The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-04
THE REPUBLIC rs WAR.
From The N. Y. Times.

From the N. Y. Times
The interest in the election and the pro-
ceedings of the National Assembly, shortly to
be convened in France, becomes heightened
with every fresh revelation of how reluctantly
a large section of the Republicans have sus-
pended the armed conflict with Germany.
France can hardly be anything else but Re-
publican, even after the friends of the En-
pire have exhausted all their arts to secure
favorable representation in the Constituent
Assembly. But we have already very decided
Indications that the third republic will be
divided, not so much on the question of par
tial or radical change, not so much into So
cialists and moderates as into those who
favor policy of war and those who adhere
to one of peace. Gambettass has lost no time
in defining his platform to be one that shall
send France-like an sthlete-into training,
and that shall keep everything subservient
to the main purpose of developing sinews
strong enough to renew the death-wrestle
with the foe that now has her under
the heel. The question of questions
for France is, Shall the people endorse this
doctrine of the righteousness of revenge,
and shall they sacrifice all the fruits
of peaceful progress to this one object
of wipiDg out the shame of multiplied defeats
and frequent surrenders The platform of
the radicals of Lyons shows laudable effort
to associate ideas of universal peace and
brotherhood with the formation of nation
of soldiers, and the combination is but
another proof of how deeply the iron of
Prussian demands has entered into the
national soul, and how impotent are all spe-
oulative considerations to solace the wounded
honor of France.
To such signs of the temper of the new
Republic, Bismarck will probably point as a
justification of his policy of weakening g
France so completely that she cannot strike
again for some time to come. 1t is evident
enough that an open declaration of an inten-
tion to fight again at the earliest opportunity
will net tend to abate the magnitude of the
Prussian demands. If France must be
perpetually held by the throat like danger.
GUS cur, then Metz, Belfort, Strasbourg and
the Vosges are by no means too many
guarantees to hold for her good behavior
But, on the other hand, the very extent
to which Prussia is resolved to indemnify
herself in territory and treasure only helps tC
increase the soreness of the wound which re
mains in the side of her enemy, and is per
petual spur to her undying hate. After all
some mutual concession at the Forthcoming
negotiations that will attend the sittings O
the National Assembly may go far to avert tn,
terrible future for Europe that is involves
in the implacable hostility of France and Ger
many. The Empire compelled the natiol
to maintain the armaments of war ami
wears of peace, and 30 no one was found T.
mourn greatly over its fall. The republi
owes it to the progress and liberty it repre-
sents that it should preach nobler doctrine
than reprisal and unending war. Peace ha
its triumpbs, which afford a safer and sure
way to restore glory and happiness to France
and the Gospel rule that "They who tax
the sword snail perish with the sword, u
still as applicable to nations as to men. WI
terloo has been avenged in various ways thi
the veterans Of the First Empire neve
dreamed Of, Let ps trust that the people {