Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-08-19

It is often said that history repeats itself
that in the great Gibbs and flows in the tide
of human events. there are remarkable in
stances of the recurrence of combinations
which. if not absolutely Identical in their, cie-
men,s and results, are SO strikinsly analogous
thatit Is no wonder the maxim is So often
repeated and so often said to have received
another confirmation. The operations of tie
war which has recently broken out between
France and Prussia, flrcitiy remind us Of it,.
Fl.tv--ix years ago, orrcarly that, there were
desperate contests ODD nearly che same fields
from which there comes TO us n,w.da hy day,
the report, Of bloody battles between French
and Frussan armies. Met Nancy, and other
fortified places. whose names figure IN our
daily Dispatches. figured also in the bulletins
Of l~I4 Then for the most part the Prus-
sian army was victorious, AMI hy almost
every battle the First Napoleon found him
self driven nearer TO his own capital
Now the third B1napa-te is forced To- consider
how lie shall save bis capital Then the in
vadin- forces prJte->ed to be making warmorc
upon the ruler than upon the people of
France: and the same is said now. Then too,
there were omiu0us tokens that France would
sacrifice her ruler to save herself. and now
the same question is raised at Paris. VIII
the solution be the same Perhaps -, and
vet there are some great differences between
the present condition Of affairs and those Of
1914. Then the French armies had been
wasted lv the terrible campaign against Rus
sia, and the subsequent sauguinarv war with
the allies. The prestige Of victory which bad
attended the French arms under Bjnamrte
and had been a powerful stimulus to them,
and depressing in It's influence on their op-
poncnts. was gone and had taken side with
tLc.r opponents. IT was hard work to fill up
their ranks then. and B3uayaIte complained
that boys rather than men composed large ,
part of his army Tie old Bourbon influence .
was also yet strong in the land, and aady to
take side with the invaders the moment it .
was safe to Do So. st present We think there
is little force in what vet remains of thatscn- .
timcnt in France Perhaps, though, the de-
sire for a republican government Is as strong .
now Ne was desire for return Of the
Bourbon dynasty then A few days will
show.
But though the French armies have met
with severe defeats thus far, We look upon
the contest as only just begun. Louis Napo-
Icons tar may 90 down for the last time
but there arc millions of able-bodied men in
France. who. if not soldiers now, will rapidly
become so when they see that the salvation
IF France from foreign invaders is the ques-
ton at issue Thus far, too Prussia, power
-ul as she is, is not backed up by the other
great European powers. They as yet quietly .
ook on. perhaps are not unwilling to see the
waste of strength and treasure which is going
IN on both sides. They may be quite willing
% see France humbIed, and equally unwi!l-
ng to have the power Of Prussia become any
,reater.
As for the advancement of free principles
IF government in Europe, none followed from
he downfall of Bonaparte. and there is no
eason to suppose that any will follow from
he downfall of Louis Napoleon. Free gov ,
.rnment is the last thing which the chief
uiers Of the continent wish for J