Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-11-09

IrHIHN 1HlEt11lr1E sIfH1A ArE-<zH--1 :
the situation, It may prove to be the
difficulty.
Taking Il for granted, however that
Thiors is the representative man, and
that Jules l'avrc, wisely led by Tro
chu, will agrcc to accept the Prussian
proposal, aud that Gambetia and the
Tours crowd will also agree, then, Of
courcs, au armisticc must be the re
suit twenty-five days will be gran.
ted France to elect her representa-.
tives. Tho elections, OF course, will
take place but on what principle
will they be conducted! For twenty.
five days France will have absolute
liberty within certain well defined
limits and under certain most unmis.
taxable conditions. France will speak
her mind at the ballot-box but will
the ballot-box represent moro intclli.
gcnce in November, 1870, than it did
in May, 1902 Will the November
elections be wiser or more indepcn-
dent than the May elcctionsy viii
the pleJiscite for peace or war do the
French people more or less justice
than the piebiSciie which has driven
Bonapartisln, the empire and France
to destruction ? In Marscilles, ut
Lyons and in all tho southern cities
red republicanism is rampant. In
those ccntresmoderate men have no
chance. Marseillcs and Lyons are as
liable to differ from Tours as Tours is
TO differ from Paris or Gambetta from
Trochu. 1t is manifest, from all the
accounts which have reached us, that
rcpublicanism is itself no longer n
unit in France. During the twenty.
five days divided republicanism will
work, Orlcanism will work. Bona.
partisan will work, and every eloctor
coming 10 the ballot-box more or less
prejudiced will vote as he feels. If
il should happen that the government
at Tours seem to agree, then TO
dead certainty the mighty influence
Of Trochu, who is notoriously an Or
leanist, and the almost more potent
influence Of Thiors, whose Orleanst
proclivilies have never been conceal
ed, will restore the Count de Paris TO
the throne of France We leap to
this conclusion because We have no
idea that an armislice can be followed
by fresh outbreak of fhosliltics. An
armistice means peace, aud peace
means for the present, at least res.
toration Of monarchy. IL is a pity
that it should be SO +; but when we at.
empt to interpret the facts we must
do our best to interpret them honestly.
The peasantry Of France do most un-
questionably love Bonnpartism and
the empire but the men who are to
lead France at the possible forthcom.
ing elections are not Bonaparlists, are
not imperialists. The question is to
be between republicans and Orlean.
lists, and, as the republicans are not
united, the presumption is that the
throne and the crown will carry the
day, the Count dc Paris being the
owner.
All that we have said is of course
contingent on an armistice. If NJ.
Thiors fails in his purpose the big
guns which Prussia has brought in
such number and at such expense
from Berlin will open their huge
mouths and belch forth such destruc.
ton as never before has fallen on any
doomed city. 1t pains the heart to
think of the bombardment Of Paris -
We think not Of the magnificent
buildings, or Of the libraries, or of tho
fine art treasures, but of the sufferings
of well nigh two millions Of people
We think Of the aged, and the weak,
of women and of children and of the
thousands Of brave men who, although
they know the cause is desperate, will
not abandon their charge. "Thc blood.
lest picture in the book of timo" will,
alas be .he bombardment of Paris
but for this bloodiest picture not
Prussia but France will be TO blame
The cry Of intelligent humanity to.
day is that France will be wise in
time and bow TO the fate which her
own folly or the rashncss of her rulers
has provoked. In the name of human
ity we call for an armisticc, whatever
may fOllow.-N Y. Herald.