The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-06

appeared to Tighten and guide the ship. The
monarchs and aristocrats are intent upon
crushing, or at least checking, the revolu-
ton. They have but one thought-to save
their crowns and privileges. To do this they
would rather have the war continued, and all
the continent in blaze, than yield to the re-
publican revolution. The sacrifice of hun
dreds of thousands of lives, or millions
even, and the accumulation of stupendous
debts, weigh as nothing in the scales against
their prerogatives. On the other hand, the
sentiments of liberty, republicanism, progress,
and emancipation from despotic rule are
deep-seated in the hearts of the people.
These are upheaving society everywhere like
q mighty earthquake. But the people lack
organization and able leaders. While they
are the real and great power, they have been
so long under the heel of monarchical and
aristocratic rule that they hardly know how
to use their strength. Still, with all the dis
advantages they labor under, and with all the
organized power of the old rulers and the
enormous military forces under their control,
the people are making great progress
toward self-government. 1t is this conflict
between the privileged few and the masses
between the ideas of the past and the pre-
sent-that is now raging in Europe and that
has brought about the chaotic state of things
there.
This struggle is seen very prominently in
the relentless war which the Prussian mon
archy is making upon the republic of France.
Without avowing it, and indeed, while it is
denied by Count Bismarck there is no doubt
that the chief object of the war now on the
part of Prussia is to squelch the republic-to
straDgle it in its infancy-lest republican
ideas should spread in Germany and over
Europe. This is natural Just as much so as
for man to exert all his efforts to save his
property when threatened. The monarchs
and aristocracies have regarded the people as
their heritage and government over them as
their right. Consequently there is nothing
they will leave undone to maintain their
privileges. They know very we'll
that republic in France is
standing menace to them and their preten-
sions. They saw the effect in 1880 and 1913
of revolution in France. From the central
position of that country, as we'll as from the
electric force of revolutionary ideas that rise
there, the whole Continent becomes agitated.
1t has always been, and still is, the focus of
revolutionary and republican contagion in
Europe. Is it not natural, then, for King
William of Prussia to wage war against the
French republic in the interest of himself
and family and for his brother monarchs?
Is not this sufficient reason why the other
crowned heads, and why Queen Victoria and
the British aristocracy, stand aloof and do
not attempt to stop the war?
Another evidence of this conflict of ideas
and the chaos. into which Europe is thrown is
the activity of monarchical and imperiaist
agents. Almost all the news received in
America and spread over Europe is either
given out or concocted by these agents with
coloring to suit their purposes. At one
time we hear of dreadful doings in Paris and
other parts of France by the "reds" and dis
organizers, and this in the face of the fact that
the French people are acting with great unity
to preserve internal order while they are
heroically fighting the foreign invader. The
| object of such pretended news is apparent.
1t Is to operate upon the public sentiment of
the world, to create alarm of the republic,
and to make people believe order can only be
maintained under monarchical government.
Now we have on one day pretended impe-
rialist manifesto of NAPOLEON, emanating from
an imperialist organ established in London,
and on the next day a report that this is
bogus. But whether bogus or not it shows
the active agency of parties in Europe to
damage and check republicanism, to sustain
monarchy and to make the present confusion
worse confounded. And it is we'll to note
that the British capital, more than any other
place, is the hotbed of this spurious news and
these anti-republican movements.
| But what does this chaotic state of things
portend? What is to come of it? From
present appearances all Europe, and may be
a part of Asia and Africa is going to be in
| volved in war and revolution. Even those
monarchs not engaged in war may resort to
ii to avert revolution at home and to give
another direction to the public mind. This,
however, may prove in the end two-edged
sword. The people are now too enlightened,
probably, to be deceived by that, and the re-
volution the rulers would avert by such
means may lead to it. Then there are national
and territorial questions springing up, and
! questions of race and religion, as well of
the adjustment of the balance of power,
which add to the complications aud make the
future very uncertain. Russia is moving for
some object, and, probably, for accomplishing
her long. desired purpose in the East. Eng
land is trembling and the prey of uncertainty.
Austria is anxioxsly watching events and
doubtful what course to take. Italy has
made great strides and obtained great and
positive result in taking Rome and uniting
all the Italians, but she is in the throes OF
revolution and fast tending to q republic.
Chaos reigns supreme, and the only light
cleaning upon us is that showing the ad.
vancement of the people toward self f-govern.
ment in one form or another. No one can
say how long the struggle will last or what
dreadful scenes Europe has to pass through
but the end must be more freedom for the
people and a nearer approach to the admirable
and progressive system of government estab
lished in our own happy country
VICTOR HUGO AND PARIS.
From the " o. Republican.
Victor Huoo has fired q columo of obori