Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-09-02
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING. SEPT. 2. 1871.
Hon. Frank M. Pixley's Visit to
Europe.

This gentleman on the occasion of his
return to San Francisco from his recent
visit to Europe, has in lecture given a
very interesting account of his travels,
with observations thereon, and as he is
fresh from the scenes of the exciting events
that have lately transpircd in Europe, We
deem it proper to briefly review the lead
ing features of his address. Arriving in
ireland, the first European land visited, he
gives it as his opinion that the repeal of
the law of primosenture, and the division
Of the property amongst the heirs, would
prove speedy solution of lrelaud's trou-
bles. According to Pixley, Irish grievan-
ces are capable of a very simple remedy,
and would easily yield to Republican treat
ment. England, he considers, has ceased
to be a nation of warriors that feeling
safe in the security of her sea-grt home
she would not be easily induced to accept
challenge. Her vulnerable part is repre-.
scented to be in the colonies and her com.
mcrcc, which she would strive her utmos.
to defend but, he observes, it is the enc.
my within her borders, rising from the in.
crease Of her population, the organization
Of intelligent working mon demanding
their rights against capital, and their op-
position to the ruling classes, that is such
a fruitful source of anxiety. England's
standing army Of 13O, 900 men, differed by
the gentry, with the rank and file culled
from the best of the working classes, is
spoken of in terms of denuncation, and as
ready to shoot down the masses in the
event of bread riot. Speaking of the
cathcdrals, his idea of the way they should
be disposed Of, shows that he has not the
organ Of veneration very largely developed,
for with reference to these grand old edit
ces with their historic associations, Mr..
Pixley is such unitarian that he would
have them turned into stone quarres, and
use the material for building school houses.
Abiding to France, he speaks Of the en-
thusiasm of the French nation on the dec.
aaratioa of war with Germany, of their
chanting the Marseilles, their belief in eel
ebrating the Fete Napoleon in the Untcr
den Linton, and of their gazing over the
map, pointing to the new boundaries re-
sulting from French conquest; and of the
fearful contrast to these high hopes and
expectations, and of how that Napoleon,
after the first baptism of fire in his encoun-
ter with Germany, discovered that he had
caught Tartar. Mr.. Pixley speaks of the
pitiful plight Napoleon was in after the
battle of Sedan, with foes in front and rear
in front the King of Prussia with his vic.
torious battalions, in the rear traitors to his
government. American sympathies are
spoken of as being all for Germany before
the fall of Sedan aud the surrender of Ma.
poleon, but that after that period, when
Paris had revolted against Napolcon's gov.
ernment established provisional govern.
ment, sent Jules Favre to treat for peace,
and no terms were agreed to, the feeling Of
sympathy was reversed and run with the
new republic. Mr.. Pixley, in abiding to
the inferiority Of the French army, and
their inability to contend with their foe,
represents the German soldiers as we'll dis.
ciplined aud as having made war their
study, whereas under the demoralixing re.
gime Of Napoleon rule the French officers
and soldiers had become effeminated By
the wine and women of the Cdfes. Fol.
lowing these observations arc commenta-
ries upon the fact that the French, during
the campaign, never won battle, and ex.
pressions Of surprise that even at the time
Gen. Trochu had 450, 900 men under his
command, at no one time we're more than
$4,000 brought into action. In reference
to tho motives and policy of the Commun-
iss, 10 says there will be difficulty in judg-
Ing fairly, Is their journals have been sup
pressed and their editors, killed or ,exiled.