Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-09-30

Wendell Phillips DenOunces Prussia.
Wendell Phillips has an eloquent article in
the N,ttonaJ Standard Of last week which takes
ground against Prussia. B.onarck, who he calls
ablest, most uuscrupulous and impervious Of
State managers, had it in his power to have
planned peace between republican France and
Prussia for the next two generations, meanwhile
delaying the advance OF democracy mhny year.
The first step Prussia made from Sedan to Paris
DESTROYED forever Bismarck claim to be thought
a statesman. Iguorantly or angrily he flung
away such an opportunity OF strengthening his
own land in the gratitude OF France ana admi.
ration Of the world. Instead OF this he did all
that in him lies to insure that immortal te and
undying purpose of revenge, which will breed
up the next generation of FreGchmen for nothing
else but IN put the tr color, some day, over Ber-
lin. The next generation OF Prussia will have
canse to wpep that ut this hour, so great In pos
s'bilities, Prussia had no statesman to reap the
harvest her greatest OF captains, MoltSe, had
got for her. The man we all thought Sully,
an 0xenstiern turns out only an adr 1T manager,
second lieutenant to MOltke, and the willing tool
of a bigot king. No breadth, no foresight, no
| large Instincts Ct humtnity, always the highest
wisdom Prussia armed in order to vindicate
] her right to manage her own affairs. SHE
d marches to Paris tO invade frances right to do
the same. Her path lies over the capital Of the
! world. the home of two millions OF men, as well
| as Of science, art, literature aud civilization
| the capital OF great military nation whose swift
| defeat shows that, dragoOned as she was To the
field, it was only a seeming war she waged.
He never conquered France; he only triumphed
/ over the slavish refuse. which could be bought
| or whipped intn cnunterfeitug her. Now, in this
insOlent attempt to display his power and parade
a sham victory, Ia subjects this great city To the
horrors Of war. Humanity itself would hardly
weep if the pestileuce delivered Paris leaving
| neither peasant or prnceling tn tell the tile at
/ Berlin. The tears and curses Of the civilized
world blast the Germin aurels. Napoieon's
fall was speedy, in less than thirty days. Prus'
| sia's is quicker still. She entered Sedan borne
on the wonder, aim lst the loving admiration of
the world. She left it followed by tho lnathing
| and contempt of both continents. She baulked
the hopes Of the age. new power, born with :
in the memory of living men, we supposed her
blood was the blood OF the century. Her fall
insults our civilization. BlOOdthirsty and greedy,
unscrupulous and overbeariHg beyond the Bour-
bons and Hapsburgs, the PhilIipses, the Chales-
| es of Dygone days, she is not a nation, only an
overgrnwR army, horde Of brgands too strong
! for their civilized neighbOrs. Our barbaruus
South, Haunting Libby prison and Aniersonville
in the face of Christendom, may justly call across
the ocean tn the black eagle, "Art thou to be-
come as one with US 2" We rejoice that PrIvi-
dence thus buries under its own folly this new
aud dreaded military power, aud robs it Of the
means to cripple the rising democracy as II
might have done had it retained the respect OF
the world.
We sympathize wi tn Germany, thus disgraced
by her princes, as France has been by Napoleon
Let her have the same pity extende IN her that
the world gave TO Paris under the usurper's heel
Our Government should utter the verdict 0i
civilization and liberty on this bold barbarism
II should, at least protest against this vengeance
on unnfcnding France-the insult to the spiri
Of the age. The ol est republic the master pow
er of the next injury, should speak for human
ity amid this breAthless and cOwardly silence o.
kings.
ISgnedl WENDELL PHILLIPS.