The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-08-11
1uE REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION
The Crisis in France.

IHe
Ii would be impossible to exaggcr0te
the gravity fthc crisis that has overtaken
the ruling dynasty Of France. There is
no accurate information yet as to the eX-
Ten. IF the loss in men md material sui
lersl il The disaster, at the close Of the
week, hut it grows with each succeeding
report We cannot profess 10 appreciate
the PrllSsinn advantage gained III u STRAIT
egic way, but it seems 10 be great. But
yrtnl ~ NAr0LEON'S miSIOrtunes have
been here, they have produced m effect
nn the army and people still more cNIam-
itous They have produced u aprotnund
und widespread distrust Of those at the
heud OF affairs. This WIS increased by
the deception prcticcd in Withholding the
news of defeat. When the deception was
followed by an official confession Of diSas-
ter and pItrons appeals to the people, u.s.
tunishmcnt, indignation md contempt IOl-
lowed distrust, as tue imbeciIiLy dis
played by the Emperor and his command
ers became apparent, NAPOLEON h"s
lost more in Paris than on the Snar. lie
has lost the confidence Of Frenclmcn in
hismental capacity to grapplc with the
enemy he has provoked. lie might be a
tyrant, a william, anything bal; he might
be heartily dctcsted, but If lie had shown
the brains nnd the intrepitlity to win
success, the French would still not only
have tolerated him but would have tos'
lowed him to French glory with ch"r"c-
teristic enthusiasm. But an imbccile in
such u position, in such crisis, cannot be
sustained, or even tolerated. He must
give way. In such IN emergency the in
stinct of .self.preservation rises above all
minor considerations Indications are not
wanting that the people OF France are
about TO obey it. There is feeling Of
revolt, but 1t is not against the war which
has now become one Of defence. 1t is
against those who have shown themselves
unfit to direct. There Is no doubt the in-
vasion has aroused u widespread feeling
Of Intense patriotism, It could not be
otherwise. There is disatteCtion against
NAPOLEON, but loyalty to France Ma
PoLEoN is looked upon us an obstruction,
US endangering the country; and the de-
mands that he shall get out Of
tho way will grow more and more
imperative, till he falls before it,
There is every indication that the fatality
in which the man Is said to believe is
about to overtAke him; and events there
are approaching elimination with such
rapility that tho stroke may fall at any
hour. Our news from Paris is meagre.
But little is allowed to be known; but
enough is known to show that the Em'
peror himself has lost hope in his dcs'
tiny and Is preparing for the worst. His
youthful son, to establish whose future
this war was undertaken, has been secret
ly carried TO England, with the crown
Jewels and valuables Ol the imperial fam
ily. There are those who believe EUGENE
is also there. Where is NAPOLEON him.
selfg Dispatches received since the fore
going was written say he Is still at Metz
Revolution hus virtually begun in Paris
The Ministry has resigned The meetings
Of the Corps Legislatif are attended with
great excitement and disorder The
streets arc filled with tumultons crowds
around the Chambers, whom the soldiers
refuse to, fire on. There is talk Of reor'
ganizlng the government, with u dictator
at the head; and with the amazing rapid
ity Of events In such times, even to-day
may chronicle the formal overthrow Of
NArOLEON. ...
What the man himself mcditatcs can
only be guessed; but his rciusalt to return
to Paris probably indicates purpose to
escape from tile country, Il he has not in
fact already done so. y
Asto the military situation, VIC have !"
Hat contradiction in the dispatches from
Berlin and Paris. The Berlin dispatch
reports the French as having disappeared
from the Prussian front, md says none
were to be seen by vidcttcs within gun
shot of Metz. The Metz dispatch to
Paris, received at II late hour, says the
French army is ut Metz, confronted by the
PruBians, that 1t Is full Of ardOr and
awaits the signal for battle, A few hours
difference in date Of dispatch cannot &C.