Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-02-01
F.n ofParls.

- AaASa
The siege Of Paris seems to have at
last ended in capitulation, upon the
whole the most wonderful surrender
In history. Secretary Fish has receiv-
ed the following telegram from Mr..
Moran, charge d'afIairs at London,
dated London, Sunday, January 25th:
''The German Ambassador here has
officially informed me that the capitula-
ton Of all the Paris forts, and that an
armistic Of three weeks by land and sea
was signed about eight O'Clock last ave-
ming at Versailles by Count Bismarck
and Jules Favre. The army of Paris
will remain prisoners Of war in the city,
but it is not known whether they arc TO
be disarmed or not. No details have
yet been received. Count Bernstein
thinks it an important fact that the ar
mistiee extends over the sea, and that ii
should be made known as widely As pos
sible."
An army of two hundred and forty
thousand men and more than three
hundred thousand National Guards,
in all rather more than five hundred
thousand armed men, form a part OF
the capture gained by the Germans
in the submission Of the great city OF
two millions of inhabitants. The
terms Of peace offered by Bismarck to
the French nation, are as follows:
First-The cession Of the province Of
Alsace and that part Of the province Of
Lorraine known as German Lorraine.
Second-A money indemnity Of 1000,
100000 francs.
Third-Forty war ships from the
I French fleet.
Fourth-One Of the colonies now held
by France, which I cannot learn. The
money Indemnity must be granted by
the municipalities. If this guarantee is
refused, the property of rich individuals
will be held possession Of until acquies-
eence is obtained.
Fearfuny hard as are these terms,
as offered by the Germans, they are
not harder, probably, than the gov
eminent of defense have for some
time expected. They must all along
have been aware that by prOlOnging
resistance, they were increasing the
irritation Of their enemies, and also
giving them grounds for exacting
harsh terms of peace. The prospects
of France do not appear much bright
ened by German offers of peace. The
fall Of Paris does not diminish the
interest of the situation.
The world now sits in suspense
concerning the next change of scene.
| The greatest Of all the crisis, for
France, is yet to come. She has yet
to choose between republicauism
| and a monarchy. 1t remains for the
| French people to determine whether
/ the costly, precious fruit of this terri
BILE humiliation shall be garnered or
wasted. II the republic be preserved,
il must be done by q supreme, sus-
| tanned effort of the best people in
France; If it lives, it will be in spite
Of the Ignorance and poverty which
/ wilIassail il from below, and the envy
and jealousy Of BOurbOns, Orleanists
and Imperialists. who will attack il
from above. The crisis is now com
ing in which France will need all her
wisdom, fOrbearance and determine
ton. If she puts forth these, her
future is yet in her own hands.
Bismarck may restore Napoleon and
make with him any treaty he chooses,
but the German Chancellor is far toe
wise a statesman to rest the chances OF
future peace upon a dynasty so de
tested by France. There are other
great results which must follow the
restored unity of the German people
and the reduction of France to a sub
ordinate power. For the present, il
is sufficient TO know that the terrible
struggle, which has own the north
of France so thickly with graves, il
ended, and the terrible energies which
have been wasted in war are soon tC
be turned to the nobleT pursuits o.
peace.