The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-17

Editorial Opinions ofthe Leading Journals
upon Current opiCs-CompiIed Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
THE GERMAN ARMY BEFORE PARIS.
Yro.a Ibs A. y Herald

THE GERMAN ARMY BEFORE PARIS.
From the NJ Z. Herald
The siege of Paris may be regarded as hav-
ing practically commenced, though no hostile
gun has been fired upon or from her fortifica-
tions. The besieging army is calculated at
four hundred thousand men. The defensive
force is variously stated at from three hun
dred thousand to five hundred thousand men
of all arms. Whatever be its strength an
address of General Trochus would indicate
that he regards it as sufficient. He feels
assured, he says that the defense will be ad-
mirably sustained. The bridges over the
Seine, above and below the city, have been
destroyed by the French, so as to keep the
besieging army on the eastern side of the
city. The railroads on that side have been
also destroyed; but those leading westward
from Paris are still in operation. They may,
however, be broken up at any time by raids
of the German cavalry. The city is said to be
well provided for siege, and the population
is represented as resolute and determined to
defend it to the last.
A despatch from Bouillon, in Belgium,
dated on the 14th inst, announces that por-
ion of Bazaines army, commanded by Mar
hal Canrobert, has cut its way out of Metz
md is on the march towards Paris, and an
apparently later despatch from the same
place makes like statement in regard to the
whole of Bazaine's army, which is said to
have reached Carignan, in the neighborhood
of Sedan. We regard the statement, how
ever, as rather apocryphal. From Strasburg
and the other besieged fortresses there is no
late information except the general assertion
that not French fortress has been yet cap
tured. The Notifications of Lyons are re-
ported as completed, and large levies of men
are being raised, organized, and armed in all
the departments not invaded by the Ger
mans. 1t is expected that about million of
Frenchmen will soon be in arms for the de-
Tense of the country. The abortive blockade
of the Elbe and Weser by the French fleet
has been abandoned. 1t was Of no real ad-
vantage to France, and the men and material
engaged in it can be of more service at home.
1t seems that we have not yet heard the
last of M. Theirs mission to London. Yes
terday he was represented as asserting that
he did not know the republican Government
of France. To-day we are assured on equally
reliable authority that he had received fur
ther instructions from the republican Govern
ment, and had not quite abandoned his
efforts at peace negotiations or given up all
hopes of success. But the most significant
intimations in regard to his mission are the
connecting of it with some scheme for the re-
storation of royalty in the person of one of
the Orleans princes. Of course such scheme
has evidently been one of the possibilities of
tue bltddtiOu, DuC we udu uOb regarded IL as
among the probabilities. NJ Theirs, however,
is represented as having been the bearer
of an important communication from General
Trochu to the Due dAumale, and as having
had long interviews with members of the Or
leans family, recently strengthened by the
arrival from Brazil of the Count dEu, n.in-
law of the Brazilian Emperor, and one of the
princes of the House of Orleans The mean
ing of all this is that General Trochu NAV act
fha ~ of T,ofo yba, ha aaJ
Louis Philippe on the throne of France, and
of General Monk, when he restored the Eng
lish monarchy in the person of Charles the
Second. This is one of the directions in
which French affairs may turn.
But evidently the King of Prussia does not
yet contemplate that contingency, or at least
does not throw out any hints of that kind.
The programme which is laid out for and at
trlbuted to him, and which has the air of pro-
liability to support it, is that as soon as
Paris is in his hands he will summon back
the Regency the Senate, and the Corps Legis-
latif, which he regards as the de jure govern-
ment of France, and arrange a treaty of
peace with commissioners to be appointed
by those bodies, and WILL after the ratifca-
tion Of such treaty, restore Napoleon to lib
erty and to France, and let France then
choose her own government. But one of the
conditions of peace is to be the cession to
Germany of the provinces of Alsace and Lo-
raine. Even if the King were inclined to
forego that condition, public opinion in Ger
many would enforce it upon him.
The one great obstacle, however, to the
carrying out of this programme is the resist
ance which Paris will make to the besegers
If defended with the bravery, skill and deter
mination which we hope to see displayed in
its defense, and if its supplies of food, water
and munitions do not fail the German armies
may see themselves compelled to raise the
siege and to retreat back across the Rhine,
fortunate if they are able to get back. The
events of the next few days will probably fur
nish indications by which to Judge of the result
of the siege. May it be auspicious to the
republic and to the principles of popular gov
eminent.
..-. WASHBURNE.
From the Louisville COartcr-,Journal.
IL A