The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-10
SPIRIT or THE PRESS.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
CAN FRANCE ACCEPT THE LOSS OF
HER PROVINCES?

HEN PRONlNCES
From the N Y. Times.
In recent report of the interview between
Won Bismarck and NJ Favre it is stated that
the latter urged, in reply to the Prussian de-
mands for Alsace and Lorraine, that "French
honor could not endure the diminution of
any of tho French territory. The Provi-
sioual Government were willing to pay an in
demnity for the war expenses, to dismautle
the fortresses, and possibly to give up por-
tion of the French fleet; but the honor of the
nation could not bear the loss of their ancient
provinces On this rock, probably, the efforts
for peace were wrecked and rather than yield
this point of honor France is given over to
devastation and ruin. One account of this
celebrated interview reports that Won Bis
marck replied that the honor of the French
nation was no more sensitive than that of
any other nation, and they had often sub
mitted to losses of territory rather than
carry on a disastrous war. Whether the
Prussian Premier made the retort or not, it
contains substantial historical truth which
ought TO be considered now by the French
leaders.
No doubt the Prussiau statesman looked
back some sixty years, and recalled the time
when the great Emperor of the French had
his foot upon the Prussian kingdom, and no
magpanimity on the one side or scrupulous
sense of honor on the other prevented the
best provinces of Prussia becoming French
Or possibly he remembered the negotiations
fifty-fve years ago which determined the pre-
sent political form of Europe. He may have
recalled that ''French honor" was sensitive
then to the loss of territory, and yet that the
Emperor had to give up half Europe which
he had annexed. He must have read how
unyieldipg for many months the French were
in their view that the limits of France were
the Rhine on the east, and how the diplomat
of that day, Caulaincourt, threatened as
Jules Favre does now, to fight to the last man
rather than yield the true French boundary
And yet French honor submitted to the inevi-
table, and accepted an interior line rather
than the famous river, and bore with the loss
of innumerable provinces.
Danish honor, too, was sensitive, but it
had to endure the loss of Norway, and see
its annexation to Sweden. Saxon honor was
tender, but Saxony was compelled to lose
half its territory. The little republic of
Genoa was proud and irritable, but it saw
itself summarily united with the Kingdom
of Sardinia. Lombardy was conferred, with
as little ceremony, on Austria Holland and
Belgium were manipulated as the great powers
chose, and Germany was reconstructed.
Even British honor submitted to the loss
of Java, and the Dutch to that of the Cape
Colony and other colonies. In more recent
years, Austria has been obliged to give
mp her wealthy Italian provinces, and
France herself has, without the
smallest consideration for Italian honor,
forcibly annexed Nice and the
adjacent country. Within three years, most
of the smaller potentates of Germany have
been compelled to swallow their scruples of
honor, and permit their territories to be
incorporated in Germany and Prussia. French
honor no doubt, dictated the upholding of
Maximilian, and keeping possession of Mex
leo; but sentiment must give place to stern
facts, and when the United States appeared
on the field, the Emperor quietly retired.
1t is very hard, undoubtedly, to be beaten
in great war; but then all nations have at
some time experienced this disagreeable
fortune, and have accepted the consequences.
One natural result of defeat is the loss of ter
ritory What could have been more painful
to the proud Sclavonic race, which, for half
a century had never known a defeat, than to
accept the dismantliDg of their finest fortress
and the loss of the Black Sea as a naval sta
tion? Yet even Russian honor bowed to
what could not be avoided, and accepted the
disgrace.
If nation throw down the glove in 8
great war, she must accept the consequences;
and one of them is disaster and possible loss
of provinces. The French nature is not diff
ferently constituted from that of other Euro
pean peoples. What they have SO Otter
borne, the great nation must bear. These
very provinces were obtained from Germany
Just as the Germans are seeking now to
wiring them from France. 1t is useless foi
English Journals like the Spectator to appeal
to the higher morale and magnanimity of the
Prussans. Both nations are alike They
seek all they can get after victory. 1t is
true that Germany has frequently been
cheated of her fair share in the plander oi
wsr because her destinies were never in hei
own hands. Now she controls herself
through tie sbrewdest statesman of modern
times who is not at all likely to let any
glamour of sentiment keep his hands from
liberal share of the just spoils of the cam
paign.
II the cases were reversed, aud Napoleon
were at this moment besieging Berlin, an(
King William were prisoner in Versailles
how much consideration would probably bt
shown by the compeers of NJ. Favre for the
sensitive German honor? Who would
speak then of magnanimity requiring the
French not to take the Rhine Provinces, anC
of the danger and sin OF driving Germany tt
despair, because France wanted Rhenisl
Prussia beyond the river? All men would
say that the King of Prussia did wisely t
give up few provinces, raSher than expos
his whole people to invasion, and leave tn
country stripped bare of every necessary O
life. Even in the interest of revenge ant
honor, they would say it is better to accep
the trifing loss and disgrace, and regai
strength for another and more fortunat
campaign What are needed now in Franc
are statesmen bold enough to accept the in
evitable.
NEUTRALITY TROUBLES IN 1870.
From the Army and Navy Journal
UI,aE Ero.l x1f1hl oh