The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-21


Prussian right wing or the operations of its
cavalry from the north, and ct Versailles,
which has been occupied by the Uhlans. The
| crescent has become a circle about Paris as
about Sedan, though it is a broader and
weaker one here than there, end Paris is not,
like Sedan. wholly at the mercy of its enc
mics, without the power or the spirit to resist
the process of contraction and strangulation
which is to follow.
The investment has not been completed
without fighting, though this has not been of
the severe character which first reports sug-
gested. The southern defenses of the city,
extending from the left bank of the Marne at
Creteil across the Seine to Versailles, are
commanded by light range of hills, known
as the heights of Meudon and Bagneux.
When the forts were built rihed cannon were
unknown; and since the introduction of these
long-range weapons there has been no effort
on the part of the Paiisians to fortify the
commanding points. When the purpose of
the Prussians to seize this range was made
evident, large force of French
troops marched ont of the city and
occupied it, driving off the Uhlans who had
already seized the woods on its summit.
South of this range there is second line of
hills at Villeneuve lie Roy and Brunay. This
latter range the Germans have occupied
in force. There is no positive evidence that
they are in great numbers on any other
part of the line of investment, but such
a conclusion cannot altogether be disre-
garded. It is not safe, therefore, to de-
duce from the Developments on the south
ern front that the struggle is to take place
there. With the Prussians in possession of
the heights of Meudon and Bagneux the
forts on the southern line,' as the
section of the defenses from the Seine
to Versailles is called, would be untenable;
but there are also other weak spots in the
line on the western side, which is defended
by only one fort. OF course all these posi-
tions have been strengthened since the siege
became probability, and against the active
demonstrations of the Prussians the resist
ance of the French may for time prove sue
cessful. But it should not be forgotten by
those who are doubtful of the issue of the
siege now begun that no soldier has yet
solved the problem of provisioning city of
two millions of inhabitants for siege of
month or two, and time cannot but reduce
Paris, if German artillery does not.
The negotiations which we have hoped
would render the siege of Paris unnecessary
have not yet ended in success. 1t is encour-
aging, however, to know that they have not
been abandoned. A secretary of the English
Minister has succeeded in reaching Bismarck
at Rheims, and has learned that he is more
positive than ever in his demands for the
occupation of Metz and Strasburg, and the
cession of Alsace and Lorraine. 1t is also
encouraging to know that the Prussian Pre-
mier is willing to treat with any
government in France competent
that M. Favre has gone to Meaux to meet
Count Bismarck. 1t is not believed in France
that the people will consent to such terms as
are insisted upon, until they become more
helpless, more humiliated, than they now
consider themselves to be. To all appear
ance Prussia is resolved to yield nothing of
her just demands. The only hope of i'm
mediate peace is that M. Jules Favre will
take the humane, common-sense view of the
situation, and accede to them. Such an
act may prove his ruin, but it will be
the salvation of France. He may not re-
ceive but he will deserve the gratitude of his
country; for though he cannot thus save her
from humiliation, he can save her from fur
ther desolation.
ANDREW JOHNSON AND THE DE-
MOCRACY.
From the NJ Y. Times.
Mr.. Andrew Johnson is happiest when
most unhappy. That may seem a paradox
cal description of his habit and condition, but
it is true one. AS President, be was in his
element only when finding fault with Con-
| gress, playing Mentor on constitutional ques-
tions to the country, and predicting ruin if
| LIS duNlco WSro uob hCccpteu. ne was tuo
evil prophet of his official day, and took a
| gloomy pleasure in prognosticating disaster
as the result of the Republican policy. Take
him at his word, and nobody but Andrew
johnson, and nothing but the Democracy,
could save the nation from the dogs. To a
patriot, that must have been painful convic-
ton. And yet the pertinacity, the self-com-
placency, the tone of mingled exultation and
defiance, which marked his Presidential ca
reer, implied enjoyment as near to felicity as
| is compatible with combative nature in q
transitory world.
| When the ex-President returned to Tennes-
! see he took his place in the Democratic
party. None in this broad land better knew
what that party has been and is. With full
knowledge of its traitorous course during the
war, he preferred to renew affiliation with it
rather than to remain even remotely con-
nected with the party to which he had been
indebted for high official position. For him,
however, the path of private duty had no
charms. He fought hard for a Senatorship
and was defeated Then he announced his
purpose to run for the lower branch of
Congress. And now we have him once
more on the stump, delighted with remem-
brances OF his own record, but absolutely
miserable in the recital of the heresies and
blunders of his dear friends, the Democrats
of Tennessee.
What is the matter? The Tennessee plat
form embodies resolution which Mr.. John
son condemns as ''favoring a restoration of
the Southern States to their rights as sove.
reign States of the American Union" He
declares that this is secession and revolu-
ton in diguise." The precise words of the
resolution are these:-
THAT the Southern States should be immedi-
OF oil m rfr thn Nndfff Pm