The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-08-09
TRIUMPHANT GERMANY.
VIII The Glorious Peace be Lasting.
CrvrL and MILITARY ssSrIxEsr-AS ENGLISH
MANS Look Isro TIE FUrURE.

CrvIL AND MILITARY SsvrIxESr-AN ENGLISH.
MANS Look IxTo TIE Future.
...............
berlin Correspondence London News.]
It is now in the German capital the
day after the ball. The ball vas a
great success, and the fddlers and the
dancers kept it up with unaagging
perseverance. But everything must
have an end and triumphant demonstra'
tions are not to be maintained forever,
however ardent the enthusiasm. Now,
the face of the ballroom beauty is hag-
gard and her eyes are bleared. The
BALL. dress lies rumpled, soiled, and
ragged round the skirts. Berlin's
gala dress stood the sun pretty we'll, on.
ly that the ruchiug of laurel leaves, OAK
plants, and pine coils faded and lost
their bright grecnness. But still the
ribbon banners aud the sash pennons
Aaunted bravely till Monday, and then
came such a deluse Of rain as has not
often been seen in Berlin or anywhere
else. 1t woefully bedraggled the cheap
6nery which the triumphant beauty
wore SO pcrsisteutly; it made her
uncommonly muddy all over, and must
bave stirred in her bosom reflections
aueut the evanesceuce of tinsel in
general. 70 drop the metaphor, Berlin
is in the weather dumps. There is a
big drop at the end of Victory's nose,
and Germania looks as if she would fain
borrow carriage umbrella to keep the
rain off herself and Alsacc and Lorraine.
1 don't think the rain is at all bad
thing for Berlin; there is an allegory
in it which symbolizes the uncertainty
of human things. But two days ago
the glorious sunshine-emblem Of that
splendor of German prosperity on
which the heavens themselves were glad
to shiue-seemed az if it would last
forever; the downpour Of yesterday,
demonstrating the fckleDess Of the
weather, may we'll remind the thought
full how Fortune can be as capricious
as are the skies. A condition Of gen.
eral moisture has strong tendency to
damp cut any exuberapce Of cock-a-
hoop triumph. And 1 do not think
one could claim to be a triumphant
reporter who did not testify to his
recognition in the last few days Of
weakness in this direction. There IS a
good deal Of human nature in most
people, you see; aud human nature
bein weak, is apt to give way to inn
pulse, association, and the influence of
the hour. What is the influence Of the
hou- u which a triumphant eutry takes
place You may split hairs assiduously,
and draw subtitle distinctions between
the emotion Of sreci6c triumph and
a generic enjoyment of Ia glorie; but
the two have plaguy proneness to ruo
into each other. have been q warm,
and as trust conscientious, admire. OF
the German character, its moderation,
its selfcommand, its love of peace
But drink will make demon Of a saiLt,
and triumphant entries form an intoxi-
eating tipple very dangerous to those
national characteristics which l have
admired for, after all, national cha
racter is but fagSot, so to speak,
of individual human natures bound
together. | was not among those who
thought that such maguauimity could
be expected of the Germans as to take
the initiative in proposing peace after
Sedan; or that it was to be expected
of them that they should ultimately
ratify peace without taking something
to sh3w for their fighting work. We
live in the age OF iron (miugled with that
of BRASS not in that ofgold. But l dc
think that it would have been splendid
moral victory-a thing to..bene6t herself
iu the present aud in the future, aud
to have kiudled the admiration and
respect of posterity-if Germany, after
her war, had come to her peace without
u physical exhibition Of her triumph
Her triumph would have been none the
smaller if Berlin had hoisted flag OF
erected q statue; it is none the greater
because the streets of Berlin have
resouuded to the tread and the cheer.
Of q victorious army bearing the eagles
and the banners Of the vanquished.
CIVIL SENTIMENT.
Not that the Berliners overtly craved
any more fighting in specific words ever
when the effervescence Of the triumph
was at its highest in them There has
grown up fashion Of Aauutiug at the
possibility Of any more war, a habi
Of ridicul:ng any one who hints a
seeing, by reason Of long range o
vision, cloud no bigger than mans
hand far avsy on the horizon. 1t wa'
a sagacious student Of human nature
who mace the sententious comment
:Methinks the lady doth protest TOT
much" Not that l do not believe
the Berliuers are quite genuine il
their protestations; but then do no
like the manner Of these protestatious
Alexlader the Great was a professet
fighting man, who, when he hat
conquered everything that there appa
reutly was to conquer, (not including
himself,) sat down and wept becaus
there was no more worlds for him t
oouquer. The Germans, fighting onl..
under compulsion and professed peopl
OF peace having conquered everything
that has stood before them, do no.
like Alexander, blubber for NOR
antagonists, but rub their hands ii