. now? Was King William hon
est and sincere, when he said he was not
warning upon the people of France, but up
on dynasty? No indeed, he has proved
his insincerIty by still treating Napoleon as
the lawful ruler of France, refusing to treat
with the new republic, and making war up
on the people indisc. Intimately, and one of
his official papers of Berlin says contemp
tuonsiy that the present French government
exists only by permission of the gutter de
mocracy." Germany will negotiate terms
only with France-meaning Napoleon of
course. Napoleon is his prisoner and the
hing sends him retlnue of servants, aad
sends the people of France, who never pro
voked the war, b.-nbshelIs. There never
was an act more atrocicus or cruel in histo.
~. Does King William expect to strang !
and set aside the new republic, replace Ma
Doleon or some subservient tool in power |
and dismember and dishonor the French
nation? If he does, let him open
ire on Paris-the result, | hope, will be q
band If European democracies Germany
among the rest who will cause Europe to
be governed, in future, not for the benefit OF
a few families. but for the people, for
progress 10 intellig nee, the arts, conn erce, |
agriculture and for peace and quiet. No |
American or lrishman regrets that Prussia |
mas humbed aud dethroned Napoleon but
ii She throttes the infant republic and
attempts to strangle it in its cradle, she
mus looK Tor sympathy to some other quar-
yer VI the world than the free republic of
= nheilca Depots and tyrants may keep
n ~ eonntenance in 80 unballowed
r"E, pnt the liberal public
sentiment OF the whole world i'll be against
her.
1t is shame that the wonderful col,a,
tons of science in Strasbourg sbonld be a
target for the guns of the beseigers. Il ia
a disgrace to the civilization Of Prussia to
demolsh such work ofart and science Ana
it is greater shame, to day, tina. King
William bellies his public declaration that be
was only warning against dynasty, and is
now ranging his guns upon the people of
paris-the very centre of European civiliza
ton and intelligence. Victor Hugo the
ax'led poet and patriot, in his speech to
the people Of Paris, on his recent return to
that city, said
The Republic comes to defend in Paris the
eapHai OF civilization. Paris must not be suIIied
oy invasion for to Invade Paris ia tn invade
A'esFsy-mh 10 tavsds eivilisstiea, No sueh