The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-16
THE INVESTMENT or PARIS.

THE IN NPESIMENI OF PARIS.
The investment of Paris may now be con-
sidered complete, and the whole civilized
world will await with deep interest the re-
suits of this demonstration against the be-
leaguered capital In former times the mere
approach of powerful enemy to the citadel
of France necessitated compliance with the
demands of the invaders, but millions of
money have been spent on Notifications and
vast preparations have been made for the
express purpose of enabling the nation
to prolong conflict after its ene-
mics had forced their way to
the threatening and harassing positions
which are now occupied by the Prussian
army. France complains and justly too,
that she was not prepared for the present war
at the time Napoleon commenced it. But
Paris cannot complain that she is unprepared
for an investment, without impugning her
authorities of all shades of politics and ac-
knowledging the incompetency of her engi-
neers and the impotence of her citizens.
Louis Philippe, Louis Napoleon, the Regency,
and the Republic have all devoted their best
energies to the task of completing
the defenses of the imperilled city,
and for more than month
the resources of the country have been Law
ished upon the paramount object of remedy
ing every perceptible defect in the fortifca-
tions, and perfecting the plans for prolonged
and heroic defense. We have been hearing
for weeks of the vast quantities of food intro
duced into the city, of the large number of
cannon mounted on the walls, of the skillful
artilllerists brought back from the feet, of the
immense exertions made to throw up earth
works. mine sewers, and construct roads, of
the organization of forces and concentration
of capable defenders, and now we are told
that General Trochu announces in an order
of the day that by persevering efforts
the city may be saved. 1t remains to be seen
whether these preparations will really prove
eficacious. We have become so accustomed
to the triumphs of the German armies that
all efforts to resist them are popularity re-
garded with disdain, and there has been so
much French fanfaronade that the public
may well be pardoned for receiving with in
credulity assurances that Paris will prove an
effective barrier to Prussian progress. But
there is, nevertheless, good grounds for the
belief that a protracted defense is possible,
and if French heroism is not extinct the
conquerors will be compelled to pay dearly for
every advance step they now attempt to
make.
Peace, which is the ultimate end of the
war, can probably be negotiated outside of
the walls of the city as advantageously as
within it. The investment has already led to
the consideration of propositions and coun-
ter-propositions. If we are to believe the
rumors telegraphed by cable, the Provisional
Government is ready to concede everything
asked except the surrender of Alsace and
Lorraine, while King William objects to the
concessions proffered on the double ground
that they are insufficient and that the existing
authorities are notcompetent to make binding
treaty. 1t is no easy matter to adjust such
serious difficulties, but diplomacy has mas
tered graver tasks. The elections soon to be
held for new Constituent Assembly will give
the people an opportunity to select govern
ment which would faithfully represent their
views in the present emergency, and nothing
could be more binding in the present condi-
tion of France than treaty ratified by them.
If the Provisional Government offers terms
which are acceptable, it might, while await
ing this ratification, give up the fortresses at
Metz and Strasburg, or a portion of the
French feet, as guarantees of good faith, and
as a compensation to Prussia in the event of
a rejection of the supposed treaty. 1t is
stated that King William has asked what
guarantees can be given in the contemplated
contingency, and we presume that he will
soon receive an authoritative answer to this
important question.
1t is rumored, however, that the Prussians
will not be content with any treaty formed
with the present Government, and that they
will insist on a convocation of the Corps
Legislatif and the re establishment of the
Regency. We hope this rumor is not we'll
founded. 1t seems to us that if anything can
make Paris desperate, andlead to prolonged
struggle full of horrors and calamities to both
parties, it will be an attempt to re-establish
the despotism from which France has happily
been rescued. This scheme would take from
an unhappy people their sole source
of consolation, and we are inclined TO think
that millions of Frenchmen, and especially
the Parisians, will resolve to sell their lives
as dearly as possible rather than submit to
it. 1t is often easier to destroy the armies of
foreign nation than to set up government
within its borders. And although the allies
fastened the Bourbons on France after the
downfall of the First Napoleon, King William
does not yet control French destinies as COM
p.eteiy as they were controlled by Butcher
and Wellington after Waterloo.