Middletown transcript., 1870-08-13


fence of the nation was passed unani-
mously, radicals, Orleanists, legit:mists,
and imperialists all voting in the affirma-
tive amid enthusiastic cheering The
Chamber also voted the thanks of the ma
ton to the army in the field; $4,000, 600
francs were appropriated for the families
of the Garde Mobile who have gone into
active service. A proposition introduced
by Deputy Crcmieux to suspend all con-
tracts maturing between the present time
and August 30, and prolonging them one
month, was adopted, for the purpose of
giving /" the mind of the nation rest while
at war" The Chamber was surrounded
by troops and the mob as on the day be-
fore.
Large crowds continue to assemble in
the streets of Paris, but good order pre-
walls. The theatres are closed. Among
the sensation reports is one that a dicta-
torship is expected, with General Trochu
acting as supreme head.
A London telegram announces that the
Prince Imperial of France has arrived in
London, and is now at the French Lega-
tion it charge of W. +. Smith, the En-
peror's confidential agent. Smith has
brought with him the Empress Eugenie's
jewels and valuables, and the famous dia-
monds of the Duke of Brunswick. There
is some doubt of the correctness of this
statement as Paris despatch asserts that
the Prince is still at Metz, which latest
accounts confirm.
A grand battle at Metz, is expected
daily as the Prussans were marching
upon that place, at last accounts and al
most within striking distance
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
Brilliant as the success of Prussia has
been in the opening battles of the war;
there seems to be far more danger to
France from internal dissensions than from
the reverses-serious as they are acknow-
ledgcd to be-which the French army has
experienced on the frontier. 1t is the fire
in the rear that makes the situation peril
Gus. The French people are now smart
ing under the bitterness of the defeat and
the humiliation of witnessing the invasion
of French soil by an enemy whose power
they had underrated and whose courage
and military skill they failed to appreciate
They had calculated on a succession of
victories and triumphant march to Ber-
lin, and now that their glowing anticipa-
tions are disappointed, they mutter male
dictions against the Government for de-
claring war, and upon the imbecility of
the commanders to whom its conduct was
entrusted. The shock has been the great
er because it was unexpected, and in their
blind, unreasoning anger, they forget that
war is at best a game of chances, and that
the vanquished to-day may be the victor
tomorrow
But, underlying all this passion, and
all this excitement, is the revolutionary
element, so long held in check by the
strong hand of the Emperor, but never
more actively conspiring his overthrow
than now. The Republicans, the Social
lists, the Orleanists, and the Legitimists,
though differing in all things else, are
nevertheless animated alike. by one pur-
posc-the dethronement and expulsion of
Napoleon. For eighteen years they have
been working and conspiring, openly or
covertly, to attain this end 1t is for this
they are working now The time seems
opportuue. The fortunes of the Emperor
are at the lowest point of depression. His
sagacity is impeached; his name is no
longer rallying cry, and his enemies are
many, and hardy, and unscrupulous. All
that he had done for france is forgotten
All that he has done for Paris is lost sight
of in the wild phrcnzy of disappointment
produced by defeat. The latent hostility
to the Empire now displays itself in TO-
menting popular disaffection, and the lead
ers of the opposition are boldly demand
ing not simply a change of Ministers, but
a radical change in the form of govern
ment. The agitation of such demand
III the face of such a crisis, is in the high
est degree revolutionary, and, unless il
can be suppressed, must necessarily weak
en- the arm of authority, and may ulti-
mately be productive of consequences
much more momentous, not only to France
herself, but to tho other nations of Eu-
rope, than any event that has occurred
since the close of the last century .-Bal-
timore Gazette.
If Napoleon perished tomorrow this
war would go on. Already the National
Guard are clamoring to be led to the
'front.' The love of '' Fatherland," which
we praise in the Germans, is not extinct
in the French, and, although our sympa-
thies are withdrawn from the latter peop e
in their struggle, we may assume for the
present that the invasion of their soil by
foreign army will not be a subject Of
rejoicing with them. But the crisis is
tremendous. Even France, with all hel
resources, may not be able to cope sue.
cessfully with it. The Prussian CON-
manders are succeeding by the same tao.
tics as those which they found so efficient
in the Austrian campairn. While th,