New-York tribune., 1870-12-08
rpEACU HCAPEGO1TE.

The behavior of the Tours Government, on
learning of the defeat of the Army OF the
Loire mt Orleans, is more discouragiDg 10 tbo
true friends of France than rcverses III tho
field for il shows that tho men who are now
suffered 10 direct the dcstines OF the nation
have neither the intelligence nor the temper
of statesmen. and that in the days OF humilla-
ton and internal discord which must follow
the close of the war, they viii probably be
found wanting in the real qualities of leader
ship which the country will then need. Gen.
Aurelies de Paadnes is the only one OF tho
French commanders who has gained even
Temporary success. He has displayed some
high military virtues,-the faculty of Organiza-
ton. ability 10 maintain discipline under the
most adverse circumstances, fertility of device,
enternrtse. onickness, and the true French
pcnius for attack. He has been engaged,
however. in nearly hopeless task, and
it has all along been evident to close
observers of tho war that his victory
over Won Der Tam was Gn inconclusiye affair
which must soon be followed by n reverse
unless Trochu could perform the we-nigi
impossible feat of breaking out Of Paris. The
reverse has come, though the evacuation of
good order and without severe disaster. Yet
NJ. Gambetta and his colleagues, if the reports
from Tours are correct, threaten to court
martial the unsuccessful General who deserves
more of their gratitude than any other officer
in the seryice-eyccpt perhaps Trochu, or
whose work we cannot yet fairly judge-and
Commissioners have actually been appointed
TO examine into his conduct in evacuating
Orleans, which was the only thing he could
have done.
The truth is the French pcople-including
the Government of tho National Defense
have not yet recovered from the awful and
bewildering shock of MacMahOn's defeat at
Woerth. Every Frencbman took it for
granted that the imperial armies were inyinci-
BILE, and the march to Berlin was to be "a sort
of holiday procession. 1t never entered into
their calculations that there could be any diff
ference between war and glory; and when
they found the French eagles suddenly pros
trate, Germans invading the sacred soil, Mar
shas with their whole armies compelled to
lay down arms they began to suspect their
leaders Of cowardice and treason. They would
not see, what all the rest Of the world soon
found out, that the Germans conquered be-
cause they were better soldiers, better edu
Gated and better organized. Instead of confess
ing themselves fairly beaten, they have been
laying the blame upon other peoples sh0ul
ders, vOwing that France is unconquerable,
OILY che has been conquered by accident.
The Emperor was the chief offender. lie had
failed in his preparations he was an incompe-
tent general he was coward and fool.
MacMahOn would have been assailed in the
same manner but for the wound which kept
him out of the way at the critical moment.
! Bazainc was q traitor. Lcb6uf was merely
courtier and speculatOr. There was trcachery
on every side, and all France was filed with
Prussian spies. Put French army once more
| in the field, with a good general, and there
would be Il very different story TO tell.
The Government at Tours seems to bo quite
as mcrcuIial in temper as the most frivolous
of Parisians NJ. Gambctta, therefore, was
probably sincere when, upon the defeat of
Won Der Tam, ne congratulated the nation
upon its certain dcliverance, and he is doubt
less for the Same reason all the more cha
grined at the failure of his prophecies. We
may make as much allowance as we please for
his temper; but France just now wants man
of stronger mind, who can appreciate facts as
they are, and has higher ideas of statecralt
than telling lies for effect, or deludiDg both
himself and the nation with rosy fictioDs of
impossible glory. The policy of the Commit
tee of Defense thus far has been - utter
magnificent boasts, and when their reckless
ness has been exposed TO throw the blame of
failure upon people who don't deserve it.
Very soon there will be q collapse of the
whole fabric of deception, just as there was of
Napolcons military organization. NJ. Gam
BETA had better ask himself what ho thinks
will become of the Government of the Ma
tional Defense when the day of enlightenment
arrives
4 ROPE or S1KD