The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-14
evening Stats 9oarnal.
OUR GERMAN FRIENDS.


have reason to feel proud of the success of
their demonstration last night. 1t was
everyway success. We regret that the
invitation accorded to all nationalties to
participate was not more generally ac-
cepted. We should have been glad to
have seen the Custom-House illuminated,
and, as private parties, should have illu-
minated our own office had we received
any adequate notice. The close of great
war between two of the first powcss of
the world may vel, occasion of
public rejoicing. After months Of desola-
ton and ruin, the white dove Of peace
descends uFen The stricken lands. The
heroic dead are in their graves, and there is
mourning in many home. Fathers and
mothers, wives and maidens, old men and
little children, wait in vain for the unre-
turning feet. These mourners are not for
gotten, but yet we may rejoice From
millions of hearts, in palaces and in the
cottages of the poor, the load of anxiety
and nameless terrors, which made life
living death, has been lifted. The return
ing brave carry heaven to the depths of
peoples woe. Forgetting not tie
noble dead, mindful Of the stricken
living, yet we say, "Rejoicel" For France
because she has come out of the fiery fur
mace of war freed from the nightmare
which strangled her noblest aspirations,
shorn of the strength which she used only
for destruction, and purified, as we hope,
of the sensualism which was sapping her
life. From dust and ashes, where she sits
In chains to-day, she will soon arise, and
putting off her weeds, summon her mourn
ing people to found a glorious new EN-
pire, worthy of the dreams of pcets-a
France, whose liberty shall consort with
order, and whose equality and fraternity
shall open their wide arms to all nations
France which shall conquer poverty,
ignorance and superstition in her own
realms, and found her future upon the
enduring rock of intelligence, organized
industry, and universal good will Let US
rejoice for France, then, that the war has
ceased. Let her rejoice, also, at the splen-
did possibilities Of new future that the
war has opened to her.
Let us rejoice with Germany, that she
has been able to resist aggression, and
punish by its signal overthrow, the crimes
Of dynasty which crushed liberty at
home and menaced Europe with constant
war-a dynasty which, in the pride of its
power, defed God and repressed the best
aspirations of man, and became the foe OF
liberty and progress all over the world.
Let us rejoice that her success is the tri-
umph of universal education. of developed
industry, of public and private virtue, of
national unity, of the most advanced
civilization.
And on this account while we rejoice let
us take to heart the lessons of this wonder
full war-power. Germany has educated
her people more thoroughly than any 9TH
er nation in the world. She not merely
provides the best schools, but she protects
the right of the child to be educated
Thus, she gathers up and increases hun
dred-fold the spiritual energies of her
people. She protects and stimulates all
trades and industries, s,--thus making remit
nerative employment to all her people and
holding within herself the creative sources
of wealth.
| Finally, she enforces the sacred obliga-
ton of every member of society to protect
the common wealth, and prepares all to
discharge this obligation. There is no dis
tinction between rich and poor in the dis
charge of this highest duty of the citizen.
From the Crown Prince to the poorest
peasant, every German must expose him
fto the dangers and hardships of war
when the Fatherland is in danger.
Because Germany has recognized these
laws of growth, without which no state
can be safe, much less attain great place
in history, she has triumphed and stands
peerless in all Europe to-day. And we
rejoice that with her people everywhere
her triumph is our own. 1t lisa conspicu
Gus example, and a triumphant vindica
ton of the great measures of progress arie
amelioration now being agitated. ON
best minds are everywhere impressed wit /
the necessity of education of varied i'll
dustry, and military system which shal
save us the disgraceful spectacle of &C
cepting money in lieu of personal service
in war. We may well emulate German.
in these great features of her domestic
policy They belong not to her only, bu
are the conditions of healthy national lif
everywhere. We can never expect to attail
solidarity as nation till our whole peopl
are as thoroughly educated, and our do
mestc industries as fully developed. In
telligence and trade bind men togethe
with healthy adhesion.
We welcome to our land Germans an
German influences. We know what won
ders in science, philosophy and song, hav
been wrought in that old land we knoN
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