The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-03-16

Growing Of Victory.
The Germans have entered Paris.
The Parisians have not behaved so
badly as some have been trying to make
believe they would. The Germans have
had their triumph-a triumph which
high philosophy must despise: but,
things being as they are, it is gratifying
to know that the affair went off in such
manner as revealed fair amount OF
common sense on both sides. The Ger
mans are in Paris, and Paris is not in
flames. The Germans have had their
triumph-a triumph to which they were
fairly entitled; but Paris, so far as we
know the facts, has yielded to the infu-
ence Of wisdom and has given proof that
she was not, after all, a bad representa-
tive Of the concentrated common sense OF
the world.
So far as this is good. But the news
from Bordeaux is more important than
the news from Paris. 1t is we'll known
to our readers that the National Assem-
bly, appointed NJ Theirs and Jules Fay
re to act as representatives for France
at the Prussian Court Of Versailles
that 81. Thiers and Jules Favre i'll their
difiulties had the assistance of a large
Consultative Committee, and that these
conjoint powers were authorised to sign
the preliminaries of peace. The prelim
inaries of peace agreed to by M. Theirs
and NJ. Favre, we now know, endorsed
by the Consultative Committee unani-
mously, have been accented by the Ma
tional Assembly by an overwhelming
majority. The most important points
are thus gained-Paris has not gone
mad because her Germon conquerors
have insisted on seeing her beauties, and
the National Assembly has not rebelled
against the German terms of peace. In
other words, the Germans are now IN
Paris and France has accepted the ar
engagements made by NJ NJ. Theirs and
Favre and the Consultative Committee
Of the Assembly.
Few, very few who have been stu
dents of this war from its commence
ment until now, viii be sorry that things
are as they are to-day.
The war is ended. The line is drawn
between the past and the present; and
new era for Europe and the world offers
itself for our consideration. In SO far as
the past is concerned, no one can refuse
to admit that France has had her desert,
and that the Psrisians, properly so
called, have no cause Of complaint. The
French people made this war necessity
even more than the foolish traditions
associated with the House of Bonaparte
or with the first Republic. The ne
cessity was French and French only.
The result ofssthe war has proved that
if France had been wise she would have
recognized no such necessity. Germany
was not interfering with France or
French affairs when the elected chief OF
the French people declared war upon
her. As France began the war France
has no reason to complain that the war
has turned out to her hurt. War Is al
ways, or ought to be, doubtful game,
and those who proclaim it ought to be
prepared to abide by the consequences.
For the third time in less than sixty
years Paris is occupied by the stranger
and the conqueror, But Paris has no
just cause to complain. The Parisians,
like the rest OF France, were responsible
for the war; If France had been sue
cessful, the Parisisians, like the rest Of
France, would have insisted not only on
the acquisition of territory, but on the
right of the French army to enter Ber-
lin. If Paris to-day is partially in the
hands of the invader the Parisians ought
to remember that the time has been
when they had not mercy on Rome, on
Milan, on Vienna, on Berlin, and on
Moscow of painful memory. The tables
are turned. but the French people as
whole, and the Parisians as unit, have
no good reason TO object to the principle
whatever they may think of the fact.
All things considered, they ought rather
to be graf eful than otherwise for the
comparative clemency Of the conquer
or.
The humiliation of France, now &C
cepted by the National Assembly, opens
up questions which are full of interest
to all men everywhere who take any
interest in the welfare Of nations and
the future mankind. 1t is not to be
denied that. unless some unforeseen cir
cumStances should arise. France must
be contented for at least half a century
to take secondary place in the Euro
pean system Of nations. France under
Napoleon III. made Italy great nation
The policy that made Italy great. hum
bled Austria, the rroudest for many
centuries Of all European monarchies,
and gave Prussia her opportunity.
Italy issa powerful unit. Austria is no
longer at the mercy Of France. Ger
many by the help of Prussia, has found
that autonomy for which fer many years
she has been signing and dying. The
enormous strength which Germay has
developed pushes Russia completely in
the background. This war has, in fact
not only altered the complexion of Eu
rope, but changed the destinies of ma
tons aud materially affected the future
history of the world. 1t is fair. we
think, to say that as an aggressive mower.