The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-01-21
French PrOS7lect.

French Prospect.
Still the terrible carnage in vine.clad France
and around gay Paris goes on. Still the genius
of victory refuses to perch upon French banners.
Still the success for which they have been vainly
looking and for which they have been confding
in special Divine interpositon in their behalf
does not crown the plans of her generals or the
valor OF her men. Yet there is a tenacity of
purpose and heroic determination among the
rank and file of the French people to retrieve
the damaged repute of the military skill of her
generals and the proud prestige of her once great
name. When one contemplates the manful en-
deavor the invincible purpose that characterizes
the provisional government and the stern devo-
ton of her men to vindicate French power and
prestige, he sees much to admire, much to excite
his sympathy, much TO make him enter into all
the feeling and humiliation that afflict French
pride and mortify French vanity. We feel as
though we could fully appreciate their humilia-
ted attitude before the political mind of Europe.
We can sigh with them over the devastation OF
their fair fields, over the demolition of their
thriving villages and towns, over the sad ruin
that reigns supreme in and about her ancient
and revered towns and public places of distinc-
ton in history and interest to the traveller.
Ruin, vast in its magnitude, devastation wide
spread in its ravages, humiliation, intense in its
character, almost incredible sacrifice in the loss
of lite, greater loss in the capture of men, the
dissertation OF their soil BY foreign foe, the
bombardment of their magnificent Paris-all, all
fail to subdue the heroic that strs French blood
or to tame the ardor that animates the French
breast. Defeat upon defeat in rapid succession,
| the compulsory surrender of large armies to a
foe whose power has hitherto been despised by
Them being pressed to what is considered a last
resort-the defense of their capital-seem not to
check their ardor or damp their devotion. They
seem only 10 have forced their herosm to the
boiling point. They seem to have involuntarjly
| determined to stand amid the crash of the ma
TONS falling fabric and be buried amid the rubbish
of its ruins rather than survive the wreck of hei
nationality and the national integrity at tht
hands of Prussian vengeance.
On the 9th, 10th, llth and 18th instants thu
Prussan batteries that have been pushing in the
French defenses around Paris were engaged in
vigorously bombarding the city. A very large
portion of the southern part of the city was sub
jected to the full play of twenty-one batteries
that poured incessent fire upon the city on The
afternoon of The 18th instant. The dispatches
say that the bombardment was terrible on thi:
occasion.
When Titus took Jerusalem in the roth year o.
so enraged that they lost all control OF themselves
set fire to their houses aud rushed frantcally into
the flames. Thousands thus put an end TO theiI
existence in spite Of the efforts of the Roman SOL
diery 10 prevent them from doing IT, The folly
Of the FFeneh people in suffering the lombard,
meat q their magnificent capitol betray spe-
eies q insanity that bears striking resemblance
10 thar which compelled the Jews to destroy
themselves IN the flames. II the war is prOsecu.
led-as il Wiil be-Paris must be laid in ashe.
and thea surrendered. Why not surrender il
aud save itG Why allow is destruction BY bomb.
shells We Sc no escape from this in the pres
ent aspect Of Affairs The conference Of the
great poweFs in London viii do nothing for ths
prssent French government because they hav'
already disEsgaFded Gambetta's game Of bluff
IL refusing 10 recognise the Republie-if such i
be-under bis direction, hat the government Of
the nation might be represented 10 the confer
ence. They, It seems, concluded that il was moi
essential that France should have her wishes con
suited ia the premises. Is it likely then tina
this conference win trouble itself to aid gov
eminent il does not think il worth while TO re
eognize II is idle to suffer bombardment will
the expectation Of holding out until aid can b
given TO reverse the veal Of her fortune.
Why then do they invite greater slaughter
more extensive expenditure of treasures great
er desOlation OF her fertile plains a more exten
ded Gripping of her industries? With idle looms
barren fields, silent workshops, unemployed
hammers, noiseess anvils, motionless spindles-
the legitimate sequences of devastating war;
will be long time before France can recove
from the blows that have been dealt her by tn
Prussian hand. If that hand is provoked t,
smite her still further, the time for recovery will
be prolonged in an inverse ratio to the addition
al smitings.