The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-08
THE FRENCH sURR ENDRR.


the Overwhelming power Of Germany would
render necessary. A Republic may be declared
within four-and-twenty hours, but 1t will come
too late to change the fortunes Of the war.
Everything now depends upon the nature of
the proposals which Germany is willing to sub
init as the basis OF negotiations for peace. We
do not believe that any third power will at
temut TO interfere with Germany In this mo.
mentous settlement. She stands to-day vir-
tuaIly mistress OF Europe. For her, too, the
Republic will come in time-bIlt the populari-
ty Of the reignlng King, covered as he IS with
the glories OF the war, may postpone the ar
stance II we are able 10 record in few days
that the French people have accepted the de-
cree which has gone against them, and de-
clined 10 sacrifice any more Of their noble
troops in an unequal struggle.
From the New York World]
The crash Of the Empire is its final and ire
yersible criticism. The Emperor has fallen
clearly, Enthusiastically, undeniably- he
deserved to fall. and he deserved to fall, as
all men may now clearly see-and here for US
in America Is the lesson OF the great event
because he was an Emperor. 1t Is the system
that has surrendered, not the man. For now.
If ever. is the time for all calm and candid
men to do justice to the great qualities, alike
of mind and of character, which have enabled
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, for nearly the life
time of generation, to ill the most conspic-
nous position in the civilized world with SO
n, Ich skill aud. force, with so much prudence
and forecast. and such varied capacity as
will insure to his name, in the annals Of our
times, q place as marked and as marvellous as
that Of any sovereign recorded in history.
Those mistakes OF his reign, which con be
clearly traced to errors Of Judgment on his
own part, may easily be paralleled alike as TO
number and to magnitude IN the career OF any
one of the very most illustrious among the
rulers of mankind His greatest political
blunders have not been greater than those OF
the frat Napoleon; his military mlsadventures
have been much less numerous, and II Is SILL
premature TO pronounce them more disastrous
TO his people than those Of the great Frederic.
From the New York Herall.l
What Is to be the fate of France 1t Is not
our opinion that Prussia will be unnecessarily
cxacting in her demands. She will, no doubt,
according to the laws OF war, demand compen-
satton for the expenses she has incurred and
the losses she has sustained. But there is no
reason to believe that she will use her power
to impose government upon France. contra
trary 70 the wishes of the people. She could
not do this without losing. morally. the fruit
OF her great victory. To restrain the French
people In their choice Of form OF government
would shock the good sense OF the entire
world, OF course we are here taking 1t for
granted that the war Is ended. We do not
think that Paris will hold out, now that resis-
tauce Is simply suicidal. Presuming that the
war Ia ended, that Paris is not bombarded,
that the French people are permitted to say
after what fashion and by what means 1t is
their wish to be ruled, the French people will
be blind to their own interests, will lose. q
splendid opportunity, If they do not 60 in
heartily and as one man for republic. Sure
ly they have seen enough and experienced
enough OF the worthlessness OF royal and Ina
perial fgure-heads. In its new role as repub-
lie. France might soon recover Its place as the
central power Of Europe.
From the Sunday Mercury.]
What effect the surrender of Napoleon will
have upon the course OF the war and upon the
temper OF the French people in the present
crisis remains to be seen. Agrand opportuni-
ty Is now presented to them OF Kidding them
selves at once and forever of the tyranuous
system by which they have been so long op-
pressed, and If their leaders are wise they will
not allow that opportunity to be lost. Tnat
nation 90 capable Of great achievements. whe-
ther in peace or war, as they have shown
themselves-so worthy OF freedom and so equal
as they undoubtedly are to the task OF SELF
0oyernment-should remain In submission to
monarchy, Of whatever form, Is a calamity not
only to themselves, but to the whole word.
NAPOLEON has been conquered, but the French
NAV vet be morally the victors in this war
This defeat may be the means OF their deliver.
ance and salvation. If they only play The part
OF good men and true.
From the New York Evening Post.l
The capture of Napoleon alone might have
been relief to France, where he had become
merely name for bolstcred incompetency,
and target tor episrams; but tne surrender re- ae
of McIlahon's army is the surrender OF the
military power Of France. There Is now no
army In the field which can stand for day be-
fore the Overwhelming advance OF Germany;
and even such fortresses as Strasbonrg. Metz
and Paris cease to be of value when they have
no armed support from without. There ID
probably no house In France upon the site OF
which King William might not make his ped
and sleep In peace, within O month, If he de-
termlnes to do 1t. 1t is the empire that passes
away, while France, once more in charge OF
her own destinies, will gain more than she
loses by the humiliation she suffers, if with de-
feat comes the wisdom to accept and Improve
it. The true greatness OF nations Is not IN
standing armies and in the employment OF
barbarous warriors, but i'd the arts OF peace,
for which free France has resources second TO
no people, with her literature, art and poll
tios no longer corrupted by despotisni. sne
NAV enter upon lar nobler career than could
have been hers for generation To come, were
Napoleon to-day debating terms oil r'ace IN
Berlin.
From the New York Exrress.}
..Without prejudice to the Rege, 80 is the
nroviso on Sapoleon.s surrender. 3ut where
will the regency stand and what will become
of it when the people Of Paris learn how they
have been deceived, and how remorselessly
and slockingiy they have had the situation
ialsified to tSem, day alter day? When it is
known In Paris that McMahon hss capitulated,
that Bazaine is comparatively powerless, and
thai the Emperor is the captive of King Will
liam-and. apparently, they have all this to
learn yet-what will they do? How much re-
spect will they feel and show Tor the Emperor,
for the ministry. or fo: the general who COM
mands in the metropolis? The revelation
mnst soon be made. What will be the effect?
What will follow the empire? Who will sue
coed Napoleon. These are the exciting Ques-
tions of the day and hour. Napoleon is no
more the ruler of France, but great will be the
difficulty Of a successor. When the Emperor
goes. who shall be king or II king is voted
down. who shall preside over the destnfes OF
France? an Orleans prince put upon the
throne of France by Prussia would be detested
In France. A legitimist cannot rule there for
the French people would rise In arms against
this In any event, the future, whether repub-
lcan. kingly or an empire, is full Of doubt and
grave uncertainty. AL We know is that the
days of Napoleon are numbered, and that the
soil of France Is OF almost all points trodden
by bitter foes. It is only barely possible that
tie fate of Napoleon may lead Prussia to con-
sent to something like reasonable terms In her
claims tor the cost and Losses Incident to the
war.