The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-30

sionRl endeavor, when q deXterous theft or
embezzlement might put one in position to
share the society and friendship of Fleury
and Morny? Although an aristocracy is
powerless for reform, it is practically omnipo-
tent for mischief.
Borne on this easy tide of success which
the great industrial enterprises of the CONT
nent we're supplying, it seemed as If Paris
had lost all sense of responsibility The
city government went on, robbing Peter to
pay Paul, taking no thought of the day after
tomorrow, satisfied with keeping its hundred
thousand laborers quiet with useless and
beautiful work, and cooking its frightful
deficits barely enough to Justify the
apathy of the Council of State. The
Opposition was little better. The lead
ers, such as Favre, Pelletan, Garnier-Pages
and their associates, were men of the
best and truest Republican fibre, who care
fully studied the problems of the future, and
accepted in the main the American theories
of the correlation of rights and duties. But
the ardent working politicians of the clubs
and secret societies went on with their sap
ping and mining, apparently without caring
whether the building they were seeking to de-
stroy fell on their own heads or not Like
the improvident artisan in Hogarths picture,
they kept saving energeticaly at the very
branch they sat on. They seemed to think
that the,s same old dissolute, easy life would
go on forever, no matter what they did.
The people of Paris most clearly indicated
this utter lack of forethought in the manner
in which they welcomed the Emperor's de-
claration of war They were not shocked at
its utter wickedness and criminality. They
never thought of the possible consequences.
Morally and intellectually they seemed inca
pable of O serious view either of the ethics
or the probabilities of the situation The
city that had rejected the Emperor in
the plebiscitum went wild with delight
over his greatest crime and his greatest
folly. The Republican and Liberal jour-
nals-let it be remembered as an offset to
subsequent mistakes-were almost unani-
nous against the war But they we're over
borne by the general voice. The people of
Paris danced to the piping of the dull despot
they had so often denounced by their votes
When the defeat came, they turned upon the
false power that had deceived and misled
them. There was certain instinct of Justice
in this. Bonaparte was the sole cause of the
war, and justly fell in it. But the idea Of
| their completely in his final error never seemed
| TO enter into the minds of those who, being
his accessories, made themselves his accuserl
and judges.
1t is impossible that in these two months
of siege and misery the Parisians should no
| have acquired some sense of their own re
| sponsibility. They have certainly lost tina
overweening self-confidence which led then
to their ruin. They have seen on what
frail foundation was built that airy structure
of apparent prosperity, which for many year
has dazzled and deceived the world. The,
have been living for eighteen years in
feverish dream. Now it is broken, and tn
work-a-day life will come heavily upon them
Their conduct during this siege has beel
such as to prove that the lessons of this har
experience are not lost. With an enemy a
their gates SO strong and persistent that i
seems like the iron hand of necessity slowl
tightening upon the throat of the Queen City
with government deriving its sole sanction
from popular consent, the condition of Pari
has baen as free from tumult and disorder q
during the best days of the Empire. Th
armed people have vindicated the authorit
of law against disturbers of the peace. Th
uncomfortable Latin pride, which refuses
listen to reason when fancied honor fol
bids, prevents them still from giving up th
hopeless struggle. But when the end comes
we expect to see in the Paris of future year
the good fruits of the terrible disciplin
through which this glorious city-which NOR
nearly than any other represents the bea
ing heart of the world-has passed and
passing.