The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-09-02
ReQDi1lQ the H0TUeSt.

little more than year ago the French Rm :
pire rested as calmly in the embrace of peace as
con6ding infant on its mothers breast. Then
the Empire was as secure in the reigns of the
government as the nation was in the tranquil
embrace of peace. The tranquility ofthe nation
was broken and the power of the Emperor to
WELD the French sceptre smitten by proclama-
ton of war against the King of Prussia that as
tonished the French people, surprised the political
circles Of Europe and threatened to involve the
continent in an upheavel of powers and tumb-
ling of thrones. This proclamation on the part
of the French Emperor proved no less disaster
Gus to his ill-obtaiued power and despotic exer-
else of it than it was surprising to the leading
men in politics on both sides Of the Atlantic
Its results are told in the fearful carnage that
decisive, vigorous and thorough in all of its
characteristics on the part of the Prussian gov
eminent, and in the loss TO the Emperor of his
crown to the nation Of one-third of her territory,
millions of ransom and indemnity money, the
devastation of vast tracts of rich country, the
ruin of her most magnificent and highly cherish
ed public structures, the demolition of the gran
deurs of her well-beloved Paris and the utter OBJ
liberation OF her splendid magnifcence that was
so dear to French pride.
Then the Empire of France wore about her an
atmosphere that awed the most of the world, that
supported all the pomposity of great, selfreliant
strength and greatness. She acknowledged no
superior and looked upon the mightiest King
doms and Empires of Europe as only her peers.
Now, she is stripped Of the symbols of her esten-
tatious pride and denuded of her wonted peerage
of European powers. A nudity of her former
self, national wreck on the strand of terrible
strife with her foes from without and greater
wreck from the more terrible strife with her foes
from within.
France What is she The pitiabe victim of
crazy-headed French fury, the legitimate Sc
quence of lack of moral sentiment resulting
from proper appreciation of the fact that the
stability of government is secure only in the en-
lightened affections of her people. Education,
both mentally and morally has been the nation
al neglect of unfortunate France. Sadly is she
paying the penalty now. It's true she has men
eminent in science in art, in politics, in all de-
partments of learning. These have been thor
oughly instructed in all the lore that the French
academy could bestow upon them. But they are
at the top of society. And even with this class
of people broad moral sentiment, sprnging
from the best attributes of the human heart, the
only legitimate basis for broad patriotism and
solid philanthropy, has never been correctly
appreciated by them or made an important ele-
ment in their training. While the great mass OF
the Communes-which means the masses Of the
people-have experienced a fearful lack of prop
er cultivation of either the heart or the mind,
the moral or the intellect. Their lack of educa-
ton begot in them lack of a proper understand
ing of French politics, the consequence Of which
was judgment-if their notions can be termed
such-altogether at variance with correct ap-
probation of what act on their part would best
promote the welfare of France. The terrible de-
struction of life and property by this class of
people in Paris in opposing the government of
Theirs bears ample testimony upon this point
These people had been educated by the policy of
Louis Napoleon to believe that it was the duty of
the government to give item employment and
at such wages as would be competent to furnish
the demands of their wh.ms about living. This
had been done by him so long that its conse-
quences in some measure forced him into war to
give employme.-.SA mass of people almost des-
stitute OF mcFa entiment. When the war closed
this class Of people iere out of employment and
because Theirs founi it impossible to comply
with their unreasonable demands to give them
living at the expense of the government they
took up arms against him. The struggle be-
tween them and him, between the government
and Frenchmen, whose ignorance and moral deg
radiation has proved its bane has shown the fear
full consequences of the governments criminal
neglect The Emperor sowed corruption and
France is now reaping its whirlwind.
Our rising Republic may learn lesson of
---:-rfom from the mournful wreck that France
presents to her gaze upon the strand Of time.