The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-03

lie IN DIS BOSOM ana was Stung Dy 10 10 tne
heart.
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF THE GER
MANS INTO PARIS.
From the n. Y. Herald.
The Germans have entered Paris So far
as we know at late hour, while we write,
the Parisans have not behaved so badly as
some have been trying to make us believe
they would. The Germans have had their
triumph-a triumph which high philosophy
must despise; but, things being as they are,
it is gratifying to know that the affair went
off in such manner as revealed fair amount
of common sense on both sides. The Ger
mans are in Paris and Paris is not in flames.
The Germans have had their triumph tri-
umph to which they were fairly entitled; but
Paris so far as we know the facts, has yielded
to the influence of wisdom and has given
proof that she was not, after all, bad re-
preventative of the concentrated common
sense of the world.
So far this is good. But the news from
Bordeaux is more important than the news
from Paris. 1t is well known to our readers
that the National Assembly appointed M.
Theirs and Jules Favre to act as the repre-
sentatives of France at the Prussian Court of
Versailles-that M. Theirs and Jules Favre in
their difficulties had the assistance of large
consultative committee, and that these con-
joint powers were authorized to sign the pre-
liminaries of peace. The preliminaries of
peace agreed to by M. Theirs and M. Favre,
we now know, endorsed by the consultative
committee unanimously have been accepted
by the National Assembly by an overwhelm-
ing ma ority. Two most important points are
thus gained-Paris has not gone mad because
her German kconquerors have insisted on
seeing her beauties, and the National Assem-
bly, has not rebelled against the German
terms Of peace. In other words, the Ger
mans are now in Paris and France has ac-
cepted the arrangements made by NM.
Theirs and Favre and the consultative COM
mittee of the Assembly.
Few, very few who have been students of
this war from it's commencement until now,
will be sorry that things are as they are
to-day.
The war is ended. The line is drawn be-
tween the past and the present.; and new
era for Europe and the world offers itself for
| our consideration. In SO far as the past is
| concerned no one can refuse to admit that
France has had her deserts, and that the Pa
| risians, properly so called, have no cause of
complaint. The French people made this
war q necessity even more than the foolish
| traditions associated with the house of Bona
parte or with the first republic. The neces-
sity was French and French only. The result
of the war has proved that if France had been
wise she would have recognized no such me-
cessity. Germany was not interfering with
| France or French affairs when the elected
chief of the French people declared war upon
her. As France began the war France has no
reason to complain that the war
! has turned out to her hurt.
War is always, or ought to be, a
doubtful game, and those who proclaim it
ought to be prepared to abide by the conse-
ouences. For the third time in less than
sixty years Paris is occupied by the stranger
and the conqueror. But Paris has no just
cause of complaint. The Parisians, like the
rest of France, were responsible for the war.
If France had been successful, the Parisiaus,
like the rest of France, would have insisted
not only on the acquisition of territory, but
on the right of the French army to enter
Berlin. If Paris to-day is partially In the
hands of the invader, the Parisians ought to
remember that the time has been when they
had not much mercy on Rome, on Milan, on
Vienna, on Berlin, and on Moscow of painful
memory. The tables are turned, but the
French people as a whole, and the Parisians
as a special unit, have no good reason to
object to the principle, whatever they ma
think of the fact. All things considered,
they ought rather to be grateful than other
wise for the comparative clemency of the
conqueror.
The humiliation of France, now accepted by
the National Assembly, opens up fresh ques
tions which are full of interest to all mer
everywhere who take any interest in the vel
fare of nations and the future of mankind. /
is not to be denied that, unless some unfore
seen circumstances should arise, France mus
be contented for at least half century to tax,
a secondary place in the European system o
nations. France under Napoleon III mad
Italy great nation. The policy which mad
Italy great humbled Austria, the proudest 70
many centuries of all European monarchies
and gave Prussia her opportunity. Italy is
powerful unit. Austria is no longer at tn
, mercy of France. Germany, by the help o
| Prussia, has found that autonomy for which TO
, many years she has been signing and dying
The enormous strength which Germany ha
3 developed pushes Russia completely into tn
Q background. This war has, in fact, not onl
a altered the complexion of Europe, bu
changed the destinies of nations and ms
Q terially affected the future history of tn
q world. 1t is fair, we think, to say that as a
: aggressive power, in this most aggressive age
: France is, to all intents and purposes dead
y 1t is as little unfair, we think, to say tina
D hitherto France has been felt to be kind G
i restraining power in the European system
!. That restraint is no more, and the question ID
b how will the different nations of Europe act i
s their new circumstances Will the weakness
Q of France encourage war and conquest, c
s will it encourage peace and genuine develop
: ment? 1t is fact patent to all intelligeI
= minds that if Prussia and Russia are agree
: they can divide between them the whol
9 north of Europe. Holland and Denmark al
{ still in the way of Prussian developm snt, an
t Sweden is to Russia an inconvenient neigl
: Dor. Austria is weak, because of her inte
{ nal divisions, and Great Britain has pract
@ caly ceased to be a continental power.
o tha humiliation of Franco tO mark the con