The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-08
THE ARm1srICE.

Only tulDk OF lt--VWenty-one uays ia
which to prepare for an election, take a
vote of forty millions of people, declare the
result, assemble the representatives in con-
vention, aud determine the questions sub
mitted What would we think of such
quick work even 10 this fast country ?
Why, we could not get ready even for an
election in that time in Virginia, and
after it was all over it would require more
than twenty-one days to count the re-
turns. But they do things better in
France, and in the matter of quick can
vases, we might learn a useful lesson.
But surely the time allowed is too short,
and Herr Bismarck will have to allow an
extension, or war will begin again, and
harsher terms will be exacted when peace
is forced Internationally at the point of
the bayonet. The armistice signed by
Bismarck and Jules Favre, on the 28th
of January, suspended hostilities until
noon on the 10th of February Its specific
object was to allow the existing provisional
government of France to convoke a national
assembly ito consist of 752 freely elected
members, we believe,) to assemble in Bor-
deaux, whose duty it will be to pro-
nouuce on the question achetaer the ssar
shall be continued, or what terms of peace
shall be made" This assembly is to meet
on the 18th. which allows only four clear
days for deliberation and decision.
1t is suggested that one good thing may
arise out of the contraction of the time for
discussion-loug specialization will be
prevented. Surprising that the new AS
sembly meet on the 10Th, several hours of
that day will be occupied in swearing in
the members, in electing president or
speaker, in appointing officers, in deciding
upon rules and regulations. 1t may be
safely predicted that actual business will
not begin until the 18th. This would
leave three days and half, until noon on
the 10Th, Say that the deliberations oc-
cupy twelve hours day, they will con-
sumo about forty hours, or 2,4OO minutes,
in all, which would give each of the men,
bers about three minutes for his speech, if
he addressed the Chair only once There
is something ludicrous in the idea of Jules
Favre, Theirs, Leon Gambetta, Victor HUI
go, Pierre Dorian, Jules Simon, Henri
Rochefort, Lcuis Blanc, and each of the
other talking-men, an average of only
three minutes in which to express his opin-
ion whether the war should proceed, or, if
peace is to be made, upon what terms.
IL is evident that, to allow more time, the
armistice must be extended beyond the
twenty-oue days agreed upon by Jules
Favre and Count Bismarck.
Germany has obtained, under the terms
of the armistice, the virtual surrender of
Paris. The exterior defences, with all
their material of war, Immediately passed
into German occupation, and the removal
of the artillery was at once begun by the
besegers The garrison of Paris, 1856 900
men, become prisoners Of war within the
city, all but 10000 men reserved for SER
vice within the actual capital, to be as
sisted by the National Guards. The Ger
mans at once agreed to revictual Paris, the
Inhabitants Of which were almost starved,
and to allow provisions to be purchased
on account Of the French, after the forts
had been dismantled Bat Paris has to
pay Germany 2oO,oOo,O 900 francs, equal to
forty million dollars, before the fifteenth
day of the armist;ce. There will be, of
course, an immense sum, not yet officially |
named. but popularity set down at ten mill
lizards of francs, as indemnity from France
to Germany for the expenditure and losses
of the war AS miliard of francs
amounts to 100000 900, ten times that
sum will run up to $4,000, 10000
By dismantling the outer forts, they OBJ
tanned 1900 cannon and 400 field pieces
and mitrailleuses, with the gunboats on the
Seine and the rolling stock of the rail-
roads, with 1870, 900 prisoners Of. war from
Paris alone, virtually placing that city at
the mercy of Germany, so that the Ma
tional Assembly will hardly have the
alternative of peace or war. If they &C
cept peace, Germany is in condition to
dictate its terms if they decide on war,
Paris, the heart of the coantry, is in the
possession Of the enemy. To say that
" France refuses to make peace while
foot of her soil is in hostile occupation
has patriotic sound, but expresses an
idea. Germany is likely to
retain Alsace or Lorraine, or both pro-
vinces, as security for the payment Of the
heavy indemnity to be exacted, if not be-
yond that payment. These are hard
lines, but France may have to submit to
hem. s1
At the same time (says the Philadelphia
Press the recuperative power of France
Is very great. In 1915, after the second
Restoration of the Bourbons, there was ex-
acted from France, which had an empty
,xchequer, the sum of 1856, 1000, 900
'rancs equal to $780,, 900 ,oOo) as indem-
,itv IN the Allied Payers for exnenditure ,