The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-09-30
why Not Attack ParlE-Will Paris DO
sackedl-Klng Williams First .'Army

1 SaCReut-AlnH "AEhut
| Order"
The following letter, which appears in
the New York Epening Posi-, derives its
chief interest from the fact thai, it was
written by Francis Lieber, LIE D., a
soldier in the army of his country at the
time when the first Napoleon waged
warfare against it. DR.. Lieber epioys
tho reputation of being one of the
most distinguished publicists in the
world:
Persons, and of course some journals,
begin to express the opinion that attack
ing Paris is barbarous and little less than
q crime against humanity. Why, then,
was Paris fortified? Why is any place
fortifed2 Because people think that
some day an enemy may march upon it,
and that it must not be open to hostile
occupation without due defence. This
was especially the case with Paris.
Paris is considered as France intensif-
ed; it had been occupied in 1914 and
1916; M. Theirs resolved to fortify it;
many French people raised their voices
against this exposure of the capital, but
they were not listened to-; and now,
when IN army, challenged to come out
and war with France, victoriously np-
proaches this fortified city, o cry is heard:
Do not touch our precious Paris! Did
not tho French lombard even Rome,
and that in most unjustifiable war? If
tho French tremble 80 much at the idea
Of bombardment of Paris, the COM
plete remedy is at hand-surrender it.
It is known from 1876 what orderly
victors the Prussians are
The Paraisians ought to remember
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dangered by foes very different from the
manly, cultivated German soldier. The
Reds, the sdnseuloASs, led by sanseuloNes
| a gdnts gldcis. These are the barbarians
who threaten French society. and there
would be nothing surprising in it if, be-
fore ten days or fortnight has elapsed,
we should hear that committee of
three, with the tri-color sash, had gone
to the Prussian headquarters to implore
protection against the Socialists, who
cried ut their symposia, Noe Jesus Christ
et Robespierre.
Prussians would not sack Paris, even
should they enter it scaling and fighting.
The other German troops would not be
worse. The whole conduct of the Ger
man army so far guarantees it, the army
orders presage it.
| translate the very first general army
order issued by the royal commander Of
the great army on the 9th of last month,
and en- passant, ask the reader to COM
pare it with Gen. Bonaparte's first pro-
clamation to the French citizen soldiers
in Italy, in which he tells them that he
is going to lead them into country
where they will find booty to their hearts
content.
This is verbal translation of the
Kings order:
ARMY ORDERS.
"Soldicrs: The pursuit of the enemy,
repulscd by bloody contests, has held a
frontier. Several corps will step this
day on tho French soil. expect that
the discipline, by which you have dis
tinguished yourselves so far, will be OBJ
served especially on hostile ground. We
do not war with the peaceablo inhabi-
tants of the country; on the
contrary, it is the duty of every
honor-loving soldier to protect pri-
vate property and not to suffer
that the good name Of our army be
sullied even by few instances of law
lessness. rely on the good spirit per-
vading the army, but also on the severi-
ty and circumspeotion of all command
ers. WILLIAM
Headquarters Hombcrg lin Alsatio.)
august 8, 1870"
The straightforward simplicity and
severity cannot be overlooked. There
is no fattery; no affectation; it is plain
and soldierly morality, and the whole
meant in good earnest. The writer
knows Prussian discipline in conquered
countries from personal experience i'll
the army.
Commend the New York platform for
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