The New York herald., 1871-02-09
A More Hopeful Prospect for France

which is sapping its very core.
A More Hopeful Prospect for France.
Although at the present writing we have
had no intelligence concerning the elections
held in France yesterday the dispatches pub
lished this morning are of such pacific tenor
that we feel hopeful that the voting was
free and the voters unrestricted by any
arbitrary DEGREES. The removal or resig-
nation of Gambetta and the appointment
OF Arago In his place, as Minister of the
Interior, are significant events. They show
that the Paris government is determined to
enforce its authority throughout France, and,
unless the Reds resort to violence to attain
their ends, we are sanguine that the result Of
the firmness exhibited by M. Favre and his col
leagues will be beneficial to their unhappy
country and conducive of peace. 1t really
matters very little whether Gambetta resigned
or was removed. Sufficient it is that France
is rid of him as a ruler He is a pesti-
ferrous demagogue whose violence is only
eaualled by his lack of real administrative
talent. 1t remains to be seen whether he and
his colleagues of the Bordeaux delegation will
acquiesce in the appointment of Arago and
the policy of the Paris authorities. Our cor
respondent at Bordeaux, from whose special
despatch we have derived knowledge of the
change Of Ministers commented on, says moth
ing about the manifestation of any discomfort
or the outcropping of any spirit of opposition
to Arago; hence we are left to infer that to
the military and the people alike the retire
ment of Gambetta is a satisfactory event.
With such gratifying intelligence to begin
with we are prepared for the further informa-
tion that the general desire in France is for
peace. 1t may be doubted if the French are
anxious for ''peace at any price, as the Lon
don Times concludes. No great nation, how
ever sorely pressed by victorious enemy,
will accept any terms rather than continue
struggle. Nevertheless we coincide in the
belief that if the German terms are not abso-
lutely outrageous they will be promptly ac-
cepted by the French. France has certainly
nothing to gain and everything to lose by
resumption and prolon alton of hostilities.
She must soon be, If she is not already, pecu-
niarily exhausted. Further destruction of
her manufactures and continued paralyzation
Of her agriculture and commerce must, in a
very few months longer, place her as pros
trate financially as she is physically at the
present moment. Nothing then, remains
which wisdom and prudence can dictate but
speedy close of the war upon the best attaina-
BILE conditions
That he French people fully appreciate the
gravity and the dangers of their situation
our dispatches, published this morning,
imply. Rabid orators in Paris, Lyons and the
other cities, fit representatives Of the worst
classes of France, who have nothing to lose
by the continuation of the war and the exten-
sion of its horrors over all parts of the coun-
try, make great deal Of noise, but they speak
only for faction and not for the masses.
The voices Of the thoughtful are for peace.
The provincial press, we are told, is generally
for peace. And if, as we trust was the case
as M. Favre and his colleagues declared
should be, and as M. Hendle, the new Prefect
of the Department du Nord, in assuming the
uubAob VI lib OmCc, ItdIuTucu WOulQ De, the
elections held yesterday were uninfuenced by
electoral disqualifcations or political terror
ism, we feel satisfied that members were
chosen who will give the much-needed boon to
France.
But how is peace to be made? It is evident
that the time from the meeting of the National
Assembly to the expiration Of the armistce is
too short for the conclusion of treaty. M.
Favre is reported to have demanded an exten-
sion of the armistice, and his demand is said
to be backed by England. Bismarck should,
and doubtless will, grant an extension if it
will result in peace. The Assembly should be
given time to deliberate and decide And if
majority of its members evince spirit favor
able to an ending of the war it will be the
duty Of the Germans to meet them hallway on
the road to renewed amity and friendship.