Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-03-08
Occupation and Evacuation of Paris.

Occupation and Evacuation of Paris
The great event Of the past week has been
the occupancy and evacuation of Paris by
the German troops. A brief account of the
tridmphal entry Of the conquerOrs of France
is published in another part of this paper.
This occurred on the first inst, and on the
third, the ratification of the treaty of peace
having been formally signed at Versailles,
the Germans evacuated the city and Prince
Frederick Charles retired Immediately behind
the Seine Various are the comments rela-
tive to this last turn of the screw by Empe-
tor William, upon the pride of subjugated
Paris, but all admit his right as a cOnqueror
TO do so. Whether a magnanimity that
would have caused him to refrain from doing
so, would have sent him down to posterity
greater hero than the scrutinizing historian
Will hereafter make him, cannot and will
not now be considered, separated from the
clement Of revenge which has outlived a Pc
Rod Of sixty years, since the first Napoleon
subjected Berlin to a similar humiliation.
There is something due to the veteran, who
for seven months has faced all the perils of
war, through the most active and bloody
campaign the world has ever known, when
he has accomplished the object of the contest.
Though a machine, as a soldier, he does not
SO far forget his individuality and manhood
as not to feel the rejoicings of victory within
his own breast That the Prussian soldier
wore his honors modestly and with good de-
pertinent during his short biyouac in the
Champs Elysees is well confirmed by the
dispatches. He dug hole in the ground in
which he lighted his fire, and from cross
sticks suspended his soup or coffee cans after
the manner of soldiers in camp outside of a
great city. His sightseeing was limited
outside the line Of demarcation, and when he
wished to pass that line, Offering friendly
hand for " shake" saying Now peace IS /
concluded we are friends he was repulsed |
with the reply: ave are conquered, but
with the conditions imposed by Bismarck we
can never be friends
The cordiality Of the reception is not new |
feature in conquered cities, as many will re- [
member who participated in such little cpl |
sodes during the late war of the rebellion.
In this respect New Orleans was particularly /
FreJchy, and history Of Paris during its
occupancy by the Prussians, is a reprint of
what was witnessed in the deserted B0ule-
wards and closed shutters of the former city,
only on a much grander scale-the difference
being the indignity of two millions instead
e l. IL. ID Pt,t
Paris has internal difficulties that are chronic
and have not been cured by the thorough
course of German treatment. The Red Re
pubicans are not yet Invested Of their power
Or their desire for mischief, and, if in the
unsettled state of affairs they do not inaugu
rate another carnival Of blood, it will be be-
cause their ability to do so is not equal to
their traditional intent.
The immediate future of France is full of
interest. With her territory reduced, she
now takes rank below the Empire of Ger
many in both square miles and population
W it'll a controversy between the two branches
IF the House Of Orleans, Republican form
IF government established by those who are
-eputed its opponents, and with the bloody
action whose hands are always raised against
my form that means law and order, there is
complication which may well challenge the
best efforts of the greatest statesmen Of any
age or country.
The preliminary articles Of peace signed
by NM. Theirs and Favre on the part Of
France, and Bismarck, Bray, Wachter, aud
Jolly on the part Of Germany, provides as
follows
The line Of the demarcation between France
and Germany, as at first proposed, is retained,
with one exception. 1t commences in the
northwestern frontier at the Canton of Cat
tcnom in the Department of the Moselle
runs thence to ThiOnville, Briery and Gore
skirts the southwestern and southern bound
aries of the reimbursement Of Metz thence
proceeds in a direct line to Chateau-Salins.
and at PettOncourt in that reimbursement,
turns and follows the crest of the mountains
between the valleys of the rivers Seille and
Vez0uze, in the Department Of Muerthe, to
the Canton OF Schirmeck, in the northwestern
corner of the Department of the Vosges
thence it runs to Saales, dividing that Com
mune, and after that comedies with the
western frontiers of the Upper and Lower
Rhine Departments until it reaches the Can
ton Of Belfort thence it passes diagonally
to the Canton of Dele, and then terminates
by reaching the Swiss frontier. ii
An alteration made at the last moment in
these boundaries gives Belfort to France,
and cedes additional territory around Metz
to Germany.
Germany is to possess her acquisitions
from France in perpetuity.
1t is agreed that az soon as the prelimin-
aries are ratified the Germans shall evacuate
the Departments of Calvados, Arne, Gorthe,
Eure-et-LoIre, Loriet, Loire-et-C Cher, lndre-
ct-Loir and Yorme, and all territory on the
left bank of the Seine. The French troops /
will retire behind the River Loire until peace
is finally declared, except from Paris and
other strongholds.
After the payment Of two millards, the
Germans will occupy only the Departments
of Marine, Ardennes, Hart-Marbc, Meuse,
Vosges, Muerthe, land the fortress of Bclfort
Germany will be open to accept suitable
financial instead of territorial guarantees for
the payment of the war indemnity.