The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-12-06
Germany and France.

sI-c1iv The cable adyices from Europe have
informed us Of the complete evacuation Of French
territory by the German troops. but u has re-
NAMED for the mails % furnish us with the spirit
In which the event has been received IN both
c5uu;re=. We find what may be accepted as an
illustrative occasion in the celebration At Berlin
Of the anniversary Of the fall Of Sedan Amidst
the booming Of artillery, the pealng OF oeI7'
and the choral manifestations. for which the
Germans are 60 famous, the Victory Monument
az Berlin vas unveiled on the ID Oct. The judi
latiOns on the occasion were natural but when
we read Of them other suggestions than those OF
congratulation and JOY crowd upon the thoughtful
mind. While there was rejoicing IN Berlin and
MANY other German towns, there was lamenta-
ton and grief in France. On the one hand there
were manifestations Of JOY and pride, boastlnSof
lE-gratulatiOn on the other, though there was
little outward manifestation Of II, there must
have been bitter heaTt-burnIng, envy, hatred,
malice, and all uncharitableness the deeply
cherished longing for revenge the solemn determ-
inatiOn that. though it may be long deferred, an
attempt must sooner or later be made 20 achieve
that revenge.
II We look back on the war which three years
ago eliminated in the glorious victory and dis
astrous defeat, the browning triumph and utter
prostration Of Sedan we must fain admit that
:. poetic Justice - appears to have been dealt
upon that occasion. France had long contem-
plated aggression she had prepared for 1t, and
She rushed into ii armed 10 the teeth, as she
fOndly believed herself 10 be utterly unprepared
for the terrific contest, as she discovered when too
late. Germany-calm, solid, slow Of movement,
but firm Of purpOse-acquiring increased strength
at every stage Of the war, achieved a series Of
victories unparalleled in the history of the world !;
and every victory for her was a death-dealing
blow 20 her proud, heroic but comparatively
pOwerless foe. And when the hour of final
triumph and utter humiliation, Of proud victory
- IaE,.N viva did f.arrnanu mEa
her newly-acquired power well? Perhaps the
prevailing opinion is that she at least used 1t
prudently. IL is noble, we are told, 70 have a
giants strength but it is tyrannous TO employ
il as a giant. But Germany doubtless thought,
and the opinion is by no means confined TO her,
that it was desirable for the peace of the world
and tine security Of the Fatherland that France
should have her wings so effectually cut that they
would not recover their full growth and power
for a generation or two; that to the victories OF
the battlefield should be added the triumphs of
finance that bleeding and PROSTATE France
should be made to pay heavily for the calamltles
she had brought upon her enemy, only In a less
degree than upon herself. Very much has been
said about the enormous amount of the indemnity
which France was compelled to pay, and we will
not discuss this point; but heavy as 1t was, 1t
was evidently not too much for her to pay. She
has now finished her last installment to her
%yictOrs, and though we may be sure not cheerfully
paid, her soil is completely evacuated by the Ger
mans. who were until lately the hateful sign and
remainder Of the triumph Of her enemies.
This terrible war has been fruitful of sad and
bitter lessons for France. 1t has Inundated her
pride, but it has given herself knowledge she
has paid dearly in blood and treasure for her
ambition but she has set herself to the task of
rehabilitation, to use her own word, with an
energy and n success which are marvellous.
Would that she might be content with internal
victories, the development of her resources, and
an increase Of moral and social strength. But
we fear that this is not in her nature. At pres
emit, while she is recovering from the attack of
foes without, she has to contend against dissen-
sions within. Her foes are those of her own
household. But we ear-and the fear, not the
wish, is father to the thought, that when a settled
form Of government Is obtained, and France has
peace within her own borders, the spirit of
revenge which she ~nurtures will begin to manifest
itself. 1t is thus war proves itself to be the ever
recurring curse of MISUNDERSTANDING Dispatch.