The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-01
THE FAILURE OF DEsPOTIsM.

There has been the greatest possible ac-
tivity in raising troops throughout the diff
ferent Departments of France during the
last few weeks. The orders issued by the
Military Directory at Paris require the local
authorities to forward all arms-bearing meu
to the capital with the utmost celebrity. We
have had accounts of bodies of these hastily
raised levies moving from the southern and
central parts of France to enter the ranks of
the active army; and large numbers of them
were sent from Paris to MacMahon at Cha
Ions, before the evacuation of that place.
But, after all, it is remarkable how slowly
and unwillingly the people of France respond
to the urgent calls of the Government to
come forward in defense of the country
against the invading German armies.
The population of France is forty
millions, and the French have always been
accounted the most martial people in Europe.
So far as we can judge, there have not been
more than $780, 900 troops engaged in the
active operations under Bazaine and Mac
Mahon, and the forces defending Paris, with
the troops stationed at other points, are
estimated as numbering less than 100000
men. This is certainly poor display for
military country like France. Why has
there not within the last thirty days been
great patriotic enlistment of at least
million Frenchmen for the defense of their
lmpeIlltu why are uOU SUCH
scenes witnessed in France as we became
familiar with in this country during our
own great war a few years ago? We had
no reputation as a military people. We
had the most clumsy and inefficient ma
chinery for raising troops. We had large
party in the North which sympathized with
the Rebellion. Yet how rapidly President
Lincolns first requisition for troops was
filled up! How quickly, during subsequent
periods of the war, when our military sys-
tenn was better organized, we raised hundreds
of thousands of men in the Eastern and
Western States, and forwarded them to the
points of danger, where they were at once
incorporated with the armies already in the
field. The crisis ia this country was scarcely
less terrible than the present crisis in France;
and yet how different the spectacle presented
in one country from that which was displayed
in the other!
The Government of France, as it has ex-
listed for nearly twenty years under the despo-
tism of Louis Napoleon, has been wholly
dependent upon the military power for its
existence. But it was great army, and not
martial people, that the Emperor required
or desired. He has done all in his power to
repress the ideas and practices which at this
time would have given France dozen patri
otic armies for its defense. Under the Em
pire the growth of an intelligent patriotism
| has been impossible, and the general use OF
possession of firearms has been forbidden
! The Emperor of France has been at war witt
! the intelligence and the conscience of France
ever since he mounted the throne He has
not only destroyed the liberties of the coun
try, but has debauched its politics ant
crushed its public spirit. 1t was not patriot
ism, but a slavish homage to his person and
dynasty, that he demanded. Instead of Civ
ing the people those governmental institu
tions which would have secured their devo
ton, he has given them debased Cesarism
which was detested by all liberal minded
Frenchmen. We now see the results of hi
system in the lowest condition of publi
spirit that ever was shown by great natioI
in the supreme moment of its existence.
The results of his prohibition of the use o
arms are also painfully visible. The levie
which have been hastily raised are utterly in
capable of handling the guns which have beel
given to them. 1t is just as well that the
have only old muskets, for they can learn t
use these more quickly than the chassepots
But what value are either shot-guns or ehasse
pots in the hands of people who know nothin
whatever of them, and who certainly canno
now make them of any avail against the tr
umphant armies of Germany? During the wa
of the Rebellion, our American citizens quickl
became soldiers because the great mass c
them had been accustomed to the use of arm
as militia-men or in one way or another. Bu
the throne of the Emperor would have bee