Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-02-01
lGalnhman s. journal.
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY I, 1871.
TErvs-t 2no per year strictly in advance, or t2iO
ifuot paid within three months
Capitulation of Paris.

bardmcnt The event has been long expected
and long delayed There can be no doubt
that the suffering Of the population was in
tense, and that they submitted only to impc.
rous necessity The fall Of the city is a fitting
finale to this war. The harmones Of history
would not have been observed had not this
magnificent and sensuous creation Of the Ma.
polconic dynasty have fallen with it. Mod.
em Paris, with It's bouevards aud palaces
and gardens aud parks has reflected largely
the genius Of the Emperor. 1t has been re-
constructed at an immense cost for the pur-
pose chiefly Of defending the government
against the revolutions Of the mob There
are the evidences Of his sybaritic nature in all
It's scnsuous spleudors, aud proofs Of his fears
Of the popuIace in its military arrangements
lie certainly never expected that Paris could
be taken by foreign foe. 1t was his object
to make it impregnahle against itself, against
It's own oxcitabo and ungoycrnable mobs
But the thing which his pride would never
permit him to fear, has come upon him, and
his fall ftingly drags with it the imperial
city
On Sunday last the Germans occupied all the
forts, the army surrendered, an armstico was
concluded, to extend to all the forces by land
and sea- to furnish opportunity to France to
elect constituent assembly to represent the
nation and conclude terms Of peace 1t is
possible that the assembly may be controlled
by iauatical men and that the war may be
renewed ON the termination Of the short armis-
tee. But it is hardly probable that France,
with seven hundred thousand men now captves
Of war, with two hundred thousand more killed
or wounded and rendered incapable ofseryice,
with all the North Eastern provinces and the
capitol in the hands Of its enemy, will consd-
er that it is in any condition to protract the
struggle. However bitter the defeat row, it
would only be ten fold more bitter if the
contest was continued. France cannot be so
frenzicd as to dream of prolonging the war.
She would only prolong her miseries, and
render the result more tragical and terrible
Ii is useless however to predict what
France will do The events Of the next
thirty days will be likely to falsify nearly all
conjeciures That Germany will insist upon
indemnity and some absolute guarantee against
future inyasons We may be confident. That she
desires peace is also very clear. The earnest
ness Of her desire will have something to do
with the terms upon which she will insist
/ We incline to the belief that she will be as
great and magnauimous in making peace as
she has been terrible in making war. The
blood Of Germany runs in Bismark's veins,
and while he will hold firmly to the end he
has proposed, of securing Prussia against
future attack, he will not be wanting in con-
ciIiatory sentiments and action.
The problem of the French future is a more
difficult one Rcsentful against the empire
and Incapable Of republic; in love with i'm
perial splendor and show, and contemptuous
of the simplicity Of popular institutions al.
ternatng between the stiflest medieval ideas
Of government and the most frantic radical
notions it is impossible even to guess what
France will come to when she returns to the
duties of peace and the task of reconstructng
the social and civil affairs of the State. She
can never regain her lost position without
adopting the very principles which have made
her conqueror so great. She must have a
system Of universal education which recognizes
and starts from the ethical teachings OF the
Bible, and a complete separation Of Church
aud State, Of civil aud ecclesiastical functions
aud Offices. The State religion of France has
heretofore condemned as heresy and Il
plague, freedom of worship freedom Of the
press, and secular instruction which recognizes
the authoritative teaching Of the Divine word
in morals. Hence France has suffered more
than any other country from relaxation Of
morals. Luxury has eaten out the heart of
the nation and courtesans have presided over
its social life. She needs then something to
give back to her "chaste women and brave
men"
The fall Of France is one of the most i'm
pressiye events in all history. With it goes
the ancient supremacy of the Latin race.
That race has ruled the world since Romulus
and Remus were sucked by wolf On the
ruins Of imperial Rome whose traditions and
codes run through our modern jurisprudence
and government, arose the wonderful aud
massive structure of ecclesiastical Rome. She
has ruled the world like her secular predeces.
E sor, with an iron sceptre Aud now for the
first time in fifteen centuries her power is
broken and she bewails her lost sovereignty
Her eldest daughter and bravest defender lies
at the feet Of the conquerng Teuton, The
orb of Teutonic and Saxon sovereignty is
crescent. Tho capituation Of Paris terminates
that most remarkable series Of events which
the world has ever witnessed by which
/ Caesarism in Church and State has been
. overthrow, and the Latin race, which has b eel
g its representative and exponent, passes from
the front to the rear Of the conqueriug races
We shall watch the developments of peac,
with more interest than we have traced til,
= progress Of the war. 1t is not possible thai
the relative position of the nations and race,
that have been affected by the war can now b,
4 changed, but it is possible that these event.
o may result in the civil and spiritual deliver
I ance Of Italy in the reformation and renova
, ton Of French society, and be the commence
] ment Of the regeneration of the Roman Cath
/ Ollie church; and no lover of humanity bu
i must desire that the woes Of this bloody wal
j should have this threelold compensation.
a ~ If Congress should now refuse to pas,
b the new postage bill and abolish the franklin,
privilege, we shall think its members ar
more faithful to their own interests than /,
= the welfare Of the people they were chosen 4