The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-13
When, How, and at What Price

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When, How, and ut What Price
The American public has made up its
mind that peace will speedily be established
between Germany and the French Republic,
and that before many days the Drapeau
Rouge and the Sch'rartz-Roth-Golde BAN
ner will dutter side by side. No thought is
wasted upon the diplomatic means by which
peace is to be. obtained, and made perna-
nent. The public pin their faith to two con-
clusions, i.e., that victorious Germany is
inyincible, and that France, although slrug-
Cling with the mad energy OF despair, can
make no serious resistance to the advance
of the German legions. That France is in
desperate strait, no one pretends to deny.
That Germany is now stronger than when
the war begun, every one Is ready to admit.
Argal we must have peace, aud that
quickly
But there are some considerations which
initiate against the idea that the great war
must, to certainty, come at once to q close.
France, as we'll as Americans can judge, has
no disciplined army; no store OF arms and
munitions; no government compact enough,
and firm enough, to hold the nation to-
gether in o losing combat with gigantic
enemy The Republic would doubtless be
willing to make peace upon any terms which
did not include cession Of French territory.
A money compensation, and the abolition OF
the standing army, would have no terrors
for the Red Republicans, who are perfectly
willing to spend their neighbors last dollar
rather than give up an inch OF the sacred
soil. They argue that the war was Napo-
leonic war and not French war, and that,
with the surrender of Napoleon and the
downfall of the Empire, the war should natu-
rally end. This would be comfortable way
out OF the difficulty. if Napoleon were the
only one to suffer. But the lives of hun
dred thousand Frenchmen have been sacrl-
feed, and hundreds of miles of territory have
been laid waste, and it will be hard to per-
suade the French people that what was fear
| full disaster to the Empire, is, as Mr. Toots
would say, of ''no consequence" to the new
ly-fedged Republic. The knowledge OF this
embarrassing circumstance interferes with
the maneuvres of Jules FaYre and his col
leagues, and, it may be assumed, will pre-
vent them from asserting to any peace
which gives to Germany French city or 4
single Gallicised province. If Germany in
sist upon the surrender Of Alsace and Lor-
raine, or either OF them, the Republic will,
most probably, determine to continue the
war. Then will flaming appeals be made to
the spirit OF 'ss, which would be very efec-
tive if a fiiut-lock musket were match for
the needle rifle.
This carries us one step further. Germany
can have peace tomorrow, If she will refrain
from demanding slice OF France, which the
Republic will never consent to give. But,
whether France consent or not, Germany has
the power to make her own terms. 1t is for
King William to say how much he will take;
it is not for the Republic to say how much
France is wiling to give There's the rub!
If Germany insists upon retaining Alsace
and Lorraine, what can France do? The
government may refuse to accept the peace
proposals, but the German legions will pour
over the face OF the land, Paris will be taken,
and France will receive blow from which
she will not recover in half a century. Nor
is it certain, by any means, that King Will
liam will treat upon any terms with the Re-
public The telegrams state that King Will
liam has ordered that Napoleon 5e treated
as 'the sovereign Of France" This is very
awkward The Repnblic has possession OF
the government, and is acknowledged by the
United States, by Spain, by Italy, and BY
Switzerland The Empress Regent is rural
izing at a fashionable English watering place.
ihe Prince Imperial is with his august man.
ma. Napoleon is prisoner, and has no
more power. over the French people than
i over General Sheridan's friends, the Piegan
iaulans With whom, then, can King Viii
liam negotiate?' The Republic might patch
up peace, but King William turns q cold
shoulder to the Red Flag. Napoleon and
the Empress, who might sign terms are
both out OF business. The Orleans Princes
are, as usual, on the carpet, but thew have
no more control fthe French than the Em.
peror Napoleon has. 1t seems, then that if
Germany will not acknowledge the Repub.
| lie, King William must put an Orleans, or a