The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-20
PARALLELS IN HISTORY.

The following translation of an article from
the December number of the German monthly
DdheSm is interesting at the present
moment
1t is both instructive and consoling some
times to turn our glance backward from the
present into the past It clears our judgment
concerning passing events, and enables us to
look forward to the future with more hopeful
courage.
There are few to whom the depressing
thought has not occasionally come, in looking
at the terrible sacrifice of life and property
caused by the war of 1870, that mankind after
all does not make much progress in civiliza-
tion, and that Christianity seems powerless
to stay the evil passions of nations or Of indi-
viduals.
Statistics, however, show that, notwith-
standing the change made by the use of fire.
arms, the wars of former years have been more
destructive than the present one. 1t will not
be improbable to let history speak upon
these questions a moment. To compare the
Thirty Years War with that of 1S70-the
one bringing disgrace and misery to the
Fatherland, the other showing the glorious
spectacle of a powerful, united Germany
There we see Gustavus Adolphus, noble and
pious, indeed, but foreign prince hasten
ing to the aid of Germany, and laying down
his life for the cause of Professionalism. Here
we have our own Prince Frederick Charles,
successor of the "naturalheir" of that Swedish
king-Frederick Charles who has wiped away
the shame of 1862, and recovered the posses
sions stolen by France. Yet it may be said
that while these are indeed national sue
cesses, rejoicing the heart of the patriot, they
also bring in their train much that is sad to
the friends of humanity. Let us continue
our comparisons. See lilly, in the former
time of which we speak, making his entry
into Magdeburg over the bodies of the dead
and wounded of his enemies Read in Schil-
ler's "Thirty Years War" of these scenes,
and then look at Strasburg and Metz! How
mild the fate of these last places when seen
in the light of those other days Look
at another scene See the French
general, in his dark blue cloak,
approaching the conquerer of Metz to an
nounce to him the arrival of the French
Guards, now prisoners of war. The French
Ouirassiers follow him, in their red cloaks,
while in the background stand the German
dragons, drawn up in line. The whole scene
speaks of gentleness and forbearanoe towards
vanquished foe: he is deprived of nothing
but his arms, and the officers are even
allowed to carry their swords. And when
they are removed to Germany, it will be in
the same manner in which our own troops
are transported. How absurd would such
treatment of prisoners have appeared to
lilly In his day they were deprived of
everything except mere clothing to cover
them common prisoners were bound to-
gether, two and two, by the arms, and
even the fastenipgs of their
garments were so far removed
that the free hand had to be used to hold up
their trowsers. The fate of conquered cities
was everywhere like that of Magdeburg-in-
discriminate slaughter, violation of women,
horrible destruction and desolation. Even
those cities which opened their gates without
opposition to the enemy had no better fate.
They were often set on fire, their trees cut
down to be used for fuel, their libraries ram
sacked for treasures-ay, and even sacred
things were not spared, for the organs and
bells of the churches were frequently de-
stroyed. Compare this with the conduct of
our soldiers at st. Cloud, for example, where,
at the risk of their ives they carried some
valuable art-treasures to place of safety.
And when Metz fell, provision-trains from
Germany stood ready to feed the starving SOL
diers of the hostile army and the citizens of
the place, and scarcely had our troops en-
tered the city before postal, telegraph,
| and railroad facilities were re-established.
Shall we go on to speak of the care of
| prisoners of war in Germany-of the nursing
of wounded Frenchmen by German surgeons
and German women-yes, and with few ex-
| ceptions, of German prisoners and wounded
men in the hands of the French !? Are not
these things evidences of the progress of
mankind and the influences of Christianity
Much has indeed been done on the other
side to remind us of the darkness of the
seventeenth century, and we dare not think
| how it would have been had our enemies
conquered, but God has given us the victory,
aid bas shown as that He intends the true
| advancement of the race through these
| events.