Wilmington journal., 1872-01-12
WILMINGTON, N. g.:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1872.
Complication

Franco Prussian Complication.
Cruel is the filte of nation which is COM
:. lied to bend her neck to the yoke of the
roDqueror Christianity and civilization
have done much to mitigate the horrors of
war and conquest, but yet there is still too
much truth in the Roman maxim, "V@
yirtis.' We all know this in the South
lv a bitter experience. We have had TO
drink Of the cup of humiliation, and We
hardly begin to feel accustomed to the idea
Of our subjugation. We ought to sympa-
fhizc with the woes of a gallant people who
have to undergo far more bitter humiliation
,bau we, embiHered as it must be by the
thought that their misfortune aTose from
,hrir own faults and improvidence
When the FrancO-Prussian war ended
l,y the disastrous treaty of peace which tore
from France two Of her fairest provinces
and tribute Of five thousand millions of
francs to be paid long before she could re-
cover from her prostration, it seemed as if
her ruin was complete enough. Afterwards
came the terrible episode of the Commune,
piling up fresh disaster upon those already
incurred and even now it seems as if the
,lId is not yet.
After the most devoted sacrifices, after
draining herself Of nearly all the specie in
The country, France has paid, in in few
months, the sum Of two thousand million
francs. After this effort, gigantic as it was,
considering the brief delay and her eXhaus-
ton, she still sees six Of her mos. populous
and flourishing departments, embracing a
population of several millions, held in pledge
hy an army Of occupation Of one hundred
and fifty thousand Prussians, supported
at her own expense. AS was to be ex-
pected from the very nature Of things, a
proud and warike people, though defeated,
bear with impatience the exactions and in
science which necessarily characterize
armed confuerors. Hence, frequent col
lisions between the French inhabitants and
the Prussian soldiery. Many of the latter
have been killed-assassinated as the
PruSsians aver, just as the French sol
diers were frequently killed by guerillas in
the Prussian war, just as invaders are
always treated by al enraged population
THIS has produced fresh rigors on the part
Of the Prussian commanders, and it is
asserted that they have seized hostages
from the nOtables Of some localities. Thi:
will, of course, envenom still further a sit
liation 50 hazardous. Already th'
Hrussian government threatens to double
the army of occupation and to rc-occupy
those other departments whose prornp
evacuation Thiers purchased by anticipat
ing some of the payments due. At th
same time some of the most influential OF
gans, Of German opinion, indicat
in no equlvocal terms all expectation tina
France will be unable to meet the obliga
tions Of the treaty, and will therefore fol
felt another province to the infeXible col
queror.
What a position .or proud and glory
loving people, and what an impressiv
lesson to those statesmen who feel temple
TO plunge their country into war! Bulle
by Bismarck, threatened with re-occup;
ton and further dismemberment, the Pres
dent of the French Republic feels compel
ed to warn the National Assembly, some
whose members had used energetic lal
guage in reference to the threats OF &c
many. that " silence is the best reply to Il
insulting words OF Mr.. de Bismarck" VIII
a contrast with the fiery session scar
eighteen months ago, in which the Cor
Lcgislatif, for a supposed insult to Il
French Ambassador, declared war by a
clamation and the people responded
shouting. "A Bel iH"'