The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-03-09
The Occupation Of Paris.

For France the cup of humiliation is
full. The last act in the drama took place
on the LIST. the final acknowledgement
that the foot of the conqueror is on her
neck. Past the triple lines of her surren-
dered Notifications, under her arches of
triumph, and through the long vistas of her
| splendid avenues, marched the solid, mas
sive legions of her helmetcd conquerors.
No wonder that Frenchmen, remembering
what she is, wept bitter tears. No won
der that her streets were deserted, and
the statues draped in mourning.
The magnitude Of the last prize which is
the reward of the Prussian courage and
enterprise, can scarcely be overrated. 1t
was the best defended city in the world,
so far as extensive Notifications could
make it secure 1t is enclosed by an
immense fortified wall. thirty miles in
length, at such distance as to make the
city secure against the best artillery known
until within the last ten years This for
tification cost nearly thirty millions of
dollars As additional security there are
sixteen huge detached forts lying outside
the wall. But still. great az was the
courage and skill of the INVADER the great
helper of the beseigcrs was famine
There was stiH material for a protracted
defence, but the gaunt wolf of hunger
was among its two millions of inhabitants,
and further resistance was madness.
For the third time within the memory
of men now living, have the victorious
Prussians entered Paris, and each time
bearing with them the memory of wrongs
to be avenged. The First Napoleon was
most merciless in his cXactions from the
conquered northern nations. And when,
in 1914, France was crushed between
the armies of Wellington in the south and
the Russians and Prussians in the north,
and Napoleon abdicated the latter armies
occupied Paris. And when Napoleon,
escaping from Elba, broke like a thunder
cloud upon the peace of the world, Paris
was again the objective point of allied
Europe. Upon the field of Waterloo the
star of the French Emperor set forever
and again the long lines Of the invaders
marched through the gates of the French
capitol, and the half savage Cossack
picketed his horse and slept by his camp
fires in the streets of the city. The occu-
patton was then characterized by feeling
of terrible bitterness between the conquer
ors and the disbanded French soldery with
frequent personal encounters. The most
impressive event was the execution of the
brave but unfortunate Marshal Ney, who
having achieved honor and fame under
the Emperor, swore allegiance to Louis
the Eighteenth. Being sent to oppose the
advance of Napoleon, after the escape
from Eliza. he fell under the old ftscina-
ton, and joined the Emperor At Water
loo he headed the grand last charge, upon
which the fate of Napoleon depended. |
After five horses had been shot under !
him. he marched on foot with the advance |
Of those iron men. until the column melt |
ed to nothing before the steady fire of the |
English guards. Ney lived to be shot |
like a dog beside 4 garden wall in Paris.
And now, after the lapse of half u
century, the Prussians march again within |
the walls. But this time With no allies
and that is the Sorest reelection for French |
pride. Scarcely six months ago, the army
set out from Paris, headed by the Emperor,
with the cry ''On to Berint' BY q series |
Of achievements and victories which have
amazed the world the French armies and |
Emperor have been captured, the fortified !
places reduced, and the capitol occupied |
We are accustomed to look at the wars of
other days for wonderful achievement, |
but there is little in modern history which |
for rapid, complete and surprising success, |
exceeds the war which closed at Paris on
Wednesday OF last week.