The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-12
LOUIS BLANC.
His Views on the French Crisis-HIouarcbIpal n I
Anxiety for the Imperinl DeannIlaIn.
June IL 1t

DespOtlam.
NJ. Louis Blanc, dating in London on the 18th OF
August wrote as follows to the Paris Temps:-
How is it possible to read without shudder the
articles with which the London Times invokes in our
behalf the protective mediation Of the neutral
powers, adding, "Let them make haste, let them
make haste; soon, perhaps 1t may be too late!' 1t
is true the London Times does not ask that they
should implore peace for us upon any harsh or hu-
in fact 1t holds that in eXpaton OF the policy OF the
man whom we have allowed to remain at our head,
1t would not be too much TO condemn us to defray
the expenses of the war, What are then
reduced after three partial defeats to this
tremityto find no other means of safety than in the
friendly feelings of bnglishmen their desire to
preserve intact the old system of the European
balance OF power? The indescrbabe lack or fore
sight with which the signal for this disastrous
was given, the incomprehensibe ignorance of the
forces with which a conflict fercely desired;
the madness of plans based upon hypotheses since
discovered TO be completely absurd the absence, too
evident now, of preparation commensurate with the
nature OF tne enterprise, the complete absence OF
strategy, tne Incompetence OF tle directing mind,
the accumulation of faults which converted the
batte-teds into mere slaughter-hOuses-have all
these things become evident TO the English that
at once they consider that they render wholly
supeIfuous the value of our soldiers those incom-
parable soldiers whose almost fabulous herOsm
everywhere has excited expressions of admira-
tion, and Of whom many cannot speak without
tears What country, then, would be capable OF
sustaining itself in the hour of supreme danger il it
be not that which possesses such children But
there a great many Englishmen who believe
France to be unconquerabe-that is to say, IL in
stead OF belonging to such man, or to such family,
or to such party, she belongs to herself. We can
not avoid being impressed with that patriotism
which silences recriminatons suppresses resent
ments, and postpones reproaches, and which will
not allow civil dissension to intervene as an aux
iary to the invaders. But It is inconceivable that
France, condemned to eXpate so many faults COM
INIT ed against her, should continue to accept the
orders OF him by whom they have been committed.
People are astonished that FTenChmen without dis
tincton OF party do not agree among themselves to
deprive the author of this fearful state OF things of
the power of making it still more fearful. 1t is not
mere question Of recrimnation, of retribution or
OF party, but it is question OF public safety To-
morrow-how can we avoid thinking of tomorrow?
war the ERgiiSh NOHjtcur Of BOnaparttsm-uttered
few days back the word 'abdication." Not that the
English consider that the safety of France should
be purchased at the price OF violent revolution, but
they are Of opinion that at the point which things
are threatening to arrive-at the point, indeed
which they have already attaiued-the only method
or preventing internal connections from being
added to the caamities of war is by common
agreement, removing the preteXts for them.
Power must no longer be left in the hands
which have made so lamentable use of it. 1t must
not be that at moment when every Frenchman
should have but one idea in his mind he should
serving France must not be contemplated for the
sake Of the lmperalists by necessity of saving the
dynasty. 1t must not be that to the friends of
liberty, whosoever they may be, the victory of the
country should appear to be involved in a revival
OF despotism. desire to spare the Imperial pres
tige from decisive blows must not induce those
who in the secret of the real state of things to
disguise the truth, to mislead mems minds as to the
extent of the faults that have been committed at the
risk OF driving France from one Illusion to another
until it should become swallowed up in an abyss.