Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-05-09
Staunto1t Spettator.
Tuesday, M0y 8, 1871.
The war in France.

The war in France.
Ihe siege OF Paris makes but slow progress,
and the accounts have assumed an air of mo-
notony. Again, to-day, there is no event of
any special importance reported. Fort D Issy
is said to be heap of ruins, yet it is still held
by the Communists, who are entrenching under
perfect hail of projectiles from the Versail-
list batteries, to which they return slow fire.
The other forts of the insurgents are constant
ly bombarded by the Versailles batteries but
with no results of consequence. The loss of
the insurgents within the past week, in killed,
wounded and prisoners, has been two thousand.
General Rossel is said to have been wounded
in the shoulder.
The Prussians have elected the National
Guards from Vincennes, and conducted them
nearly to the city gates They took possession
of all their ammunition. Some uneasiness
had been caused at Versailles in consequence
of the permission, by the Prussians, of previx-
ions to enter Paris.
The bearer of a flag Of truce wAN Nagas Rste
the lines of the Versailles army ea EAssvssN
refused to return. He gave aeplAyaAAe aSNSA@ass
of the condition of the insurgents wAe he
said, except deserters, were all foreign aaveH-
turers. A special from Paris says that no hopes
of peace whatever are INDUCED in. The Free
Masons of Havre and Fecamp are about to
make joint appeal to both the belligerents,
for the institution of negotiations with view
to peace
A report is received from Versailles, that NJ
Theirs has been depending upon a promised
cooperative movement by party inside Paris,
whose courage failed at the last moment. 1t
is added that negotiations were In progress for
an armistice, to effect compromise, which, If
unsuccessful, Mcmahon would take the city by
assault.
The Pennsylvania Central 3. r. Company.
This Company possesses the largest capital
that is owned by any corporation in the United
States. 1t already controls, we know not how
many hundreds of miles of Railway, and every
year it is extending the sphere of its operations
and influence Recently. it has turned its at
tention to Virginia and the Southern States,
and is seeking to open up new avenues OF trade
the jealousy of rival interests, and persistent
efforts have been made to represent the Penn
sylvania Central Company as a huge and dan
gerods monster, which is going about like a
roaring lion, seeking whom it may devour.
We have no interest in the road, nor are we
its partizan We have no Partially for, nor
prejudice against it. If its purpose be to de-
Velop the resources of Virginia, and to con-
tribute to her prosperity, we are prepared to
welcome it with open arms. If it should seek
to dominate and Cypress our people, We shall
resist it with all our power. We are for giving
it fair trial, ard judging it by its acts. We
therefore, are not prepared to yield credence
to all the one-sided and prejudiced denuncia-
tions which We see hurled against it by hostile
and interested parties.
Holding this position, we think it but fair tc
let our readers see what is said of the Penn
sylvania Central in other quarters. The follow
ing is an extract from an article in the "Capi-
tal,'' paper published in Washington, April
End, 1871:
1.-THE Pennsylvania road, if it be monop-
oily, Is benIgnant and noble despotlsn: ItS
trunk line of rail is veritable king S highway,
every rustic station looking like gateway in
civilization It's workshops and principal sta
tons are practical palaces, and its rolling stock
is made to carry men and women as it they
were guests and not cargo. Every day of the
year it is projecting some new thing Of beauty
out of It's earnings, and seeking to display
some gratitude toward the democratic country
in whose large career it has been SO well inwo-
ven. All the cities to which it reaches It's
Briarcan arms shake hands with it for joy.
How excellent is it TINS to be at once powerful
aud beloved. TO rule but not to Cypress, and tc
elevate the mind of great regions OF country
by the spectacle of a magnanlmous and prince
ly utility"
The same article contains some severe criti-
cisms on the want of Hberality and activity Of
the Bait & Ohio Railroad Company, but as we
do not know how far they are well-founded We
forbear from publishing them.