The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-03

onward march of the German hosts have
made it their object to hinder as much
as possible the attack on Paris. AS if
the only hope of salvation lay in Paris, Mac
Mahon and Bazaine have each been doing all
that could be done to give Paris time to pre-
pare for an attack, If not to make an attack
impossible. For the last three weeks Mac
Mahon and Bazaine have been endeavoring to
unite their forces. During this same period
of time the brain which has controlled the
movements of the German forces has been
doing its utmost to make such union
impossible. Considering the line
of march of the Prussians. considering
that the occupation of Paris has
been and still is their object, considering at
the same time that France has been putting
forth all her strength to defeat these purposes,
it has not unnaturally been concluded that
out of this double purpose would emerge the
conflict which would prove decisive and final
In other words, it has generally been ad-
mitted that if MacMahon and Bazaine cannot
effect junction the game is up so far as
France is concerned. On the other hand, ii
has been Just as generally admitted that If
Prussia was not able to render this junction
impossible the tide of battle might be turned,
and the too confident armies of Prussia sent
hemewards demoralized.
Whatever be the actual facts regarding this
battle of Beaumont, it is not to be denied
that Prussia cannot be easily driven from the
position which she has so nobly won. There
are those who think that France is yet strong
enough to repel the invader. We do not say
that she is not. But we do say that for her
own interest, not to say glory, she has been
too slow to reveal her strength. 1t was said
by the first Napoleon that he never knew the
meaning of resistance until he crossed the
Rhine. In Italy conquest was easy. The
bright skies and the soft climate of the south
made men shrink from the bayonet. Directly,
however, the victorious legions of the republic
crossed the Rhine it was felt that the bayonet
was no longer an object of terror On the
northern side Of that river men were encoun-
tered who with stronger arms could WELD the
deadly weapon, and with broader breasts
could receive the attack. The Germans have
not deteriorated, but improved, since the
days of the first Napoleon. Physically they
are what they ever have been-far more than
a match for their southern rivals; but to ply
sical superiority they have added the results
of superior intellect, the mighty applian ,es
of modern science. Since the days when the
Goths, the Vandals, and the Huns came pour
ing destructively down on the civilization of
the south, no such revelation of
northern energy has been given to
the world. On this continent we know the
and great in these United States is traceable
to a Northern origin. The surplus energies
which were wont to let themselves loose upon
the happier regions of Southern Europe have
been finding for many years past more
agreeable outlet to the New World across the
seas. We mention this circumstance to show
the superiority of the Germans, physically
considered, as compared with the French.
In our judgment, whatever be the result of
this fight the centre of European civilization
will not in the future be sought in France,
but in Germany.
This war has already done much. 1t has
made Germany unit 1t has been the
great aim of all the leading French statesmen
of modern times to prevent this union. To
make this union impossible M. Theirs and
M. Guizot have exerted themselves quite as
much as has done Louis Napoleon. To pre-
vent this union the present Emperor of the
French has persistently, but not wisely.
labored during the last eighteen years To
prevent this union Napoleon commenced the
present war. But the means have
defeated themselves. The war which
was meant to destroy German unity
has actually built 1t up. Hanoverians and
Saxons, Wurtemburgers, and Bavarians are
all Prussians in this contest. Result the
fighting as it may, the unity already accom-
plished and sanctifed by so much precious
blood can never be undone. This, however,
is not the only result. The Bonaparte dynasty
is doomed, and, through the Bonaparte dy-
nasty, the whole fanciful fabric of Latin unity
has crumbled to pieces. For at least another
generation the Bonapartes must retire into
private life, nor are we likely for many years
to come to hear much of the unity of the
Latin races.
The return of the Orleans princes to power
80, l1,No NIafx 80,
is one of the necessities of the situation
Orleanist contentment, not Bonapartist am
bition, is what France henceforward will
imperatively need. In some future age, but
not now, Gallo acquisitiveness may take a
new point of departure. Would it be Won
deIful if, while another Bonaparte goes into
involuntary exile, and while the dome of ST.
Peters fades away from the eyes of the last
of the Roman Pontiffs, the dream of NJ.
Guizot should become a reality and the de-
cendants of Louis. Philippe should reign at
once in Paris and Madrid? The whirligig of
time works wondrous changes.
OFFICIAL INFLUENCE IN POLITICS.
From the N. Y. Times.
The exaction of pecuniary contributions
from clerks in the Government departments
is bad but it is not worse than the interfer-
ence of Federal ofice-holders in the choice of
delegates to conventions, or In the nomina-
tions which the conventions are required to
make. Both are evils. From one the char
acter and efficiency of the civil service suffer;
the other imparts to cliques power to regu.
late the action of party in manner fatal to
its integrity. If all Secretaries entertained
the Just ideas of Mr.. Cox, and had his firm.
ness in enforcing them, the black-mailing
system which partisanship has sanctioned
and systematized would soon come to an end
The meddling of ofice-holders in local cleo
tions may not be so easily prevented, but il