New-York tribune., 1870-12-12
THE DESPAIR or THE REPUBLIC.


THE DESPAIR OF THE REPUBLIC.
The French Minister of War has abandoned
the contest with the Germans as hopeless for
the Republic. TO this conclusion. which ought
to have been reached weeks ago, the late fall
ures of Ducrot ard Paladines appear to have
suddenly forced NJ Gambetta, and heis eager
to shift the responsibility Of continuing or
closing the war on the shoulders of his assc-
ciates or a Constituent Assembly. The state
ment which we publish this morning from
London, though doubted by some and denied
by other dispatches, may be trusted, we think
and hope, as the true exposition of the new
temper which has come upon the French peo-
pie and officials.
NJ. Gambettas perplexity is the despair OF
the entire Committee of the National Defense
From the first he has been the controlling in
fluence of the Committee, and it is he who
has really ruled the Republic. He brought to
the Government all of its energy and vitality.
Positive in thought, he compelled the judg-
ment of his associates; enthusiastic in manner,
he inspired faith in others, and, untirinGly in
dustrious, he impelled others to great and
daring labors. Never methodical, he has yet
organized the Provinces, and developed their
resources to the fullest extent, and through
others has armed and disciplined in two months
an army of more than one hundred thousand
men competent to be trusted in battle. Ever
impulsive and not always prudent, he has yet
appeared at all times the ablest worker and
the clearest thinker of the Committee Ger
tanly he was the most positive; and though
his associates may not share his hopeless ap-
prehensions or consent to his proposition of
an aImistice, il cannot be concealed that the
man in whom France most repOSed its conf
dence surrenders her cause.
The proclamation has another meaning, which,
though it may be lost on infuriated Paris, will
not be unappreciated by the astute and cool
headed statesman and soldier whose legiOns
encircle the doomed Capital. NJ. Gambetta
left Paris after it was surrounded to organize
the Provinces for its relief. lie made vigorous
efforts and accomplished much; and the best
troops which the Provinces could furnish
CALAMITY sought to raise the siege. They
failed, and are now in rapid retreat upon the
temporary Capital. NJ. Gambetta's application
for an armistice is not only an acknowledge
ment of that failure, but plain, uDmistakable
notification to Paris that it need no longer
vainly depend on the Provinces for aid In
other words the Provinces abandon the Capital
to its fate.
His associates may not, but certainly the
military situation in France does justify the
surrender of the Minister of War. Paris
remains hOpelessly surrounded; and Ducrot, in
an official address, admits his failure in the
last sOrties and his abandonment of the posi-
ton gained beyond the Loire. The Army of
the Loire is in retreat on Tours, and the half
of the Government which was there is flying
to Bordeaux. Rouen is in the hands of the
Germans, and Manteuffel, their commander,
has been fighting before Havre, which he
threatens to invest and reduce. The eastern
fortrcsses are captured, and the engineers of
the Germans are already making the gates Of
Metz and StIasbOurg impregnable to the future
Gaul revengefully demanding the Rhine
Lyons, practically undefended, is indefensible,
if the Germans deign to demand it. In short,
Paris and the Provinces too are the prey of
the Germans.
There are few Americans who will not grieve
for France in her melancholy situation. Her
people have fought gallantly, borne privation
like heroes, sacrificed everything to patriotism
hut the folly of her rulers, quite as much as
IN disasters such rs no other great nation has
suffered since Prussia was Inundated by the
hrSt Napoleon. Imperialism insdously drew
away all her strength, and left her merely the
Ontslde show of a military organization,
which crumbled to pieces at the first blow;
and republcanlsm-if this is republcanism to |
which she now trusts herself-has allowed her |
to drift into a political anarchy almost as nit |
iful to contemplate as the disasters on the !
field of battle. Two months ago the Constit |
uent Assembly, which is now TO be summoned |
for the purpose of arranging terms of submis-
sion, might have been called together
with dignity to discuss the condi-
tons of an honorable peace. Ever since
the surrender of Sedan, King William has been
eager for the establishment of a permanent
authority with which he cOuld deal whenever
the time for negotiation came; ana we have
no doubt that elections in districts Overrun by |
the German armies would be in the main free