The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-01-21
The Decadence of France.

HE O0CdOOI1CS Oh fEdnC0s
The events in Europe since July last have given
birth to an idea that is rapidly gaining ground
in England, in Germany and America, and which
is now being discussed by the grave minds of
war, following so fast upon one another, they arc
constrained to asks not France something more
than defeated,-is she not in her decadence, her
history over, and she doomed never to rise? Ger
many openly expresses the Affirmative of this
question, but it is only whispered elsewhere.
The question is a serious one, and well worthy of
discussion. Says the London Spectator.
g If France is to cease to be, the history OF the
human race is modified forever, and the world
has lost one of it's first advantages, the existence
in Europe of an effective and propagandist intel
lect radically different from the Teuton. Not
only the dominion of the world, though that is
much, but the dominion of the thoughts of the
world will have passed to a single branch of the
human race, for the A~nglo-Saxon is but the
Teuton modified by centuries of freedom. This
may be the best, as it is clearly the strongest
branch of the human stock, but still a branch
with no right and no capacity to supersede
humanity. Primo facie, many of the events OF
the war justify those who apprehend so frlghtful
a calamity.
80 Fighting power, if not a high form of power
in a race, is an essential form if the race is to
keep its independence, and France appears TO su-
~perfcial observers TO have lost its fighting power.
We all, friends and enemies alike, ask with
General Blumenthal, in simple amazement, what
change has come over the French? Why do they
-,., ~ vyo,o -- The s1;1aennoD ~ho in m plaoo-
Metz-fght to the death, everywhere else run,
Or capitulate, or mutiny, or do something or other
for which explanation seems as. difficult as apol-
ogy. The citizens in many places give themselves
up on mere rumors of q German advance. The
departments seem utterly unable to organize any
thing, not only an army, but a regiment, a CON-
pany, anything of any value for defence. M
leaders, it is said, turn up even in civil matters
and not only no leaders, but no policies, nothing
even like the vague but triumphant thought
expressed in Lincoln's rude formula, We must
keep on pegging away" Vast regions full o.
men and wealth and spirit sit apparently inert
doing nothing, while in the occupied districts
Frenchmen seem cowed to such a point that they
dare not even attempt to cut a railway What
can it all mean, if it be not that France is in
decay, that the attack has not made ruin, bu'
only revealed it?
cit is horribly true, all that, and yet we
believe we may absolutely: reject the deduction
pessimists are inclined to draw. We should
reject it even if all the facts were unfavorable,
believing that,a people, aike an individual, may
be temporarily paraiyzed, that no conclusion car
fairly be formed as to tae condition OF a nation
from an experience of only six weeks; but many
of the facts are favorable to France in a high
degree. Take those, first of all, which affect the
question of military spirit, The army, as q
| whole, has shown want of discipline, want Of
staying power, and want of selfreIiance but
till disheartened by the revelation Of the incom'
petence Of its chiefs, it fought fairly well, and
one section of it, exactly like the rest in all bui
discipline, has displayed a courage, tenacity, and
carelessness of life worthy of the best days O
France. 1t may be said that the soldiery ought
to be more stubborn even if badly led, but the
answer to that is that they never have been, that
all the triumphs of France have been accom-
plished with armies of highly nervous, excitable
men, of not very high physique, who make good
leadership their condition of victory. That is
not the English condition, and may not be the
German but it has alwas been the French, al
least since the Revolution allowed the rank and
hle to form an opinion on their commanders
Outside the line, again, the people have revealed
in the majority of instances a very high degree Of
spirit.
France may be said in six weeks to have
produced a hundred infantry regiments of 1900
men each by voluntary enlistment. They are
badly armed, equipped, and drilled they have
new and therefore ignorant officers, and they are
deficient in subordination of parade but thoss
iamentable facts only show how strong the spirit
must be which brings them in such masses to the
front. One victory, one sound piece of evidence