The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-27
France-Parls-Peace.

France-Parls-Peac
The kilograms by cable leave itt1ie room
% ,oub, that peace is 20 nearly proclaimed
that there win be hardly any more fighting
between the Prussian and French troops.
The French have been foled and defeated
at all points-their numbers ana thc'i
means of defence have been steadily o''li'""
ishing. until they can present at no polh'
anv effective resistance 10 the ovcrWhellh-
inc numbers and excellent discipline OF inc
prnss;ans. It has been for many days clear
that very soon the French would DC coh'
peiled to acknowledge the utter hope'ess-
moss Of further resistance. And it can
hardly be doubted that this rcriod mas a"
rived. and that If Paris has not caP''"E.'o"
when we write, it will probably nave oohe
so before the paper in which this Is printed
is nlaced in the hands of the reader.
This was ass,,redly the impression IN the
commercial world yesterday. Cotton and
grain felt the influence Of this impression
cotton especially. We refer to our tcle-
graphic department.
The trouble in the settlement Of the terms
OF peace will be with regard to who or
what sort Of government will stand for
France. There have been various rumors
on the subject. 1t has been stated that
BISMARCK would make terms with what
appeared to be the government de fdcto ut
the time Of the capitulation and again it
has been asserted that he would not treat
with the Republic. A telegram received
Yesterday represented that not only Bis
NARcK but the British Government also was
Inclined to favor the BoNAPARTEs, and that
probably regency would be established to
rule during the minority of the young Bo-
HApARTE, it being deemed out of the ques-
ton to reinstate LOUIS NAPOLEON.
These matters will all be settled, we sup
pose, in few days. and there is little occa-
sion for speculation.
The war has been a sad and causeless
one. From the fall OF Sedan it has been
prosecuted without reason, and bloodshed
has been continued recklessly and unwar-
rsntably. There was really no hope for
France from that day. LOUIS NAPOLEON
had simply cut away the detences OF the
nation, and let in the food Of PruSSlans
that have inundated and subdued the king
dom. 1t would have been no disgrace to
France to have surrendered at once. She
has fought heroically. But what is heroism
in this day against superior numbers and
munitions of war:
The cngineries OF these days arc ali
against instructions and herOiSnl. steam,
the railroads, tclegraphs. iron-clads, and
the weight OF metal and killing weapons
generally, tend to the concentration of
power and the destruction Of all plans and
hopes for resistance to authority or even
tyranny. And when nation gets such
run upon another as that which PRUSSIA
had upon France after Sedan, there Is no
chance for the bcligercnt which is held to
disadvantage.
SO is the day of fortified towns gone by.
They cannot be defended against the means
of modern warfare. Such towns are mere
traps, AS they have turned out to be in every
instance in France. When IN army enters
one of them its fate is captulatlon. The
army in such town has all the cmhal-
easements Of stintcd or starving conmu-
nifty, and has no power to give relief. De-
prived Of all chances to change position or
the restraints of walled dcfcnces, they can
but linger in captivity, like birds i'll trap,
until the inevitable surrender.
The cessation Of hostilitirs, we fear. will
expose Il sad, sad condition OF Paris and her
suburbs. The groves, the chatcau>, the
palaces, have suffered terribly. Within the
walls shade trees have been cut down for
fuel in this cold winter, and i'll the suburbs
the marks Of refinement, taste, and OPP
ulcncc have crumblcd before the march Of |
the army, and The once beautiful panorama |
has been so Scared, cut up. and torn to |
pieces, that those who knew it in its bright |
est days will hardly be able to recognize it |
now.
But let us hope that neacc is ROW Ger !
tain that industry will resume its employ |
ments; that commerce will be rcinvigor- |
ated. and that an era of quiet and thrift |
will be established and prevail for years.