The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-27
SENATOR SUMNER ON THE WAR.
~>>>>,,-~->~~~s>~e~c~~-~~
Sketch of the Origin and Pro-
gress Of the War.
LOUIS NAPOLEON AND HIS PERFlDY.
A Plea FOR the People Of
France.
Tho Essential Conditions
f Peace.
GUARANTEE OF DISARMAMENT.
King William and Count Bis
marck.
UPRISING OF WORKlNGMEN.
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Abolition of the War
System.
UPRISING OF WORKlNGMEN.
Abolition of the War
System.
ruu REPUBLIC AMD PEACE.


Hon. Charles Sumner delivered n lecture In the
regular Lyceum course In Music Hall last night, on
the "Duel between France and Prussia" large
audience was present. Mr.. Sumner commenced
Ills lecture by tracing the analogy between o
duel engaged In by two individuals and o war
carried on by two nations, coutending that
as the duel is no longer tolerated as arblter
between individuals, so it should cease 10 be tole
rated between nations. After this introduction or
his su6ject he sketchei the events which provoked
the present between France and Prussia, ridi
culing the pretext on which it was declared by
France. Coming down TO the point OF the formal
declaration OF war he proceeded as follows:-
FORMAL DECLARATION OF WAR.
The sce5c III the Legislative Body was followed by
the insi%lt Introduction OF bills making additional
appropriations iOr the army aud navy, calling out
the Ma ional Guard ana authorizing yo unteers Tor
tDe war. This last proposition was commended by
the observation snat IN france there was quantity
OF young people liking powder, but MT liking bar
racks, VINO would ia this way be suited; and TINS
was received with applause. on the 18th OF July
there was furtLer appropriation 10 the extent of
100000 oogi $4,000 Oool. being ior the army and
5o0,000,0 0Jt. treasury notes were authorized. on
the 20th OF July The Duke de Gramont appeared
more ut the tribune and made the following
speech
confopaby to customary rules and by order Of the EN-
aoty the Berlin ADM, OF our resolution 70 seek by arms
the which have not been by
honor OF making known the Legislative Assembly that
state or between France and Prus
beginning 18Th OF July TINS declaration appes
equally 70 the allies OF frGss WAC lend her the coopera
tion OF their arms against
Here the French Minister played the part OF
trumpeter in the duel making proclamation before
Gis champion rode Toward. According To the
statement OF Count Bismarck. made TO the Parlia.
ment OF Benin, TINS formal declaration oil war
The SOLITARY onicisi communication iTom France In
ths whole ansacuon, being the hrst and only noe
since the candl1ature u i'rnce Leopold How
swift this madness viii be seen III lew dates on
the 9th o. July was uttered the first defiance from
the French tribune; on the 18TH OF July an eXpos-
tlon OF the griels OF Frame In The nature OF
declaration OF war, with demand for
men ana money; on the 10th OF July state OF
war was declare w exist. Firmly but IN becoming
contrast with The 'light neart' ol france til 3 was
promptlf accepted b. Germany, whose heart ana
strength found expression IN the speech oil the King
at the opening OF Parlianeat, has'iis assembled on
the 18th vi July. Ain articulation disturbed by
emotion ana Win moIstened eyes, MS Majesty said
Leaning Oh the UNANIMOUS wiz OF the German gov.
ernments OF the south, rs OIL the governments OF the
North, We address ourselves 10 the patriotism and
devotion OF the German people for the defence OF
their honor ana their lnneperdence.n Parliament
responded sympa hcticaiy 10 The King aud made
the necessary appr1 priaLions. And thus the two
champions stood front to front.
THE TWO HOSTILE PARTIES.
Throughout France. throughout Germany, the
trumpet sounded, and everywhere the people sprang
TO arms, as II the 81 eat nora Of Oraido alter sleep
OF ages, had sent Iorta Is commanding summons.
Not town-not villa old that voice not pene-
t.ate. Modern invention had supplied ally be-
Jond anything In liable. From all pa u Of Frailce,
from al parts Germany, armed men leaped FOR.
ward, leaving behind the chains oil peace and the
business OF lIle On each side the muster was
mighty, armies counting by the hundred thousand.
And now, before we witness the mutual slaughter
let us pause to consider tile two parties and the
lssus between them
France and Germany are most unlike. and yet the
peers OF each other, WINE among the nations they
unsurpassed In civilization each prodi. IN
resources, splendid In genus ana great IN renown.
No two nations are so nearly matched. BY Ger
many now mean not only tile states constituting
North Germany, but also Wurtenberg. baden aud
Bavaria, OF south Germany, allies III the present
war. all OF which together make o2.ooO0J0 Of hec-
tares, beng the exact area OF France The p0pua-
ton OF eaca IS not lar from 3s,v0o,0oo, and IL
would be difficult 10 ray which is tie larger.
Looking at finances, Germany has the
smaller revenue, but also the smaller debt,
While ner iulers fol owing the sentiment OF
the people cultivate a wise economy, so that here
again substantial equality Is maintained with France.
The armies OF the two, embracing regular troops
bers unless We set aside the authority OF The Alma
mach de Gotha which puts the military force OF
France somewhat vaguely at $50, 900, while that
OF North Germany Is only g77,2o2, TO which must
be added $1,000 for bavaria, 5000 for Wurtem..
are disciplined ! troops. THIS, however, IS
France Is stronger inan in reality. Her available
force at the outbreak OF the war probably dld not
amount to more nan 900 600 bayonets wniie mat OF
Germany was as much as double this number,
owing to her superior system. In Prussia every man
IS Obliged TO serve. and still further, every man
is educated. Discipline and education are two po-
tent adjuncts. This Is favorable to Germany In
the Chassepot and needle gun the two are equal.
But France excels In a well appointed navy, having
less than nlty- five iron-cads and numerous
other vessels or war, Whine Germany has not o
q enss Snd aa few Snr ssps
ratious has existed another disparity, TO the
or, at detrment OF Germany. France has been a
nation while Germany was divided and therefore
weak. Strong IN union the latter now claims some
thing more tnaa that "oominion OF the arr once
acknowledged to be hers. while France mad the
lani and England the sea. The dominion OF the
land Is ot last contested, and are saddened In
eSpTsessby mat IRON sle elevation they have
TO practise the barbarism Of war and especially
that the land Of pescares Pascal yotare and Lap
Luther, leibnltz, Kant aud humboldt ~
FOLLY A.
Plainly between these two ncghboring Powers
there has been All unhappy antagoDIsm, constant II
not increasing partly from the memory OF other
days and parity because France could not bear to
right anu duty. OFTEN 1t has been said that war
was inevitable But 1t has come at last by surprise
and on a ''question or form.o So IL was called by
liners; so Il was recognized by Olivier when he
complained OF insensibiiry TO q question OF honor;
and 80 also by the Duke dc Gramont when
ne referred 1t all to telegram. This Is not
lac first time IN history That wars have
been waged tribes; but since the Lord
OF Prauenseln challenged the free city OF Frank
tort, because young iaIy Of the city refused to
dance Win his uncle nothing has passed more abb
surd tnan this challenge sent by France TO Germany
BECAUSE the King OF Prussia refused to see the
French Ambassador In third visit on the same
matter and then let the refusal be reported Dy tele-
when Hamlet touches madness greater than MS
own IN tnai spirit which would find quarrel In .
straw when honor y at the stake, and al the same
tiiae DEPICTS an army -
Led by . delicate and lender prince,
ExposiDg what mortal and unsurs
To all that fortune death and danger dare,
Even for eggshelL
There can be no quarrel In a straw or for an egg
shell. unless men have gone mad. Nor can honor in
O civilized age require any sacrifice or reason
mainly
Mr.. Sumner then exposed the unjust pretension
"A afura
lenzollern, and continued:
Ia sending defiance Prussia on this question
he French Cabinet selected their own ground.
Evidently Il war nad been mediated, anu the canGt-
iature OF Prince Leopold, rom beginning 10 end,