The New York herald., 1871-02-25
TIE End Of tho Franco-Gernau War-The
Peace Treaty.


AT last 1t does seem as If this Franco
German war had come to an end. For some
DAYS II has seemed doubtful whether the
French were not about to give the world
another proof Of their apparently incurable
folly. For several hours yesterday peace and
war seemed to be trembling In the balance,
the cable dispatches, which arrived almost
simultaneously, giving most contradictory
reports OF the situation. One report, credited
to the London Times, had it that Count Bis
marck was despairing of peace; that France
had asked a prolongation of the armistice
that the guns of the Paris forts had been
turned upon the city, and that hostilties were
to be resumed at midnight of the Goth.
Another despatch, credited to the London
Standard reversed the picture, stating that
peace treaty had been signed by Theirs and
Bismarck, although the details were imper-
fectly known According to this despatch
France is 10 pay three hundred and twenty
millions of thalers $3.50, 900, ,00O) to cede
Alsace and Lorraine, including the cities of
Metz and Nancy but the German army was
not to enter Paris. 1t also stated that King
William was to leave Versaill es for Berlin on
Monday.
Such is the amount of our information
while we write. The Standard despatch is
on ali hands admitted to be the later and more
accurate version Of what has taken place at
Versailles But there is mystery about the
money IDENTITY. By referring to our tele-
| Ill Al Al.ok
yesterday Prussia demanded two milliards of
thalers ($l, 500, 900, ,OOO), and that France
offered to pay one milliard ($750, 900, ,0oo).
These sums are 80 much larger than the sum
mentioned in the later report that explanation
is rendered difficult 1t is possible that the
confusion has arisen from the fact that the
sum which Prussia now demands is the whole
sum, less the moneys which have already
been paid. 1t is also possible that having
obtained the consent of M. Theirs and Jules
Favre to cede Alsace and so much of Lor-
raine, Bismarck felt satisfied and lessened
safe, we think, to take it for granted that
treaty of peace has been signed, and that
this six months war-a war unparalleled In
modern times-is ended.
1t is gratifying to know that the Germans
have decided not to enter Paris in triumph.
All things considered, this, We think, is WELL
That the Germans had made good their claim
to such triumph ali must admit That King
William and Bismarck had a perfect right to
crafty the armies which have fought 80 we'll
by marching them through the capital city Of
the enemy no military man will deny. On
the other hand, however, it must also be con-
ceded that France has been sufficiently hu-
inflated, that no good result could flow from
useless parade through the streets of Paris,
and that, as Germany and France must be
neghbors whether they will or will not, their
neighborly relations will be improved rather
than injured by this display Of Prussian mag
nanimity. No right-thinking person, the wide
world over, but will rejoice that the Parisians,
who bore with so much heroic endurance the
horrors of protracted siege, are to be spared
the humiliation of seeing the enemy marching
in triumph through their much loved city.
We shall soon be in possession of all the
details of the peace treaty. We shall soon
|
stand by the action Of its accredited represen-
tatives. 1t is not to be doubted that hard
things will be said in the Assembly, and that
France will in many days give abundant proof
that the pill which Germany is compelling her
to swallow is most unpalatable. Meanwhile
the future Of France commands our attention
even more than the spirit in which she will
| bow to her present misfertunes. After the
peace treaty has been signed France will be
left once more to herself and the question
which many anxious minds are now asking is,
will she give proof that she learned wisdom
from the lessons she has afresh received in the
school OF adversely? No people have so often
during the course Of the last century made
themselves masters Of their own destiny. No
people have SO uniformly flung away their
golden opportunities. Since 1889 France has
seen the downfall of three dynasties-has wit
messed the beginning and the end of three re-
publics. Once again she has the opportunity
which she found and lost in 1892, which
she found and lost in 1880, which she
found and lost in 1848. 1t remains to be seen
whether the opportunity Of 1871 is to 60 the
way Of its many predecessors. Practically
France is once more a republic. The Ger
mans gone, she will be asked to say whether
her future government is to be republic or
monarchy. If she has not found out the worth
lessness of monarchical institutions; if she has
not discovered that all those high and noble
aspirations which for hundred years have
made her restless, inpatient revolutionary,
tend toward a well organized republic, the
confession must be made that her much suf-
fering has taught her nothing. 1t is not our
opinion that NJ. Theirs will abuse his authority
/ bv restoring against the will of the neonIa