Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-01-25
Pere HYaQinthe ON tha War.

OlO iIJ ttcilt1lo uenNeESd dn duufoSS
at the Hanoverian Rooms, in London
on Dec. 20, on the war between France
and Germany. The room was densely
crowded, says the Echo newspaper, and
many were unable to gain admission
The Duke and Duchess of Argyll were
among the occupants of the platform
Pere Hyacinthe entered the room
about B o'clock, and was received witt
some applause. He was dressed in
black frock coat and suit, and wore
nothing to indicate that he belonged tc
any special order in the Church, or was
indeed minister of the Church Of all
HIS is rather under the middle size ano
of middle age, with regular and har
monious features, dark and pen
etrating. eyes and charming smile
After some preliminary remarks, he
proceeded TO say that if the Govern
ment of France had abstained from in.
terfering in the internal affairs of Ger
many-if it had abandoned the idea oi
acquiring what is called It's natural
frontiers, there would have been no
fear of aggression or invasion. We
have no interest, no right in preventing
the unity of Germany. The speaker
hClC BlOoGCottl W OltOW blldb UilC uDlUy
of Germany was promoted by the poll
cy Of the Empire in advocating the
unity of Italy, and he rendered Justice
to it for what it had done in this re-
spect. The unity of Germany and the
unity of Italy were results that existed
in the force of things, and could not be
resisted. But by dynastic influences
and the internal state of the EN-
pire forced the Emperor to yield
to the preiudices of certain
statesmen and publicists and to the pas
sions of the people. On the other
hand, as little interest or right had
Germanyin in opposing the greatness OF
France, as France in opposing the unity
of Germany. Yet Germany would
seem to have adopted towards France
after the disaster of Sedan, policy as
blind and as criminal as that which
France practised towards Germany.
Even the annihllation of France would
be but temporary. France would rise
from her misfortunes like Prussia her
self after Jena. A new France would
start from Sedan, and were Paris even
in ashes, it would have vengeance for
its soul and aspiration, and the end of
the century would behold even more
bloody scenes than it's beginning.
Germany was in the centre of Europe
a source of intelligence and civilization,
but there was danger if it gave itself
up to warlike traditions, the French
Empire of the secoud of December
would be followed by the German EN-
pire, of the 10th of December As to
the possession Of Alsace and Lorraine,
he regarded that as secondary ques-
tion. He did not think the possession
of one or two provinces more necessary
to the greatness Of France, though he
did not wish that they should be lost
to France. Some of his countrymen
had gone SO far as to say that if Alsace
and Lorraine were lost, France would
descend to the rank of a second-ratc or
third rate Power. SO thought England
when she lost Calais; but what English
man now regretted that Calais formed
portion of France? The real guaran-
tee for peace between Faance and Ger
many was not the possession of. one or
two provinces, but a sincere and loyal
| alliance of the two peoples. It had
been said that the Latin race was used
up. That was not So The Latin race
had fallen, but it would rise again. As
to the religious aspect, Pere Hya
cinthe maintained that there was as lit
tie necessary antagonism in the ques
tion OF religion as in politics The
time of religious wars had happily
passed away. A war of religion would
be an anachronism and an impossi
bility. With regard to the results O.
the war, he believed they would
be three. Germany would have a po
litical organization, body correspond
ing to it's intellectual and moral soul
she would be powerful focus of civil
ization in the heart of France pacific
and liberal. France would be restored
to.herself, the legitimate promises O.
her great revolution accomplished, an6
the reign of sophists and courtesans
abolished. The third result related tc
another country, which was equally his
not the country of his birth, but the
country Of his soul-Italy. Rome was
now free. The temporal power of the
Pope-useful, he freely acknowledged
in it's own age, and for particular stages
of Eropean society-had long outived
its time. 1t had crumbled away, and
he thanked God for an event that would
minister to the unity of Italy, to the re
generation of the Latin races. and
above all, to the reform OF the church
always dear to him-the Catholic
| Church of Rome.