The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-19

answer is accepted as though it were the
decision of all Germany. By virtue of a
military authority, as head of the armies of
invasion, he assumes to interpret the will Of
the Southern Germanio States-the essential
nature of whose services in the field even
Bismarck is constrained to recognize as in
the future O restraining considerations
well as of the North German Confederation.
Thus King William, impelled by dynastic in-
stincts and ambition, commits Germany to q
policy which really reflects only tho purposes
of the reigning family of Prussia. Germany
undertook the wer to crush Napoleon, who
meDaced it perpetually, and to impose q
check upon France as an aggressive power
The Prussian King now carries on the war to
crush republic, whose existence is evidence
of Napoleons overthrow, and to restore the
very dynastic influences which the war was
originally waged to destroy. The Kings po-
sition is therefore worse than illogical-it
is politically odious, aud morally indefen-
sible.
OF course, Germany as the victor is emit
tied to impose conditions of peace, and one
of these conditions may be the acquisition Of
French territory. Public meetings at Berlin
and elsewhere have indicated the readiu Just
ment of the Rhine boundary as. a guarantee
to be exacted; and there would be nothing
very outrageous in the transfer back to Ger
many of district which naturally belonged
W lt' luo eApeulouCy Vi Iu6 tuluS Is Cne
debatable point, and it is for Germany to
consider that. The payment of the pecuniary
cost of the war; or of a sum in consideration
thereof, is the second point which Germany
seems to urge, and which may be urged
without provoking reasonable complaints of
extravaganza. Neither of these demands inn
plies any interference with the internal
economy of France The form and personnel
of its Government are matters which the
IL ii
to leave to the French people.
The King of Prussia, however, is not con-
tent to press these demands as in the interest
of the Germany which has made him what he
is. He sets upa pretension which the German
people have never sanctioned, and which a
very large proportion of them, at any other
time, would have angrily repudiated. He
refuses to discuss the question of terms with
the present government of France His
adherence of republicanism leads hia to
withhold recognition from the executive
of the republic. He asserts right to
say what is and what is not the
legitimate governing authority of the
nation which, for the moment, is at the
mercy of his armies. Aud he declares that
the government which acts for and in the
name of the French people is not govern
ment to be acknowledged, even as an enemy.
Nothing less will satisfy him than the rein
stallation of the Napoleonic regency, which
collapsed like bubble before the first breath
of popular anger, and the officials who fled
as for their lives to escape the vengsanc of
the people they had outraged and betrayed.
This is the attitude of the Prussian King
and it is Infamous.
There may be technical diplomatic diff cul-
ties arising from the absence of formal re-
cognition on the part of other monarchies.
But these difficulties are not really formida-
BILE. 1t is quite evident from the
advices from st. Petersburg that no
plea of this sort hinders the Gear from so far
acting for France as to interpose an offer of
mediation. Even the action of England,
base and cowardly as it is, proves the same
thing. If King William is prepared to treat
with the regency created by Napoleon, which
| could not now exist an instant in Paris with
out the support of Prussian bayonets, he
| might with much better grace enter into
| negotiations with the Provisional Govern
ment, whose origin, whatever its legal de-
fects, is directly traceable to the popular
will. The probable ability to carry out any
covenants that might be entered into is much
greater in the latter than in the former case.
| Eugenie and her Ministers would be as pow
erless in France as the royal lady who seeks
repose at Balmoral.
| 1t is possible that, after all, the terms in.
sisted upon by Germany might be rejected
| by the Provisional Government. When events
reach that stage, the wisdom of the course
| pursued by France will be fair topic of dis.
| cussion. In the meantime the King of Prussia
! puts himself and his cause wholly in the
wrong by fastening upon the conflict an issue
with which the conquering armies have nc
proper concern.