The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-13

TAXATION IN inc eNeCutlOn VI the uuiOitu
nate Macmillan.
At last the United States gave the signal.
and the Mexican campaign was at an end
Bazaine returned to France with the re-
nown of fearless and capable soldier, but
with certain shadow upon the lustre of
his military name. He was not then q
favorte he was denounced with indignant
elocution by Jules Favre, while all manner
of extravagant reports were spread abroad
concerning his design to set up a Mexican
empire of his own, and of his having
amasscd enormous wealth. 1t is true he
brought home Mexican wife. of surpass-
ing beauty, but the accusation OF pecunary
gain was denied by his advocates during
the trial.
1t is but fair to believe that Bazaine was
at this time but devoted and jealous ser
want of the Empire, still it was a devotion
and zeal which presaged its ruin rather
than its security,
Opinion was divided concerning him;
his admirers asserting that there was
nothing that he would not do for his
Emperor, and his dctractors maintaining
that he was indefatigabe in the pursuit of
his own aggrandzement.
During the cessation of war. and the
CAIN lUdl Suttctutl, DdEilItS lOpulHllll
suffered in comparison with that Of Mac
Mahon. and many persons looked with
greater favor upon the rough old Pcliessier
than upon him, until the outbreak of the
Prussian war. when the salvation of France
seemed to fail by mage at his feet. Then
the Emperor passed away like n shadow,
leaving n heIdlcss dadcm 10 dazzle the
Marshals eye. and for . time he felt that
he held the fortunes of France in the hol-
low of his hand.
Then it WAS that the evils Of his carly
education fctlcIed him on his way, and
ruin instead Of redemption was the result.
He was no longer upon Algerian or
| Mexican fields. where strategcm and copious
biUod-sh d MAKE up the game of war but
| he found himself face to face with Count
Won Mocke and his German warriors,
while in the distance stood Bismarck upon
the steps of the throne
Neither Washington nor Wellington were
more to their respective countries than
Bazaine might have been to his at that de
cisiyc moment, hut by sudden plunge into
the lowest Gepth he became the author of a
humiliation which has never perhaps been
equalled
CapitulatioAs are comparatively rare cir
cumstanccS in the worlds warfare. and
may be numbered upon the hands but the
capitulatiOn OF Metz was one without
example. Bazaine is no, accused OF mere
cowardcc OF having lost nerve and head
nj the critical moment, Int Of the guilt Of
treason to his country.
Death with military degradation. -
such was the conviction passed by the
court marshal at Versailles.
The last words of the Marshal, while yet
he remained an officer of France, were to
/ ,ppcluir,, fhaI lao laI -, :
words inscribed upon the star upon his
breast. "honoor and country" IL have
served my country" be said "without de-
| parting from this proud motto, for forty.
two years and ! swear before Christ that
have never betrayed France" The de-
| cisiOn of the court, however, did not CON
firm this gallant declaration
Notwithstanding the ministerial crisis
which at the time attracted the brcathless
attention of the nation, the proceedings of
the trial were followed with uninterrupted
anxiety, and the accusation was the most
serious that could he made.
Metz was unqucstionably the chief hope
of France during the period that followed
the disasters of Sedan. and the formation
of the army Of the Loire, and although
France thought with horror of Bazainc
having betrayed his trust, she hoped that
| W SOliiC lllNdtiS TIC DlNSttIIOuS tNGIlIS Oh
1870 might be cleared away. 1t were bet
ter TO believe that one man was peridious
| than that the surrender of the army of the
Rhine, and the maiden fortress of France
on the Moscllc was, under the circumstan-
ces, inevitable.
This is the cue upon which the adherents
of BaZaine rant and decaim, maintaining
that the Marshal fell victim to "a false
ylndicatiOn of the honour Of France. The
charge is severe parasite, and is to-day
discussed with heat far surprising that of
the "GBdirc Chdjab0rW."
The suspicion that Bazainc had not acted
sincerely as Il soldier of France was not
dlifuscd as II popular explanation of a
great national misfortune. but was put for
fard in military pamphlets by officers of
reputc almost Immediately after the sur
render. That an army Of 1880 men
could be under any necessity of capituat-
ing was deemed incredible. Still less could
it be believed that the commander of such
an army need deliver up one of the
strongest fortresses in France or the world,
with Its enormous war material. its 800
fortress guns and 800 rifles. The Prus-
slams themselves, well aware of the inn
PROBABILITY of Metz, cncampcd in the en-
yirOns in manner that betOkened long
and possibly fruitless siege. Had Bazaine
been able to hold out month longer, OF
even fortnight longer, it is by no means
impossible that the army of the Loire, CO.
operating with the garrison at Paris, might
have broken through the beleaguering force,
compelled the Germans to raise the siege
and changed the whole fortune of the war.
But no-the equalization of Metz took
place at the worst possible time for the
military issues of France, hence the disas-
trOus results.
The charges against Bazaine covered the
whole of his command; but those which
were most insisted are related to his fail
ure to effect the retreat of his army after
the Emperor laid down his arms, and next
to the equalization, which his tactics made
n, cessary. On the first point the Germans
express great surprise that Bazaine did not
make good the time allowed for retreat af-
ter the decisive battles of the 10th and 18th
of August which would have formed june
ton between the sundered portions of the
original army of the Rhine. And it il
equally certain that at tie battle of Wan
vile and at the massacre of GravclOttC
Bazaine tactics were grievously at fault
Then came the affair of Metz. His ac-
cusers state that he never intended to lie sc
Metz and that his orders testify the lik,
fact
On the other hand Bazaine states that he
was detained by want of provisions and
ammunition, which is an accepted excuse.
But next it is alleged that when he had
the power he did not make the necessary
efforts to free himself from the fortress.
His sorties, it is said, were infrequent
and not conducted with the vigour and pre-.
cision which ensure success. This is also
the opinion Of the Prussan officers engag.
ed in the investment before Metz
Now then comes the ccusation-havina
taken command and observing the weak.
ness and incompetency Of the Emperor
Bazaine determined to make his military
position and the opportunities it afforded
a means of aggrandizing himself.
He would speak to Germany in the name
of France he would If necessary impose 4
government, policy, a treaty, upon France
which would lease him in possession, il
not of the highest title, at least of the high