The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-02-03
who have heroically died at their posts
in the conscientious discharge of their
d,Itv
The War.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
At no previous time since the com
mencement of the war has the cause of
France seemed in so desperate condi-
ton as it would appear by the late adj
vices. When the Emperor surrendered
himself at Sedan, the disastrous day for
him was, in many minds, propitious
one for France. The impression in this
country, at least, was that the war was
one of Louis Napoleon's seeking, and
that, with his fall, it would soon be
brou ght to close. The Emperor HIM
self declared that it was popular war |;
that it was one into which he was driven
by the demands of the French people.
Certainly events since have not refuted
this declaration. For there is not in all
history the record of hostilities more
gallantly maintained against repeated
and continuous defeat Whatever may
be alleged of the inefficiency of the
French new levies whatever may be
deduced as to their conduct in battle,
from the circumstance that victory is q
stranger to their arms in this struggle !;
there is one consideration which indi-
Gates anything but deficiency in cour-
which the French forces have returned
to the contest when all the antecedants
of the war have almost assured them of
defeat. They have fought with desper-
alton. Their long roll of dead and
wounded shows desperate spirit Of re-
sistance. All this would seem entirely
confrmatory of Napoleon's declaration.
Had it been contest into which the
Imperial Government forced the nation,
certainly that nation, while destroying
his images and defacing his effigies,
would have discarded his measures.
Napoleon is declared deposed. But the
war has been maintained with extraor-
binary vigor, and Paris has submitted
to siege in spirit which should dis
prove the charge that the French are
incapable of endurance. The French
people have in this persistence vindicat-
ed the declaration of the Emperor that
the war was not an Imperial, but ma
tional undertaking.
What possible reserve of expedients
Trochu may have how "out Of the net
tie danger he may pluck the flower
safety ;" what supreme expedient he
may have left for the last crisis, cannot
be imagined. The probable state of
things is, that he has no latent resources
or untried expedients, but that the
struggle is now one of simple despera-
ton. TO all the other disadvantages
must be added the fact that Paris can
not act in concert with the nation out.
side of its Notifications. The city lies
entirely at the mercy of the besiegers,
unless the French forces outside can raise
the siege. Of this the defeat of Chanzy
leaves no hope. The sorties of the gar
rison of Paris are only b.ave, but use
less rushes upon death or defeat. Mean
while the rain of projectiles from the
Prussian batteries is destroying the lives
of soldiers and non-combatants alike,
and the treasures of art and the tri-
umphs of peaceful science are reduced
to wreck, less sad only than the loss
OF life and the ruin of the people for
generations. Everything now indicates
such national humiliation and com.
plete conquest as takes the memory
back centuries for its parallel. Even
peace now would seem to introduce do
mestic anarchy as the ruinous compile
ment of foreign war. If ever there was
time for the decided Intervention of
the other European powers, the present
is such time. France should be saved
from suicide, and made to understand
that her anomalous position relieves
her from further hopeless resistance.
And Prussia should be induced to with
hold blows upon a fallen antagonist too
madly brave to confess defeat. AS it
is, fearful amount of national enmity
is garnered, even should the war now
cease and every days continuance
adds to the dreadful legacy of hate
which both Prussians and Frenchmen
will bequeath to the coming generations.
PARIS FARE-The Patrie gives list of
Paris prices on the 18th inst: Asses
flesh was Of per pound mules, ditto a
cat, ST; a dog, 10f; duck, 20f chickens,
l5f; mutton kidney, IF; mutton outlets,
If Soc; eggs, If each butter, l5f to 2Of
per pound sausages, SOC each turkey,
30f; goose, 40f; pike, 25f; leg of mutton,
l2f; coffee, ST per pound; sugar, soc /;
salt, If SOC; pepper, If SOC lard, salad
oil, ST; lamp oil, 2f SOC; candles, 2f.
The restaurants, it adds, we're open as
usual, the only difference being that,
while fowls, mutton and beef were still
eaten in the first-class ones, the flesh of
horses, asses, and dogs was consumed in
second rate, and cat and rat in small es-
adjustments. Some restaurants give
their customers the choice of chicken
wings, fillets of ass, and legs of rats.
At one time the vendors of singing
birds, domestic and foreign, tried to in
troduce taste for them among the
Parisians, but there was such a burst of
indignation and such horror expressed
by the ladies that. the idea was aban-
doned. Almost everywhere, according
ly, birds, whether at liberty or Gagged,
continued to sing without molestation.
SCIENTIFIC KNowLEDGE.-Lord Palmer
ston, it is stated, diligently read, and, so
far as he could, mastered the scientific
publications of his time, and kept pace
with all modern discoveries. Some
critics think that the scientific bent of
his mind was no advantage to him as a
stofacpnon A cnupIar onipiop 10 that