Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-31
The Armis1ice bal Frnnee.

The Armistice in France.
The surrender of Paris will, undoubtedly,
close the war between France and Germany
Some of the dispatches say, it settles nothing
politically, but this is a mistake. 1t settles and
makes certain, that the people of France shall
have an opportunity to speak for themselves,
through constituent assembly; and this part
OF the arrangement seems due to Bismarck. He
told Begnier, the officious Frenchman, the
other day, that he wants somebody with whom
he can negotiate; and he proposes to find this
necessary party, by having the French people
elect representatives TO speak for them. Gam
beta and his associates have persistently re-
fused to hold such an election, because they
knew that constituent assembly representing
the nation, would quickly set them aside and
put very different men in their places. Tney do
not represent France, and have not dared TO
give the people an opportunity to organize a
new government. In fact, their organs have
declared explicitly, that universal suffrage"
could not be trusted, because it would set aside
their declaration of a republic.
Bismarek's successful persistence in demand
ing constituent assembly is sufficient reply to
the allegations that the Prussians were con-
spring with the Bonapartists to restore Louis
Napoleon. 1t is manifest that the Prussians
care very little who rules France or what form
of government the French may adopt, provided
they can find somebody with whom to negotiate
a peace, and that they can see no better way to
peace than that which will be opened by the
election of an assembly that can speak with au-
thority for the French nation. There will, q
course, be in the election great struggle of the
different parties for the ascendency in that as
sembly. The Bonapartists, the Orleanists, the
sensible republicans, and the insane socialists
and destructives, viii all appear in the field; but
they will not be equal in strength The social
lists and other "reds" will have verv Few votes
out of Paris, Marseilles, and some of the other
large towns. The more rational republicans
have larger constituency; but, the proceedings
of the provisional government have weakened
their influence. They will be unable to get con-
troll Of the assembly. Most of the better class
of thinking men in France aie either orleanists
like Theirs or republicans like jules Favre. The
Bonapartlsts, generally, are Adventures, and
the "reds" are anarchists and destructives.
The Bonapartists are active and INSCRIPTIONS
They will do anything and promise anything to
get votes for their candidates; and they have, 10
aid thcm, the circumstance that the Empress
Eugene is popular in France, especially with the
Catholic clergy and those whom they influence;
but, they have, also to deal with the trouble
some fact, that Comparison is dead in France,
while Louis Napoleon is generally regarded as a
very poor creature. The Bonapartists will
doubtless, propose to declare the prince imperial
emperor, with the Empress Eugene as regent.
Meanwhile, the Count de Paris, now head of the
house OF Orleans, is greatly respected in Franc
on account of his personal character, his intelli-
goDce, and the liberality of his political views
so far as they have been made known; and he,
too, is acceptable to the Catholic clergy and
is more likely than the Bonapartes to have their
support. 1t seems impossible for the French
people 10 allow another restorationo OF Bonapart-
ism. Therefore, we may see the constituent as
sembly organize a constitutional monarchy and
restore tine Orleanists; but the armistice lasts
only three weeks, and as the constituent assem-
bly, is TO be elected and assembled, as soon as
possible, We shall soon know who will control it,.
The war so wantonly declared by Louis Ma
poleon, the corps legislatif, and the Paris mob,
has been very disastrous and humiliating 10
France; but il has shown the world some things
which were not before seen so clearly 1t has
disclosed the rottenness of the empire and the
incapacity Of its supporters; and it has brought
more distinctly TO view the difficulties that
obstruct all attempts to organize France as
fPnubfe None prv Ouf az IL % H.
as the French "reds," and no Others do so much
TO make republic impossible. Their aim is TO
rule or ruin. Their only conception of a re-
public is their own supremacy supported by
power that can force all France to submit TO
their will. 1t is not surprising that their infu-
ence has spread in the country an active fear OF
republican form of government. But the
great mass Of the French people lack the habit
of managing their own political affairs, for,
under all the forms of government that have
ever been organized at Paris, the most despotic
centralism in Europe has remained in full force,
and has been as much used by republicans as
by imperialists.
1t is not likely that the French will be disposed
to renew hostities. Therefore, it appears GER
tain that the arInstice will lead to treaty of
peace, and that the French win accept terms by
which the German "Watch on the Rhine" will
be relieved. Those old German provinces, Al
SAGE and Lorraine, will cease to be French terri
tory, and become once more provinces of Ger
many. 1t is now scarcely six months since the
War began; and yet the Germans have defeated
and captured the armies of Louis Napoleon,
taken him prisoner, overthrown his empire, de-
feated and scattered all the new armies of the
French, captured Paris, and convinced even
GambetTa, that they can not be driven out of
france. They desire peace and mean to have it
on their own terms, believing they have won the
right to prescribe the terms. Will these terms
lead to another war, in the future, as bloody as
this2 Those who come after us will see; but
generation, at least, will pass away before the
French will he likely to undertake another mill
tary promenade to Berlin.