The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-11
(: :. 3t.-if.
The Empire and France.

-r4 ~ .ass.s D.
.;:,e The Empire and France.
She victory of the Prussian armies at Hage-
nau and at Saarbrlcken, has rudely awak-
ened the French troops from their dream of
+ easy conquest, and has given to the French
people new cause Of complaint against the
Emperor. No one battle will convince the
French that their choice troops were routed
through any fault Of their own, or through
any superiority, in lighting or maneuvring,
on the part Of the Prussians. The whole
blame is heaped upon the bowed shoulders
OF Napoleon, and the caustic criticism of the
London Times is echoed in the heart of
Paris. Edmond About, the distinguished
journalist, writes from the field his charges
of.tardiness and mismanagement, and upon
al sides it is admitted that Napoleon has
not the physical strength, il he has the
military SKILL to lead q great people to VIC
tory. This feeling, doubtless, has lead to
the appointment of Marshal Bazaine as COM
mander.in-chief This officer, though the
Junior in rank OF Mcmahon and Canrobert,
/ is in his slxtieth year, and has done good
service in Morocco, in Algeria and in Mexi-,
co, where he won his. marshaps baton. In
public estimation, Bazaine is not so skilful
general as McMahon, but the French army
will be far safer in his hands than under the
control of an Imperial amateur. Hitherto,
the Emperor, admitting no rival near the
throne, has been chary of giving to any off,
Ger the opportunity of becoming the saviour
OF France; but now he is forced to the con-
clusion. thatran active soldier, and not o.
feeble old man; must command the army
unless it be- desired to invite defeat and
make disaster certain. The loss of five
thousand in, killed. and wounded, and of six
thousand prisoners, does not account for the
terrible Decentralization Of the French army.
They we're surprised, they were poorly
handled, and their first reverse. showed then
that the taciturn Germans whom they had
mocked at 80 long were at least their equals
in firmness, courage, discipline, and in all
the appliances Of war. Implicit confidence
in their commander r-in-chief. might have
saved them. from rout; but this confidence
they did not possess. The French army,
however, is still capable of hard service.
Neither Hagenau nor Saarbriicken has
finished the war, or made its result certain.
In the telegrams from Paris announcing
the expected abdication OF the Emperor, the
flight of the Empress, and the death Of the
Empire, we place but little confidence. There
is, doubtless, both disappointment and dis
affection in the French capital, and these
are made the most of by the busy news
gatherers Of the London press But against
these elements Of danger must be set what
the dispatches atyle "the uprising Of the
'people Of France to repel the Prussiau iD-
''vasion"H All the fire and manhood Of the
French nature are aroused by the presence
on Gallo soil Of a hostile army, confident OF
Its strength and flushed with victory. What
is Napoleon in comparison with France
The war now is upon the nation aud not
upon its ruler. And so the French under
stand it, They may not, indeed. be able to
arm and equip three million Of soldiers, but
every man who can be coa1ed and forced
into the ranks will be sent to the front.
And this will be done, whether Napoleon or
his son is Emperor; whether France, by
turn of the wheel, is changed to constitu-
tional monarchy or republic. This is the
rock upon which 50 many writers split.
They assume that the death OF the Empire is
the death Of France. Never were men more
mistaken. The advance OF the victorious
Prussians has crystallized public sentiment.
;Imperialists, Orleanists and Republicans are
united in feeling and one in desire. Pro
Patrid is the rallying cry of France. AS the
French Republicans fought at Jemappes in
1872, so.would they fight at Nancy or Metz
in 1870. The Legitimists are no less ardent.
The Princes of Orleans and Of Bourbon are
eager to serve France, whether the national
banners bear the lily or the Napoleonic bee:
General Changarnier, an active suppressor
OF insurrection in ls49, one of the victims of
the coup d'etat in 1851, bitter opponent of
Napoleon and staunch Orleanist, presses to
the front, in the evil hour of France, and
offers bis services to the Emperor. Nor is
the press divided. Both Democratic and
Republican journals urge the immediate
arming Of the whole people.
There are rumors, besides, that Austria
and Italy will send strong armies to support
the French. Austria has a population OF
IS, 900, 600, and Italy Of 25 oOO, 900. Neither
power may be committed beyond recall, but