Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-02-08
&Ni CLEARFIElD PA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY s. 1871 NEW

army within the investing lines. Won
der Taun's defeat encouraged the
hope that France would be able to
turn tho tide of German success, but
the addition Of tho forces of the Red
Prince, with his army from Metz,
checked the advance Of Paladines,
while Mt the same timo the repalso of
the sorlies from Paris again threw a
dampcncr over French ardor. Again,
General Chanzy, the successor Of Pal
adincs, with the Army Of the Loire
considerably strengthened, moved on
to the rescue Of tho capitol, but the
defeat of Lo Mans again spread de.
moralization among the newly raised
armies Of republican France.
IL is evident, from the facts already
published, that Trochu relied 10 a
very great extent on tho success Of
the armies of the provinces. SO long
As he held out so long did he hold an
army of three hundred thousand men
in check. The armies Of tho proyin-
ccs, having failcd TO fulfill their part
in the great game Of war, have left no
alternative to Trochu but capitula-
ton. Much has been said Of his inca
pacity, his timidity and his Lack OF
courage to make one great struggle
with vast force TO break through
the lines. His failure to attempt this,
it is argued, implies weakness. 1t is
hardly possible, it is also contended,
that the German investment can be
so strong at all points that some
weak spot might not be found through
which the Army of Paris could push
and take TO the open country. But,
admitting that this weak spot had
been found, and that Trochu possessed
all the essentials necessary to secure
the success Of such movement, what,
in the name of common sense, could
he do in the field with an army lack
ing artillery, lacking cavalry, lacking
commissariat, halfstarvcd, poorly
clad, and with halfdisciplined men
opposed To the finest army in Europe
and commanded by the greatest cap
tain of the age? General Trochu has
done all that coald be done with what
he had at his command. Ho made
the most Of tho situation. lie CAV,
the armies Of the provinces time to or
ganizc. If he could not overcome i'm
possibilities let US not condemn hin
unjustly, but rather pity him for Tho
embarrassing position in which hi
was placed.
Dismi-sing the situation in Parii
with those views, let US look TO thl
provinces. OF all the chain Of for
lresses which guarded the Belgian
and Luxembourg frontier Longwy
alone remained in possession Of th'
French until Wednesday, when, aitoi
heroic struggle, II too surrendered
but not, however. until tho town wal
nearly destroyed, "The Iron Gate o
France" as Louis XIV. once termed
il, has been thrown open TO th'
f;ermans. nnd they hNe entered
Bourbaki in the east, Chanzy in th,
south and Faldherbc in the north still
preserve their armies aud hold thci
positions; but of what avail are thcs
considerations now, when the gran,
centre to which they all directed thci
efforts was becoming day by day NOR
inoileclivcG Famine stalks througl
the streets of tho capitol, and thi
dreadful ally of tho German Kaiso
will secure the terms of capitulatiol
which scarcely anything else coul,
command. With the fall Of Pari
falls France, unlcs. madness siezcs th
leaders in the pro nces TO urge th
people to continue Struggle which
hopeless, and tbs people are blin
enough to fOlhN ,u.h teachings -
France TO day IL helpless, and sh
ought to acknowledge it. 1t is th
duty of her lcadcrS not only to b'
licve that this is her position at pres
ent, but to teA the people Of Franc
that il is so. The dreadful TRACED
has drawn to clo>c, tho final scene
are being performed, and the impenC
4 ing capilulation of'Paris alone dcaly
the climax which is inevitable. Me-
York Herald.