The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-08
THE GROUND-SwELL IN EUROPE.

THE GROUND-SwELL IN EUROPE.
From the NJ Y, Herald.
The universal public sentiment of the
hour, not to speak of our specials of Tuesday
morning, show, first of all, that trouble is not
ended in France by the cessation of hostili-
ties, and secondly, that the peace of Europe
is not secured by the humiliation and defeat
of France. Just in proportion as the Ger
man pressure is raised from France, particu-
larly so does France, or rather Paris, reveal
its true character. In the capital city riots
have already taken place. 1t is not, in
fact, too much to say that France, now
giving evidence that she is at war with
herself, would have been nightly benefited
by prolonged German occupation. With
the single exception of the September
revolution, France has behaved we'll
upon the French people, aud the French
people, not being well able to help it, yielded
to the mastery necessity. But the strong
hand of the German has now released its
grasp. France breathes or thinks she breathes
freely, and, as is not unnatural, the factions
and the individuals resume the fight when the
common foe is gone. 1t was SO in our his
tory when the civil war was ended. 1t was so
in Mexico when the French retired. In our
case, happily, the strife that followed the war
was more individual than factional, and we,
in consequence, suffered the less. France,
however, promises to be Mexico, or rather
promises to revive the worst memories of the
first revolution.
The new government offers but little en-
couragement. M. Theirs was no doubt the
best man to fall back upon in the circum-
stances as the representative of law and order.
But NJ Theirs, as Chief Magistrate of France,
means trouble just as much as it means
peace. His position is i'll defined. We would
not say that we discover in him reactionist.
He belongs to none of the old parties. The
accurate and truthful record proves that he
has opposed the follies of the Bourbons time
and again, and, although his great historical
works on ''The French Revolution" and
''The Consulate and Empire" revealed much
admiration for the abilities of the First Ma
poleon, his later career has shown him upon
all occasions to be the opponent of the ex-
travagances of the Third. Long supposed
by superficial observers to be an Orleanist
enrdge, he is yet remembered as thorough
republican in 1S48-49, and of 80 decided
complexion that he was even then mentioned
for the Presidency. Since that time his voice
has been of no party, but entirely for France.
This incontestable fact leads us to hope that
the peace terms which have been obtained
through the wisdom of the present Chief
Magistrate of France may lead to q satisfac-
tory and durable peace. The prompt recogni-
tion of the French republic, in its revised and
improved form, by Great Britain, Russia,
Austria, Italy, the United States, and, as de-
spatehes now allege, by the Pope, greatly
strengthens the position of France, and ought
not to fail to have sedative effect upon ex-
cited popular passion Yet, as Mr. Odo Rus
sell some time since limited to the British
Government with regard to Southern Europe,
there is, evidently, deep, widespread and
menacing excitement among the masses below
the diplomatic surface, and if France does not
now behave we'll, France, and through France
Europe, may have some sad experience before
her.
Among the leading papers that come to us
the Journal de 81. PeterSbOury, the AHgemeiRe
Zeitung, the Kreu Zeitung. the Vienna
A6end- Post, the Independence Beige, the
| Brussels W0rd, the Florence Italia, the
Di9ftto, the Franch Constitutional, Journal
du HG0re, and Courier du HaUre-all let
their forebodings plainly appear. The Ger
man papers are, of course, much more eau
tious than the rest, but it requires no heavy
guessing to make out what they mean when
they refer to the depletion and mourning in
Fatherland, the dull prospects of the coming
summer, and the turbulent passions of the
multitude" The heavy and as some think
excessive demands of Prussia have aroused
the bad passions of the German democrats
But let any man in his senses endeavor to
calculate the loss, in every materisf-point ol
view, occasioned to all the laboring masses OF
Europe by this devastating conflict WhaI
labor, what seed, what ground is this new
year to begin upon, and who are to pay the
monstrous Eexaetions of the case on one
side and its requirements to meet those exac
tions on the other? Simply, there ascend,
all over the continent one loud wall of per
plexity and dismay from the toiling millions
The flesh and blood Of men will not be-
ignored, and all the gendarmes in the uni
verse can no longer neutralize what the ag'
and all its appliances have been diligently
and fervently at work so long to cement-tht
community of popular interests among al
peighboring nations; in word, ''the solida
rity of the peoples" France cannot bleed
without Germany, Britain, Scandinavia, Swift
zerland, Spain, Italy bleeding, and rice 0ersG,
and when that expenditure of blood comes
to be plainly recognized as a scourge for the
benefit of crowns and sceptres, only catas
trophe is at hand.