The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-30
WARS WOES.
From the N. Y. World.

WARS WOES.
From the N. Y. World.
Various journals, actuated by general
enthusiasm for the glories of war, and
special admiration for the virtues of his
Christian Majesty the Emperor of Germany,
have lately been ecstatic over descriptions of
the genial, home-like Christentide enjoyed in
the Prussian camp. To read the approving
raptures one might fancy that it was question
of Joyous host of innocent, ch1ldlike merry
makers, whose light hearts knew naught of
others sufferings, whose hands we're used
only for deeds of tenderness, and whose pure
minds we're titly attuned 10 commemorate the
advent of peace on earth and goodwill
towards men. The very incongruity of cele-
brating such season amidst scenes of car
mage and desolation lends to the recital a GER
tain weird humor which with some romanti-
eally- disposed persons may pass for pathos
but by the more Sober-minded it can scarcely
be otherwise regarded than as a horrible
desecration.
War, at the best of times, and when waged
for the best of purposes, is a brutalizing pur-
suit and if tithe of contemporary history
be true the present war in France Is rather
a conspicuous example than an exception to
the rule. Be it Gas sundry exultant religious
papers phrase it) a strife of Protestanism
against Catholicism, or be it what it may. it
is certain that the pent-up hatred of two
| utterly dissonant nations finds vent in ind-
vidual action, and that the campaign is
characterized by more than usual relentless
ness This spirit was shown when, some
months ago, General Werder said to the
medical officers of o captured Lyonese am
bulance, "We know about the Geneva Con-
ference, but we are making a special war;"
when, shortly afterwards, General Trescow
refused to permit surgeons to enter Belfort
| for the reason that ''succor to The wounded
or sick in a besieged place was a veritable
reinforcement" Nor do more recent events
make better showing. Within the past few
weeks, Ablis, village holding none but non
combatants, was destroyed in pure wanton-
ness, apparently, and women and children
turned out homeless in the bitter cold. DIR.
Russell, whose Prussian proclivities have
been clearly manifested, and whose regard
for historical accuracy has not hitherto i'm
peded the exercise of his friendly sentiments,
relates how in another village
| seventeen non-combatants, one of
whom was priest, were executed in retalia-
| tion for the killing of Prussian soldier by
some unknown hand few days before, and
how this village and a neighboring hamlet
were then burned to the ground. Causeless
destruction of food and shelter, plunder and
havoc, mark the course of victorious arms;
plague, pestilence, and famine vie with battle
and murder; and in the midst of these the
holiday of the Prince of Peace-of him who
came to teach love and charity-is Knocked
Better and more appropriate an orgie in honor
of the heather god of battles, war and the
Christians creed are strangely at variance.
AS an English periodical, commenting on
such purposeless slaughter, says, ''The only
satisfactory thing to be noted is that the
Christians God has not been quite so con-
stantly insulted by declaring this wickedness
to be all for his glory or by his will.
WHAT WILL BECOME OF FRANCE?
d From the NJ Y. Times.
The future of France must look dark in
deed, even to her warmest admirers. Bis
marck is as merciless in his diplomacy as
Moltke in his strategy. He is perfectly capa-
BILE of carrying out his threat to Jules Favre
and bringing back Napoleon, for the sake of
setting up some authority to patch up peace
with. Then, having secured his indemnity
or it's pledge-and the territory demanded
he would leave France with perfect inditfer-
ence as to civil war breaking oWt between
Republicans and Imperialists. The know.
ledge of the German statesman's cold-blooded
resolution and tenacity of will may indeed
alarm the French Republican leader, and
thus the threat secure its object For GER
tainly the restoration of the Bonapartes
would be a very unpopular act in
Germany, and disagreeable to the
! hOueDZOuefuS, WHO nave never IOr8OLCel
the years of humiliation under the
First Napoleon. Nothing would
justify it to Germany but inexorable neces.
sity. And yet, if the irresponsible dictators
who now control France refuse to call Ma
tional Assembly, and prefer desperate and
disastrous struggle for the sake of their own
personal interests, it is difficult to see what
the German Emperor is to do to get out OF
the scrape but to set up government, make
peace which undoubtedly a majority of the
French people are sighing for, gathsr the
spoils of war, and go home. The unscrupu.
lous Prussian statesman and the pious Em,
peror would justify themselves by the excuse
that they were not responsible for the in
ability of their adversary to govern himself
that they were Indifferent whether the
lican Ministry or an Emperor, provided il
represented the nation, and all they did wa:
to restore to the country what it called for
regular and responsible government
What the chances of Napoleon would bt
NOW throughout France it is difficult to say
The current opinion of travellers and CORE.
sponaents is that the peasantry associate the
last few terrible months of havoc, plunder
sorrow, and disgrace solely with the Repub
lie. On the innocent Republic will undoubt
edly fall the shame of the capitulation o
Paris and the utter defeat of France. The
French peasantry do not reason. They will
} feel that for twenty years under the En-
pire they had peace and prosperity
that railroads were built, conamerct
increased, and that conscription was no
| onerous under Napoleon. They sar
France prosperous and rich. The short cam
, paign Of the Empire they nave forgotten. IT.
defeat they may attribute to the corruption
, of the officials. But the few months of Re