The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-08
TdE TICTIS.
Count Bismarck's Reply to NJ. Jules
Fayre.

Count Bismarck has addressed the following
circular 10 the diplomatic representatives Of
the North German Confederation. 1t is dated
MEAUx, Friday, September 16.
Your EXcellency Is familiar with the circu-
lar which NJ. Jules Favre has addressed to the
foreign representatives of France, IN the
name of the men for the present holding pow
er in Paris, and who call themselves "Le Gouy-
eruement de la Defence Rationale" have
learned at the same time that n. Theirs has
entered upon confidential mission to the
foreign courts, and / may presume that he
will endeavor on the one hand to create be-
lief In the love for peace OF the present Parl-
sian Government, and on the other request
the intervention of the neutral powers In favor
of peace which shall deprive Germany Of the
fruits of her victories, and prevent every basis
of peace which would make the next attack Of
France on Germany more difficult. We cannot
believe in the sincerity Ofthe desire OF the pres
cnt government to make peace so long as it
continues, by It's language and its acts at home,
TO excite the passions OF the people, and TO in
crease the hatred and bitterness OF popnla-
ton stung by The sufltriugs OF war, and to
repudiate in advance every basis acceptable TO
Germany as unacceptable by France. By such
o course it becomes Impossible to make peace,
for which the people should be prepared by
calm words, and in terms corresponding 10
the gravity OF the situation, If we are to be-
lieve that negotiations of peace with lis are
honestly intended. The demand that. we
should conclude an armiStice without any
guarantees for our conditions Of peace, could
be founded only on the erroneous supposltion
that we lack military and political Judgment,
or are Indifferent to the interests OF Germany.
Moreover, the hope entertained by the present
rulers in Paris Of diplomatic or material
intervention OF the neutral Powers in
favor OF France prevents the French peo-
pie from seeing the necessity OF peace.
When the French nation become convinced
that they, having wantonly conjured up
the war alone, and Germany having
had to fight it out alone, and that they lst
also settle their account with Germany alone,
they will soon put an end to their resistance
now surely unavaillng. 1t would be an act OF
cruelty to The French people for the neutral
Powers 10 permit the Parisian Government to
cherish among the people hopes OF interVen-
tion that cannot be realized, and thereby to
lengthen the contest We are far from any
inclination to mix ini the internal affairs of
France. 1t Is mmaterlal 10 US what kind ofa
government the French people shall formally
establish for themselves. The government Of
The Emperor Napoleon has hitherto been the
only one recognized by us. Our conditions OF
peace With whatever government, legitimate
Tor the purpose, we may have to negotiate, are
whom the Franch nation Is governed They
are prescribed 10 ,ls by the nature OF things,
and BY the law of self-defence, against n rio-
lent and hostile nelghbor. The unanimous
voice of the German Governments and German
people demands that Germany shall be pro-
tected by better boundaries than We have had
hitherto against the dangers and violence we
have experienced from all French Govern
ments for centuries. As long as France re-
nf StrQch0nrn
so long is Its offensive strategically stronger
than our defensive power, 80 far as all South
Germany and North Germany on the LETT bank
of the Rhine are concerned. StraSbourg, in
the possession of France, Is gate always
wide open for attack on South Germany. In
the hands of Germany. StrasoourS and Metz
obtain defensive character. In more than.
twenty wars we have never peen tne aS9res-
sors OH France, and we demand Of the latter
nothing else than our safety IN our own land,
so often threatened by her. France, on the
other hand, will regard any peace that may De
made now as an arnlisLice only, anu IN
order to arcnge the present defeat, Will
attack us in the same quarrelsome anu
wanton manner as this year, as Soon
as it feels strong enough tor IL from
its own strength or from foreign alilances; mi
rendering it difficult for France, lroln WHOSE
initiative alone hitherto the disturbances Oh
Europe have resulted, to resume the ofensiVe,
we at the same time act in the Interest oI Eu-
rope, which is that oil peace. From Germany
no disturbance of the European peace Is 10 De
feared. LATTER having had this war forced upon
us, which for four years, by our care, ana Gy
restraining the feelings of our national self
respect, 50 necessarily outraged by France, we
had prevented, we mean now, for our future
safety, 10 demand the price of our mighty el.
forts. We demand only that which we must
have for our defence. Nobody will be able to
accuse us OF want of moderation If we insist
on this just and equitable demand. Your Ex-
cellency will make these views your own and
advocate them In discussions. BISMARCK.