The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-09-01
For the Democratic Press
France of To-Day,

In the course of human events, Il
becomes the duty of every one who
kwou'd study the world as it is, and
WHO would look into the various con
ditionssof mankind, to take littIe
time andexamine France as she pre-
sents herself to the world at this
time. II is natural for the American
people to view a struggle in foreign
lands with Indifference, caring but
very little what the result may be, for
the reason that the fnal issues is of
comparatively small account. so far
as the interests of our nation NAV be
tafected. But to the student and
fsstatesman, who feel that peculiar in
iterest in the welfarei Of mankind, who
not only love to seek ont the earliest
history of the world, and trace the
various religious creeds and political
organizations through all the wonder
fal changes through which they have
passed, the present struggle between
France and Prussia presents few
Items of great interest. Tho French
people, in every age, have been rest
less and warlike. Ancient Rome was
obliged constantly to guard against
the inroads made by the Gaul, and, as
time rolled on, we find these clans so
long the terror of the Roman border
assuming the dignity of a nation and
throwing aside gradually the barba-
'rism of early ages, and becoming a
civilized and enlightened people But
that propensity for conquest and war
has not left the hearts of her people
which was fully displayed in the ca
9reer of Napoleon the First, and it has
been fully demonstrated by the early
history of the nation that no man
could rule France except by leading
her armies to victory. Louis XVI
lost his throne and life because he
loved the luxury and imbeciIity of the
Court more than the field, and by, his
want of capacity he was driven from
his throne, and France was revoiu-
tionized and the house of Bourbon
was driven beyond its borders. The
cry fora republic went
up from every hilltop and vale, but
time demonstrated the fact that her
people were too impetuous, and that
they were divided into two many fac
tions to govern themselves, and that
it needed genius to make tho revo-
iutionary blood cease, to flow in
Paris. That genius was found in the
first Napoleon which shone SO bright
" at Austrelitz and many other WE'LL
contested fields until it had deluged
all Europe in blood, and at last was
outstripped by the craft of Yelling
ton at Waterloo. Again the people
of France hoped to. breath the pure |
air of liberty and, to, cast away. for
ever the burdensome yoke of empire.
But again we find another Bonaparte |
ruling the lovely land of Orleans
a gain we find war assuming bloody
aspect caused by the folly of the pres
ent Emperor, who feels that unless he
can lead his people to wsr and victo-
ry, the reins of government. are fast.
slipping from his grasp; ard that the
embers of liberty will 4
soon spring into blaze. 2ut.we will
not believe that the courage displayed
1t Lodi or the genius Of Arcola has
transmitted to the present Emperor,
nor will we believe that the sickly
Napoleon of to-day will I
meet with the good fortune of Ma
senta or Solferino. On every hiil of
France may be heard the prayer for
liberty, and in every humble cot may
De heard the wish that the present
iynasty may no longer rule. And
he student of history who will only
investigate can come to the one con-
'luslon that true civilization is inst
beginning to dawn, and that France
will no longer be the slave of the past
II the instrument to make the. glory
# a Bonaparte shine. E. II. lM.tatd
sfs telt fsE4 - "a < !. 4