Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-02-17

vadiug Prussia. Napoleon surrender
ed himself to their victorious armies,
but told them it was entirely his own
act, aud that the government he had
left In France would in no wise be
held responsible for 1.-THE plain
English of which seemed to be: l
have saved my own bacon by surren-
deriDg; but [ offer you no security that
France viii not carry en-. her project Of
marching to Berlin.
The Regency he left to represent
him at home was overthToWn, and
Provisional Government, with Jules
Favre a: its head, was hastily formed
to meet the exigences of the time. 1t
STYLES itself a republic; but the French
people have twice voted that they
would have Louis Napoleon for their
Emperor, and would sustain the con
stitution he had provided for them,
and thev have never rescinded that
vote. They have never voted for the
Republic, and have never been asked
to vote for it. Prussia agreed to put no
obstacles in the way of free and talr
vote of the Freoch people, even ~ the
provinces which they held by right OF
conquest But, for some reason OF
other, the Provisional Govern ment did
not choose to decide the question BY
an appeal to the people. Louis BlaDes
a conspicuous Republican, says he
thinks the people would not vote to
sustain the Provisional Government.
An odd sort of republic that jules
Favre. in his interview with Bismarck,
acknowledged that the government he
represented could give Prussia no Sc
euritv that France would keep any
treaty they might make. This placed
Prussia in a very perplexlnR dilemma.
She was very willing to receive propo'
sails for peace, which in common JUS
tice ought to have proceeded from the
nation that. without cause of Otfeuse.
made the war. But there was no gov
ernment that would hold itselfrespon-
sible for the observance of a treaty
According to the papers. Jules Fayre
thought the terms suggested by the
Prussian Government were not un-
reasonable; but, when he returned, his
associates secuted all pacific sugges-
tions. When fortune turned against
Louis Napoleon, he was loaded with
bitter execrations; not for his unprlD-
cipledproiect of invading Prussia, but
for the humiliation his defeat had
brought upun France At that mo-
ment France would have better con-
suited her own true dignity if she had
said to Prussia: "This war was an
unjust one Let us bring it to an end
on terms that will not be dishonorable
to either of the great nations unfortu-
nately involved in it." But France,
in renouncing her Devil, did not re-
nounce his works. She wrathfully
refused to treat for peace on any terms
go long as any PFussian remained on
the soil of France; which was much
the same as saying: 60 home with
your armies, and then we, will inform
YOU what compensation we will offer
for the slaughter of your people, and
the millions upon millions We have
compelled you to expend IN defense Of
your homes. Meanwhile, our march
to Berlin will remain an open ques-
ton What candid persons can
blame Prussia for not complying with
the arrogant demand to reliuqulsh the
advantages she had gained at such.ter-
rible cost, and march off without any
settlement concerning indemnity Tor
the past and security for the future (
Did the aggressions Of her restless
neighbor during a hundred and fifty
years render such a prospect very
hopeful one? judge that her chance
for security against maraudiDg incur
sions would be very similar to that of
the United States if she had with
drawn her armies from TIE South be-
cause the rebels refused to lay down
their arms until she had done so. Of
all nations upon earth. France has the
least right to call upon the world for
sympathy because her soil has been in
vaded in self defense, when her own
history is filed with her invasions OF
other countries for mere purposes OF
conquest. Some say Prussia is fighting
for conquest, but the charge seems to
me unjust She entered into the war
in defense of her own soil; and she
continues it until she can obtain a
guaranty against future depredations,
which France shows not the slightest
disposition to give When the brave
and devout Korner sacrificed his young
life to rescue Germany from the intoI-
erable tyranny of the First Napoleon,
he recorded iD his famous Battle
Hymn
This is no strife for worldly goodsl
The hottest defend we with our swords y
And that is to day the sentiment
which inspires the loyal heart of Ger
many.