Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-02-08

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The equalization Of Paris marks the
beginning Of a new historical epoch for
France, for Germany and for Europe
Henceforth, whether empire, kingdom
or republic, France will not be the
France Of the BOnapsrtes, the BOurbons
or the red republicans, but q new France,
governed by new IDEAS and = new rOtein
reference 20 European affairs. Com
pletely at the mercy Of the Emperor
William, We recognize the broad and
c-OmprehensiVe mind OF Count Bismarck
in the liberality OF his terms 10 France,
embraced in the surrender OF her capi-
tai. In his discretion the German con-
queror might have recalled the Bona
parties or the BourbOus but recognizing
the people in the foreground in France,
as in Germany, he has wisely granted an
-srnistice of t~Wenty-one days, during
which the French people, in the election
Of National Assembly, are to determine
for themselves the reconstruction OF
their government. Whatever this gov
eminent may be it is evident that Count
Bismarck is sure of its cOmplianee with
his terms Of peace, and that undo any
form thei immediate necessities OF France
will serve the ends Of Germany.
There is, too, q shrewd exempllhc2uon
of German good sense, moderation and
economy in their requiring the three or
four hundred thousand French soldiers
in Paris only to lay down their arms and
consider themselves as prisoners on
parole within the limits of the city, in
stead Of exacting the condition OF their
removal as prisoners Of war to Germany.
Thus, while in this graceful act the gen
eral feeling OF the Parisians will be soit-
ened toward the hated Prussian, a very
considerable sum Of money is 10
Germany. Indeed, in every respecItue
I moderation Of the Germans IN this cap
ture of Paris is q great Improvement
upon the examples of the first Napoleon
in Berlin, Vienna and other capitals re-
duced by him to the Illumination OF a
foreign master; and q great improve
ment. too, upon the occupation Of Paris
by the Allies in 1914 and 1915. This con-
cfliatory policy on the part OF the ter
mans win no doubt operate 70 their al
vantage in silencing the reds and IN
developing the elements OF common
sense both in the election and IN the de-
alterations OF the forthcoming French
National Assembly.
In any event the reconstructed France
of 1871 will be new France, differing in
many essentials from the France Of $50,
or of any other period, under Bourbon,
Bonaparte or republic. She viii be
shorn OF those eastern fortresses, and b
opposite Rhine valley, to and including
the Vosgsa range Of mountains, az least,
will be annexed to Baden, and this will
close the border gap and the temptation
to France TO enter it as a disturber Of the
peace. She will, in other words, be re-
moved entirely from the Rhine, and
will know henceforth that that bond OF
German unity must be respected. Apart,
however, from these material guaran-
I tees, Germany, for at least q quarter Of
century to come, from the convincing
lessons administered in this war, Will
have n peaceful neighbOr in France.
Down to the entente cordidte with Eng
land OF Napoleon III. the universal
French idea was the idea Of avenging
Waterloo. How long, then, will survive
the bitterness OF France against Prussia
and Germany in reference to MoeTthl
Sedan, S~trasbourg, Metz and Parisl II
may last for two generations II may
disappear with the present generation
The necessities which will compel
France, government and people, to look
to the ways and means for repairing
damages viii divert her attention n
her energies to new ideas, new measures
of reform in her military system and IN
her school system, 10 closer relations,
political and commercial, with the Wes-
tern Powers and with the United States,
and to the policy Of larger development
of her colonial forces and In
the general diplomacy of Europe her
future policy will not be aggressive, but
conservative; not dictatOrial, but re-
} spectful, to her neighbOrs; and moi for
: the extension OF her frontiers, but FOR
) the maintenance OF her established boun-
/ daries.
This radical transformation Of France
from a policy of war to the ways OF
peace will be to her an immense gain
The -dehaucheries OF war and conquest
. have beeuGthe ruin OF all the ruling
nations Of the Earth, from the ancient
, Assyrians and Persians down to the de-
; cline Of Spain, from the inVincible
Armada to the Spain Of the present day.
= We cannot believe, however, that the
active. Intelligent and industrious
, French nation is on this downward
course to ruin from the d. ~baucheries OF
the empire but thst France, from the
severe instructions of this war, Will be-
come a new France and great among her
rivals in 3 new career OF peace, and thal
Paris, in all the ennobling triumphs OF
modern civilization, will become more
than eyer the metropolis OF the civilized
{ world.
n The new Germany developed by this
war is the strongest power in Europe
Her military strength and her central
position considered, she may dictate the
: law to her neighbors, north, south, east
] or west. But the Germans, although
7 now proved the most warlike, are IN
2 truth the most peaceable and reasonable
i people on the European Continent. Fol
q hundreds Of years, from their absurd
divisions and subdivisions OF petty
: kingdoms and principalities, free cities
and what not, they haVe been the prey
= of France. But in counting upon the
P continuance of these divisions Louis
NAPOLEON committed his fatal mistake
He thus did the work for Germany / q
day which otherwise might have occu'
pied Bismarck to the end Of his lft
e without realizing the accomplishment o.
German unity. Thus war sometimes
V has this advantage over peace. IL cut,
n short all uuibbling and pettifogging anc
o bringH the interested parties directly (
: the main question. German unity L
q now a fixed fact, and the new Emperor
/ Of Germany may repeat, il he will, the
II imperial role Of ~Charlemagne. 1t doe
70 not appear, however, that he aims a
, anything more, territorially, than thos'
{, disturbing French provinces, in whole
It or in part, Of Alsace and Lorraine. UPor
% this basis we are prepared for peace.
: With Germany, then, rests the future
European balance Of power. The inter
II ests Of Austria, looking down the Dan,
ube, will attract her to Al alliance will
Germany; the interests OF England anC
France in the maintenance Of Turkey a
ic an independent State, will draw thos'
n Powers to an alliance with Germany
70 the King OF Italy, having lost the En-
peror Of France, Will now seek Tor
}; friend in the Emperor Of Germany ar
It the dear old Pope, the good but uniortu
10 nate Pho Mono. has already secured tn
friend who will see him righted in thu
n stout old German who was YESTERDAY
d onlV the King Of Prussia, But is to-day
the confirmed Emperor ofGermRny. w
II incline 20 the opinion, too, that this new
Germany will hold back Russia from
tE Constantinople, and that Russia vii
rs thus devote her attention less to thu
al Bosphorus and more to the development
10 Of her vast territories OF Asia, even Il
the Pacific Ocean. We believe, too
from what our travelling special CORES
Of pendent on the E~uphrates and in Persii
10 and in Asiatic Turkey has told US o
Il English and French enterprise in thosl
le regions-the cradle Of the human race
v the great centre OF the mighty nations
and races from which-Europe wa
peopled or oyerrun-we believe tina
e England and France will be active il
% calling to life again all those interesting
10 historical regions, from Jerusalem Z
N the sites OF Babylon and Ninevah, Babe
l. and the Garden Of Eden, to Persepoli
and thence 10 HindOstan.
le Such is the field Of thought open be
fore Us In Europe and in Asia from tn
t, issues OF this war in France; and all be
IA cause Louis Napoleon Of France, a