Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-09-09


question now is whether .Reade and Rod
mao will .''pass, go blind, or zee it and go
better. - Our opinion is that they
will -----.s- Eas -s@- se'' sI@
The War I'm EurOpe-Loufs NapcIeOr-
maeFIa hOn-Is an Early Peace Ieraba -
ble !: RI -1a.s.s ia.t-e. a4+ SEQ -
TT is a common saying that history fire.
quentiy repeats Itself. Of this the careers
of the two Napoleons are apt illus rations.
Both enduring adversity in their youth !;
both achieving by their talents fabulous
succe SIS both enjoying fof about the same
length of time the height of human pow
er and prosperity and, finally, both driven
into exile by catastrophes that will forever
remain among the most striking land
marks Of human history. vaE - g ga
The dead lion is always the prey Of the
skulking jackals who trembled at his will.
The Partisan mob are now tearing down
the imperial insignia, and showering exc
crations upon the head Of Louis Napoleon.
But the impartial historian will rank him
as by far the best monarch that France has
~
liant success in two great wars, after which
he claimed no greedy or ambitious acces-
sions for France, he Turned the energies of
his nation towards The coDQGcsts Of peace,
and IN few years gave 10 French com
merce and industry SD impulse that they
had never felt before. He has done more
for the prosperity Of France than any
other ruler she ever had.
Is Worn out in body and mind 10y terri
BILE disease, he WAS hurried, DO doubt
against his judgment, into a war for which
his country was totally unprepared. Cor
rupt officials, profting by the decay Of his
energy and vigilance, had introduced dis
order In every department, ana the En-
peror and the country awoke too lac to
find that one-third of their army existed
only on paper that there was no organi-
cation for the reserves that the arsena!s
and fortressos were halt empty and that
while France slept in false security. Prus-
sia was pouring upon her upward of a
million Of soldiers in the highest state of
efficiency. The awakening has been terri
BILE, and the imperial government will nev
er be forgiven for its blindness and torpor
but yet, when the passions Of the moment
cool off, Napoleon the Ihi1d VII be ac-
knowledged to rank among tic great men
OF the XIXth Century.
Bot while Il story sometimes repeats
itself, ii is ut the s me time inexhaustable
of new and stupendous events. Those of
4 H. Lea fCr- d. Ill t.
considered u principle OF the art of
war that an army of 100, 900 men or up
wards could never be utterly overwhelm-
ed, for after losing 25, 600 or 10000 men
it would still be strong enough TO protect
its retreat or to cut its way through sur
force however great. But the
tell us Of Is 900 to 10000 killed
and wounded, 80. 900 prisoners in the hands
Of the Prassians and probably $4,000 or
20, 600 more disarmed in Belgium, leaving
absolutely nothing of MacMahoa's great
army. It is almost consolation to think
that he, the great and noble soldier, the
Bayard of modern France, has not sulyiv-
ed to see !his fearful disaster of the troops
which he led with such unsurpassed gal
lantry. His death will send thrill of sor-
row through the hearts of two nations,
and even mis- foes will pay fitting tribute
of honor to his memory.
Bat what Of the situation now? France
has lost, by an unparalleled series of calam
titles, nearly the whole of the regular army
she had at the beginning Of the war, and
which did not exceed 49, 900 effective
men, This includes the army of Bazaine,
which must oapitulate, SIS we'll as the gar
risons of Strabbourg aud other places,
In the meantime, the Prussian armies
must have los. by casualties and disease
very near to 800, 900 men. According to
their estimates it would leave them still
800, 900 ready to advance upon Paris and
other points of the French territory.
On their side the French claim to have |
700,0 900 men under arms-all recently
called out, it is true, but half OF them old
soldiers who have served out; their term.
There is no doubt that, if time enough is
given, this force can be doubled or trebled |
wanting in spirit, for the French, a!thoug
defeated, have yet maintained their old
reputation for gallantry. The honor of
their arms is still untarnished and, NOR G.
over. they are wrought up to the highest
pitch of patriotism and even of desperation
at the idea of seeing their country dis
membered. --l
But, besides this, it is certain that
nation Ike the French. if united and really
in earnest to accept no terms of peace as
Ions as q foe treads their soil, can never
be subjugated. All Germany can not come
to France, and France has seven millions
of men between the ages of twenty and
forty. IF, therefore, the French people