Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-10-07
Publisher and Proprietor
Count Bismarek's Circular-French
Republic.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.I
The circular issued by Count Bismarck
TO foreign Courts, dated Meaux, Septem-
ber l6. is worthy of notice as indicating
officially the purposes of the Prusslan
Government. Bismarck says: We
cannot believe in the sincerity of the de-
sire of the Partisan Government to make
peace, SO long as it continues by its Ian
guage and acts at home to excite the
passions of the people. The term
hParisian Government " instead OF
French Government-for it has been ac-
cepted by all Francois gross insult.
The first act of the republican govern
ment in France was to make overtures for
peace. Its friends had nothing to do with
the war, but, on the contrary, opposed it.
The Prussian monarch and his Minister,
after their extraordinary successes,
should have offered terms, especially as
the Emperor Napoleon, upon whom
alone they said they made war, had
fallen. But they did not do so. On the
contrary, they have repelled all the eff
forts of the French Administration to
that end They will not even recognize
its existence When the French Repub-
lie finds itself thus treated by King Will
liam-when he thus spurns it, and pro-
crosses in his invasion, is it any wonder
that it continues the struggle with ener-
getic determination 1t had no other
alternative, except to surrender at dis
cretion, and become the unresisting
spoil of the conqueror. The Prussian
Minister Premier is very energetic in
his denial of the right of any other
power to interfere with the terms of the
treaty, or to intervene in any man
ner between the belligerents. Ac-
cordiwg to the established political
law of Europe, there is such thing as
balance of power between the nations,
and it is q matter of moment to all that
one nation shall not be in a position to
overwhelm or swallow up all the rest.
1t was through the Intervention OF the
Emperor Alexander of Russia, in 1907,
that Prussia obtained as favorable terms
as she did after the battle Of jena. Those
who are in the wrong in controversy
always oppose any mediation or inter
ference Of neutral or disinterested par
ties When Poland was partitioned be-
tween Austria, Prussia and Russia, which
was the greatest crime of the century,
the partitioning powers all said to the
world. Hands off tits amusing, consider
ing the results of this war, that King Will
liam's Minister should profess so much
fear of France against Germany in the
future, and insist upon the cession OF
territory and fortresses as a protection.
The French Republic is willing to agree
to have no standing army if the King OF
Prussia will keep none. Could there be
better guarantee against any French
aggression than that2 But as Germany
has proved herself the stronger power, it
il curious that she should want guaran-
tees against the weaker. Within week
after the opening of hostilities she poured
500 900 men into France. She was fully
prepared, while her enemy was not ready,
and had hardly 200, 900 troops in line. A
nation that can do this needs no such
guarantees as Bismarck requires The
guarantees would seem naturally to come
from the other side. French republics,
except when wantonly attacked, have al
WAYS been for peace. That the German
people ever will have any cause of COM
plaint with the French people is not
probable. They are more likely to unite
with them in the establishment Of a re-
public in Germany, aad in the overthrow
of monarchy and feudalism. The real
purpose of the war now upon the part of
the King of Prussia is to overthrow the
republic in France, for fear the idea that
founded il will spread into Germany.
The French Republic defeated and hu-
inflated, will consent TO any treaty that
does not blot It out as a irst-class power;
but, rather than consent to total destrnc-
ton. will fight to the bitter end. The
sympathies Of the people are with the
republic, and against kings.