Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-13
Democratic Nominees.
WHAT WILL HE DO WITH TT

King William, having overrun great
portion of France, and being confident
of his ability to take the rest, including
the gay capital, at his will, the question
is now: What will he do with it2 The
prospect is that it will take Austria,
Russia, and probably one or two other
great powers, to solve this conundrum.
The King telegraphed to the Queen, not
long ago, that he had strange emotions
when the captured Emperor was brought
into his presence. II must have been a
proud moment for the grand old King;
but he appears to have higher respect
for Napoleon's position than anybody
else-greater even than the French peo-
pie themselves. The King has no great
admiration for young Republics at best;
and when one only three weeks old
opposes his will, he intends simply to
kick it out of the way He recognizes
Napoleon as the Emperor of France, and
has announced that he will make terms
Of peace with no one else, and only in
the Tuileries. Napoleon was not aware
before that he had such distinguished
and influential friend at the Tuileries.
The people in Paris who we're busy and
enthusiastic in tearing down French
eagles and the insignia of the Empire,
will be just as busy replacing the same
if King William succeeds in setting up
Napoleon where he was knocked down.
Napoleon would, no doubt, like the SEN
sation. 1t remains to be seen whether
our Government and the powers of
Europe will recognize the Empire as
promptly as the Republic Of France.
King William may yet find that he
captured a huge elephant, and that it is
more trouble to set up an Emperor than
to knock him down at first There is a
republican party in Germany, as well as
in France, and the King may well make
haste to finish the war in France, that
he may enforce unity and discipline at
home He has not and cannot forget
ls4s. The cry Of liberty in Paris is
scarcely less detestable to him now
than it was then in Prussia. OF
course the American people, as a body,
must sympathize more or less with any
struggling Republic; and if the new gov
eminent in Paris is an improvement on
the imperial regime, and benefits the
masses, we must hope that it will prove
stable and permanent. The French
were first to recognize the American
colonies after the Declaration Of indie
pendence, and the first opportunity has
been taken to return the compliment.
They are an excitable, volatile people,
however, aud from their very nature
must have revolutions and changes Of
government.
France has gained great moral sup
port since declaring for a republican
form Of government But what is moral
support without physical battalions and
material munitions of war; Paris is
now in a state Of siege; the roads are
all closed even kilograms only come
through the gauntlet of official scrutiny.
Wall street recognizes this fact and
ceases to draw bills of exchange on the
houses of Paris. The Prussan corps
will soon enclose the great city, and in
less than three weeks, without some bold
strategy or Intervention, King William
will drink his lager beer in the ancient
Palace of the Tuileries. Then,
and not until then, may Napoleon ex-
pect to return and be au Emperor viii
Kingly Europe and Republican America
recognize the Empire sustained by Prus-
sia2 Nousrerronsl tits natural for us to
sympathize with all true Republics, but
for a bogus article We have as little use
as am other species Of despotism. The
politicians and the journals in this eoun-
try who have taken a bold stand for
Prrssia have generally done so for local
effect on the German population. The
Germans, however, are too well read and
too intelligent to be misled by hollow
pretenses. II those journals opposed
the Empire because twas an Empire they
are in all consistency found to favor the
the Republic because it is a Republic.
And in doing so they are obliged to OPP
pose the policy Of King William. viii
they do it, This journal has refrained
from becoming a partisan on the Eu-
ropean war question. If our sympathy
is worth no more to one side or the other
than theirs was 70 us, It would hardly be
xorfh the expression Of it. We desire
to give the news, aud shall strive to that
end.
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