The New York herald., 1870-09-14
IVA - FE.4ss--s.
.lHE SITUATION IN PARIS.
TElEeRAMs TO tine NEW YORK HERALD.

Il \
TElEeRAMs TO Tine NEW YORK HERALD.
Consolation from New York-victor Hugo ON
the French Crisis-His Aspirations for
Peace-Special Appeal Through the Herald
for American Mediation-City Defence-The
March to the FrOnt-Every-DRyL Life in the
Capital-When the Prussinns May Arrive.
LONDON, Sept. 49, 1870
have received telegraph letters from Paris dated
on the 18th inst In the afternoon, which inform me
that the journals Of the French capital copy In an
approving tone and with applause the language and
words Of the NEW YORK HERALD in which foreign
intervention between France and Prussia Is recon-
mended for the purpose Of preventing further pro-
secutlon of the war. rss- --sf ssr.r.-s~, trs..~
Yesterday l was accorded an interview by M. Vic.
tor Hugo. After few words of preliminary CONVEX
satiOn told him that the exact object of my visit
was for the purpose Of obtaining his views OF the
position which the United States OF America held
towards the French republic, and II he so pleased
exposition also Of his feeling with regard to the
diplomacy OF the American people and their gov
ernment on the resent crisis In the AFFAIRS OF his
country
M. Hugo replied 1T once He first expressed him.
self as being highly aHed with the editorial articles
which were published IN the HERALD on the French
revolutionary changes, as he was well aware he
satd that the paper faithfully represented the public
sentiment Of America. He told me next that he had
determined to address special appeal to the
American people on the issues Of the day. and then
continued to speak thus
"Since you saw me last" said M. Hugo, "the
SHOWS OF many winters have whitened my head,
but neither time nor the pains Of exile have
deadened my heart to the sense OF deselation
which fills 1t to-day at the sight OF the many
misfortunes which have fallen on this unhappy
land-on France, my country Ny grief is OF too
poignant a character to be uttered in words. can
not convey to you what feel these sad results of
the work Of that one man, who is now expiating his
crimes against the country Dy his downfall
and captivity. But why, SIR, should not
the conqueror be now satsnedg Why Is
he not sattated with the blood OF so many
victms-blood which mas been shed and already
sacrificed to an unnoly ambitong Why should
King william Of Prussia who at the commencement
or the struggle solemnIy declared that he warred
not on the people OF France but on Bonaparte, be
content--content now that his crowned antagonist
has been stricken down from his imperial emnence
ana disappeared personally from the of strife
The fair of Bonaparte, sir permits me and mine-my
family and friends-to return to this the city OF my
home, after nineteen years Of exile. Why shall we
now be slaughtered on the very hearth for what we
have pined for SO long, and for the only reason that
because Prussia has had her anger provoked
by the deeds OF public criminal whom the Justice
OF the Providence Of God has at length overtaken.
1t will be eternal disgrace to the name and honor
OF King William Of Prussia If he refuses to sheath
the bloody sword now that the exciting cause which
caused him to draw 1t against France is gone, has
been obliterated. The people Of Germany, sir, are
humane as they are courageous Their king mis-
toy al I m toke fho opti-
ment of the German people ii he imagnes that it ls
their wish to proong frghttul butchery OF human
life by war; butchery which tends to degrade the
nation over which he rules; degrades people who
have been dragged into the conflict by Bonaparte
not of their own free will. 80 -. =.
"Tne appeal" continued M. Hugo, (which lately
addressed to all Christian Germans was made merely
In response to many solicitations which ! had pre-
viously received from almost every quarter and part
of Fatheriand, requesting me to raise my humble
voice against the barDariy ofwar between two such
nations. Thank God, my appeal has been heard;
for to-day, this day, sir, have letter which comes
direct from the headquarters camp OF King William
of Prussia, signed by ten thousand men In arms in
which they say that they shrink from further
slaughter.
"Will not the United States OF America, the home
OF SO many Germans and Of 80 many French-wil not
ernment refuses to do so-maKe one grand Christian
effort to extnguish the hOrrd, naming, urid torch
Of war; VIII not the elder sister OF our young
French republic stretch forth her hand In remon.
STRANGE at the untold calamites which thteaten US
here in Paris? appeal, then, to them In my own
humble name. May Heaven vouchsafe that the &C.
cents Of anguish in which speak may reach their
hearts and 80 incline the American people to pro.
test protest in the name OF and In the name
Of humanity, against further waste OF human llfe
against the sacrifice OF people at the command Of
king, q command which is indicting death on an
unofrendlng and brother people,"
In words and terms such as the above did M,
Victor Hugo express to me for publication in the
columns Of the HERALD the sense Of torture winch
appeared to rack both his mind and body IN conse-
quence OF all that he had seen and heard OF the
mseries and sufrerings which had been induced to
his fellows by this fearful war.
can merely convey q very faint notion-an idea
only the words Of thrilling eloquence In which
he spoke l was SO daZzled, so much affected, by
his magnificent language, the deep and solemn tone
OF voice IN which he spoke and the impressive man.
ner Of his delivery, that although have attempted