New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-27

| fonr days march Of Paris. Her frontier on thu
German side is an Open one, and, moreover any
| Governinent showing itself ready to 90 To war eN
| cept Tor defensive purposes would be At once con
| demned by public opinion OF every shade and color
a wholesome hatred Of war has sprung mp IN
France This feeling 90 some extent is the outcome
OF the new military laws which Obge the wL0lc
able-b0dlcd population TO taste the harishlps oi
banack lite and the bivouac. In measure 1t can
be explained hy the IrOvcrb which tells Us that a
| burnt child breads the fire.
THE PROGRESS OF ENLIGHTENMENT.
Civilization has also progressed within the last
| ten years. Morally speaking. France is on much
| higher plane than she in 1870, and within ten
| years a deal of Grass ignorance has been removed
from the minds Of peasants and artisans. On this
sublect had yesterday an interesting conversation
with Oscar Lafayette. who is member OF the
Senate and grandson Of Washington's friend and
colleague in the American War OF Independence
He was strongly of the opinion that France should
altogether cOniine her energy to works of peace
and internal reform. He was himself personally
more interested in the fate Of the 10C 900 yaga-
bond children who are stuffed annually into con
ventual jals, than in the question of the Greek
frontiers. SO far as it was in his power, he sala
that he would urge Government to steer clear Of
foreign complications and to he satisfied with doing
great and good things OF home. | asked him what
would have become OF American Independence
without the Don Quixoism OF his grandfather. lie
won ii whether he went 20 fight for them or not |
am happy and proud that his name is associated
with the military career of Washington. But al
thOEgh General Lafayette vas my grandfather.
do not regard him as necessary man tor the realI
zaIion OF the work into which he threw himself
with all his heart and prompted by noble instinct
Nor do think him an example tor young French
men OF our day TO follow. Reason and justice have
greater sway in the affairs OF nations and IN in
ternatOnal affairs especially. than they had in the
eighteenth century. ] should have pitied the Min
lStry VIII had dared to suggest to George Ill to
settle no matter what yeXed question By arbtra-
ton, as the Alabama claim was settled 10 could
not nave been the King who would have passed for
the mailman when he LOlled over With ind diguatOn
at the suggestion. but the Minister
4 GERMAN DIPLOMAT.
Prince EIOhcnlohc's return to Paris will not
weaken the actiUn of German diplomacy in Europe.
Tie Prince is close personal friend Of the Minister
Of Foreign Affairs, who for some years never dined
away from the Place st. Georges unless when in
yted TO the German Embassy. Birds of feather
flock together. NJ. Barthc.emy ST. IliiaiTe is trans
parent honesty, which may account iOI the pleasure
hc takes in keeping up social relations with Prince
lfohcnohe. Though incapable of acting on the
Italian maxim that Ian su1gc is made tor the con-
craimcnt of thought the Prince can hide what
passes ~ his mind. and he understands how quietly
to cross examine and to pump.