New-York tribune., 1870-09-23
WAR TOPICS,

YAK IOPICo.
Whatever may be the amount Of our 0blga-
ton to France for assistance during our War
of Independence we are not likely to forget
it for want of sufficient reference to it by Irish
orators, like Mr.. Dunn of st. Louis, for in
stance, who, at a late meeting of Irish sympa-
thizers with the Empire, said that " the French
" had redeemed America, and Americans would
abe towards and dastards if they were to for
"get what the French had done for them" I'm
questionaby our fathers in their desperate strug-
gle for liberty were glad ofrecogntion, kindness,
and material help, and properly grateful for
it; only it must be remembered that their
thanks are due not to the Bonapartes but to
the Bourbons. Nor is it our fault if we are
compelled by impertinent rebuke to remember
that we might have waited long for French as
sstance if our antagonist had been other than
the natural and hereditary foe of France; and
that in fighting our battles she was literally
fighting her own, strengthening herself by
every dollar of her expenditure in our behalf,
and winning great deal of that "glOry" which
she so much prizes at our expense, or at least
through our cooperation. And let it be dis
tinctly understood that neither to the first nor
to the third Bonaparte is this country under
the slightest obligation. The Uncle despoiled
our commerce, and the Nephew, while we were
struggling for national life, had not word of
sympathy or kindness to waste upon u.s. OF
course this has nothing to do with the right or
wrong of the great quarrel now going on; but
when Irish orators talk like this Mr.. Dunn, and
declare us to be "cowards' and "dastards"
because we have no tears for q fallen despot,
A, T.. H. hot 10
pense gratitude according to our own notions
and not his.
Bismarck has not forgotten his own pecu-
liar political cunning while rejoicing at the
military triumphs of his great colleague, Won
Moltke. He evidently intends to make the
annexation of Alsace and Lorraine strong
argument for the establishment and proclama-
ton of the German Empire. He knows that
it will not do to claim the Provinces for
Prussia and they cannot be subdivided among
the Southern allies; ergo, the Empire must be
established. In order to meet the objec-
ton which was likely to be advanced,
that the annexation of the reclaimed
Provinces would be violation of
the principle of nationality now so popular
in Germany he has changed the boundaries of
the old Departments so as to include in the
new Government only the parts in which Ger
man is chiefly spoken, and to exclude those in
which French predOminates. The new Gov
ernment, as now established, has population
of 100000 Germans, and only 344546 French
speaking inhabitants. Moreover, it is admin
istered in every department only by officials
brought from Prussia and the South German
States, and, in order to make it otherwise pop
ular, the 0ctrOi levies, the transit duties with
Germany, and various other taxes have been
| removed.
1t was to be expected that the German
French war would deeply stir up the nation
ality feeling in countries of mixed nationalities,
| like Belgium and Switzerland. AS general
rule, the German organs of these two countries
sympathize with the German victories, and the
French with the French defeats. This war ex-
citement has special interest for Belgium,
where the majority of the population belongs
to the Flemish section of the German nation
allty, and has for some time made an earnest
opposition to the prcdominance which the
French language has long possessed The
following extract from the Zceep, the Flemish
organ of Brussels, gives some idea of the feel
ings of the Flemish Belgians:
1--WE, in our little country, inhale every day tho In
feeted air which blows to from France For CEN
turtles s our suferngs have come from France like the
plaques OF Egypt Have st fresh blood In our VEINS
strength In our minds and courage in our hearts
sst French arrogance Shall we do it Would that a
unanimous Aye might be spoken by the whole people
All, countrymen. let us not cease to combat bravey
against French corruption with Its train Of immortality
fraud deceit and mpey We must rid Ourselves OF the
French poison We must purify and reuvenate ourselves
In the stream OF pure patriotism freedom and
ment You know, eountrymen that France ia az present
one OF the deophed nations Of Europe In and
Industry Is inferior to England and the Netherlands
In erudon science and art to Germany; and "a regards
s love OF freedom 1t does not stand CHER than Russa
does not even stand HIGH for did the French
desre-whAt the Russians never thought Otto srangle
the great American Republop
Language like this is a strong illustration of
tho rreDressiblo nationality conflict which il