The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-31

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whether empire, kingdom or republic, France
will not be the France Of the Bonapartes, the
Bourbons or the red republicans, but new
France, governed by new ideas and a new role
in reference to European affairs Completely
at the mercy of the Emperor William, we
recognize the broad and comprehensive mind
of Count Bismarck in the lberality OF his
terms to France, embraced in the surrender OF
her capital In his discretion the German con-
queror might have recalled the Bonapartes or
the Bourbons; but recognizing the people in
the foreground In France, as in Germany, he
has wisely granted an armistice of twenty-one
days. during which the French people, in the
election of National Assembly, are to deter
mine for themselves the reconstruction OF
their government Whatever this gov
eminent may be it is evident that Count
Bismarck is sure of it's compliance with his
terms of peace, and that under any form the
immediate necessities of France will serve the
ends of Germany.
There is, too, shrewd exempliacation of
German good sense, moderation and economy
in their requiring the three or four hundred
thousand French soldiers in Paris only to lay
down their arms and consider themselves as
prisoners on parole within the limits of the
city, instead of exacting the condition of their
removal as prisoners of war to Germany
Thus while in this graceful act the general
feeling of the Parisians will be softened
toward the hated Prussian, very con-
siderable sum Of money is saved to Germany.
Indeed, in every respect the moderation of
the Germans in this capture of Paris is
great Improvement upon the examples of the
first Napoleon in Berlin, Vienna and other
capitals reduced by him to the humiliation of
foreign master; and a great Improvement,
too, upon the occupation of Paris by the
Allies ia 1914 and 1915. This conciliatory
| policy on the part of the Germans will no
doubt operate to their advantage in .silencing
the ''reds" and in developing the elements of
common sense both in the election and in
the deliberations of the forthcoming French
National Assembly.
In any event the reconstructed France of
1871 will be new France, differing in many
essentials from the France of 1870, or of any
OtucI pcLlOuy uuucE bOuIUou, DOudpdItC VI
republic. She will be shorn of those eastern
fortresses, and the opposite Rhine valley, to
and including the Vosges range Of mountains,
at least, will be annexed TO Baden, and this
will close the border gap and the temptation
to France to enter it as disturber Of the
peace. She will, in other words, be removed
entirely from the Rhine, and will know hence
forth that that bond Of German unity must be
respected. Apart, however, from these mate
rial guarantees, Germany, for at least a quarter
of century to come, from the convincing les
sons administered in this war, viii have
peaceful neighbor in France. Down to the
entente cordiale with England Of Napoleon Ill.
the universal French idea was the idea Of
avenging Waterloo. How long, then, will
survive the bitterness of France against Prus-
STA and Germany in reference to Woerth, Sc
dan, Strasbourg, Metz and Paris? 1t may last
for two generations; it may disappear with
the present generation. The necessities which
will compel France, government and people,
10 look to the ways and means for repairing
damages will divert her attention and her
energies to new ideas, new measures of reform
in her military system and in her school sys-
TEN, to closer relations, political and CONNER
cial, with the Western Powers and with the
United States, and to the policy of larger
development of her colonial forces and re-
sources. In the general diplomacy OF Europe
her future policy will not be aggressive, but
conservatives; not dictatorial, but respectful,
to her neighbors; and not for the extension Of
her frontiers, but for the maintenance of her
established boun daries
| This radical Transformation Of France from
a policy of war to the ways of peace will be
| to her an immense gain. The debaucheries of
war and conquest have been the ruin Of all the
ruling nations Of the Earth, from the ancient
Assyrians and Persians down to the decline Of
Spain, from the invincible Armada to the Spain
of the present day. We cannot believe, how
ever, that the active, intelligent and industrious
| French nation is on this downward course to
ruin from the debaucheries of the empire
but that France, from the severe instructions
of this war, will become a new France and
great among her rivals in new career of
| peace, and that Paris, in all the ennobling tri-
umphs of modern civilization, will become
more than ever the metropolis Of the civilized
world.
The new Germany developed by this war is
the strongest Power in Europe. Her military
strength and her central position considered,
she may dictate the law to her neighbors, north,
south, east or west. But the Germans
| although now proved the most warlike, are in
truth the most peaceable and reason
| able people on the European Continent.
For hundreds Of years, from their absurd
divisions and subdivisions of petty kingdoms
and principaities, free cities and what not,
they have been the prey of France. But in
counting upon the continuance of these