New-York tribune., 1870-09-21

t,fERIcgS PART IN THE EUROPEAN VAR.
Our columns this morning contain two re-
markable appeals for aid for the French peasants
and the soldiers of both armies impoverished
and wounded during the European war. One
of these comes from the civil authorities of
the departments of France east of the Moselle,
the country which was first 10 feel the desola-
ting tread and the destructive shock of the
two armies The pitiabe condition of the
pcasantry in that region is feelingly described,
and the appeal il particularly directed to
the American people as the pf0mptest to
feel and the quickest to relieve these
distresscs. We know the appeal will not be
in vain. and that America, in this hour OF its
nrosnerity. will respond as literally to the cry
of the French peasants as in darker days 1t
d;d to the call for aid of the English opera
tiyes. The French Empire was never the
friend of the American Union, ana, IKE Eng
land. actively endeayored TO destroy " when
conyulscd by civil war but the French pea
santry, like the Lancashire spnnerS, strongly
sympathized with the country; AMI II ls these
friends, sore distressed, who now call TOT our
belp. We know the call will be responded to.
We hone to chronicle the early departure 0i
shin-loads of food for the starving peo-
nile of Asace and Lorraine; and we
trust that for this service the German steamers
now living idle in our ports will be the first to
offer. No nobler service awaits them They
cannot better mark the resumption OF their
peaceful trips than by a cruise of mercy to the
Rhine. The advent there of u fleet OF German
steamers laden with American offerings for the
impoverished inhabitants of Alsace and LOr-
raine would be triumphal march not less
magnificent than that of the German armies
TO Paris-a Victory of Peace not less renowned
than any Of the signal triumphs OF the present
war.
Nor will America forget the wounded thou
sands of either army who languish and die for
the want of the necessaries of life and proper
attendance The American branch OF the In
ternational Committee of Aid to the Wounded
in War also presents its appeal, published on
our second page For the present it is pro-
posed to send money only but If the war
continues it seems probable that hospital sup
plies, in kind, may be called for from this
country. The statement of the Committee re-
veals that hospital mater1et is in vastly greater
demand than any other kind of supplies
for the organized armies The Committee asks
for neutral aid. in accordance with the cove
nants of the Geneva Conference. The funds
which may be contributed, week by week, will
be forwarded through the well-known banking
house of Brown Brothers, Mr.. Potter of that
house being Treasurer Of tho Association.
Our readers will find in the Associations
statement ample reasons for opening this
American channel for contributions in aid of
the wounded, without distinction Of national
ity. If the war goes on, let the memories OF
our American war and the humane services of
the United States Sanitary Commission 5timu-
late very liberal giving.
To aid the distressed and relieve the wounded
should be the only acts of Intervention in the
war attempted by America, and these offices,
we dare venture to promise, she Will n0bly
undertake and generously perform. 1t must
not be forgotten that in destroying the French
army the Germans have greatly impaired the
efficiency of it's medical service. No matter
how full the medical staff how perfect it's or
ganzation, OF how ample its supplies, the defeat
of AN army destroys for the time its efficiency.
Thus in large measure the care of the French
wounded devOives upon the Germans, and
taxes their every resource. Humanity fOrbids
the neglect of an enemy's wounded, and also
of the distresses of the conquered. In respond
ing then, to either of these calls we shall
give without regard to nationality since HUI
manity, Mercy, and Charity know no such
distinction.