New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-16
PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

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It is reported, and enthusiastically too
that the French have crossed the Moselle
which, notwithstanding should not b.
credited without confirmation as strong al
holy writ To avoid battle by retrea
so wanton in the face Of the enemy woult
overwhelm Napoleon, and be more fatal
Immediately and remotely, to himself ant
family than the most crushing defeat a
the hands of the Prussians. 1t is simply
not credible So many inventions fol
sinister purposes have been INDUCED in by
cable newsmongers that it is not difficult
to discredit so gross an improbability
It's first effect, if true, would be the uni
versal uprising of the French people
against the empire, and the substitution Of
dictatorship, under which the war would
be fought out, leaving Napoleon and his
race exiled and forever prescribed. The
Emperor might dare even SO extraordinary
a movement, if there were any motive fol
it personal to himself; but only impossible
other, wait on such step. Then, too,
the most reliable accounts show that the
French were ready at Metz; that they
awaited the Prussian advance, which was
actually moving under the Crown Prince
and Prince Frederick Charles in separate
columns Besides, there have been no
indications that utter lunacy has over
taken the French Emperor, although the
gods are undoubtedly down on him in a
body-whoever the gods may be.
1t is not, then, probable that the Prus-
slams are yet marching upon Paris, and
We may hourly expect news of crash of
arms that shall beggar all description and
all precedent; such battle as has never
yet been fought; on account of the num-
bers engaged, the fury Of the combatants,
the destructive character of both arms,
the nature of the ground, the important
prize at stake. In respect to the last,
however, We mean as between PRUSSIA and
the French Emperor-not France. Poor
France never since
THAT day, most dark and drear,
And that most memorable year.
when the war passions that had so long
famed throughout Europe burst at Wa
terloo, and the frenzied armies of France
were overwhelmed by the allied powers,
has that warlike people had SO much to fear
from defeat or SO little to hope from VIC
tory. On either hand, she has bloody
trials after. If she conquer, the selfish
and bloody hypocrite, whose rule she
now detests, will seize the prize of victory
for his personal advantage, and rivet Sc
curely the chains of absolute empire upon
her. If she lose the great battle, she and
indeed, Europe may soon have the great
Bismarck backed by all Germany as arbi-
ter, ticketing them for future annals, for
the way to Paris is an open road and the
invincible Germa pluck; with arms and
persistence and resources to match, will
enter the walled city, or we are not the
prophets We now suppose. ..
Let US, however, possess our souls with
patience, and believing that France will
find more acceptable, as certainly
more royal and soldierly, enemy in old
King William than in Napoleon, we may
serve our own sentiments by indulging in
earnest wishes for her best good.
LATER.-Since the above was written,
dispatches containing later news have in
formed the public of the military situa-
ton. A victory before Metz is claimed
for France in virtue of the following lilly
white telegram from the immaculate Ma
poleon to the brave Eugene.
LoNGEvILLE, August Ia, 10 A. M.-Our
army commenced to cross to the left bank
of the Moselle this morning. Our advanced
guard had no knowledge Of the presence of
any force of the enemy; when half our
army had crossed over, the Prussians sud
denly attacked in great force. After fight
of four hours they were repulsed with
great loss to them. NAPOLEON.
1t reads to us as from a man-not a
great man-in great scrape. Had Ma
poleon been anything but knave, or his
telegram anything but a lie, the following
would not have been the order of it's COM
ing:
PARIS, August l5.-Last evening at eight
o'clock, by order of the government, all
throughout the Freuch En-
pire was suspended.
The above dispatch is the first indica-
ton of poltroonery we have seen in Louis.
It is the production of coward, as the
design of crossing the Moselle, then in
process Of execution, was the act of one.
Hear:
Our advanced guard had no knowledge of
The presence Of any force of the enemy.
The mysterious, impalpable and implac-
lble gods, who propose destroying Louis,
have really, according to the recipe, de-
nented him. We almost hesitate to think
t so soon. Indeed, if we were not pre-
oared to accept anything, however shabby,
IS coming from Louis, we would rate this,
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