The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-11
men.


From recently published statistics dealing
with the cause. ut suicide III Germany | gath
or that large percentage OF the sclt.dcstrnct
ION which has lately assumed such formidable
proportions in that branch Of the Fatherland's
national defcnces is aocrioed to the "melan.
chOly and WEAKNESS OF life" resulting from
disappointment in love This particular form
OF suicidal mania appears to be assuming an
epidemcsl character in the Imperial hosts !;
and 1t is stated that the supreme military au.
thorltles are utterly at loss tor some prevent.
i've eXpcdient by which its further develope.
ment may be arrested. II might be worth their
while to borrow q leaf from the order book of
the great Napoleon, who succeeded in coun.
In the French army under the consulate by
issuing the following order Of the day to the
forces under his command: "St Cloud, %
FlOreal, year TX Of the Republic n3th May,
ls0D grcnadler Gerdan has killed him,
self on account of love affair In other re-
spects he was good soldier This is the sec.
ond occurrence of tins sort that has taken
place in the army corps within the last month.
The FIRST Consul desires to notify to the Guard
in the Order Of the Day-iirst, that soldier
must learn to subjugale the passions OF gre
and melancholy; secondly, that just AS much
courage IS required to endure soul.sutferings
with fori,ude as to stand unmoved IN the
ranks under the fire of a battery. To give way
INCREASINGLY 10 sorrow-to destroy oneself IN
order to escape distress of mind. Is equivalent
to running away from the battlefield before
one has been beaten. (Slgned) BONAPARTE.
"(Countersigned) BEssIEREs"
Were the venerable emperor to address his
soldiers In such terms as the above, it is Just
possible that his solemn remonstrance might
avail to check practice which has for some
time past been gaining ground in the German
army to an alarming extent
General Skobeleif s speech in Paris and his
interview with the Voltaire reporter have ere.
ated an unwonted excitement, and form the
staple Of conversation ut the palace, in the
general staff and In the barracks The signifi.
canoe Of the Generals words Is held to be in.
creased by NJ. Gambetta's hasty return to Paris,
and by the Republic Franchise at once sound
ing the trumpet of army reform, in contrast to
to NJ. de Frequinets concliatory note Here
il Is feared that the president of the future
Russian republic is trying to cement an alb
ance with the future president of the French
republic against Germany. THIS alliance has
been IN the air ever since 1871, and | can affirm
as an eyewitness that the cons ernation and
Indignation causei in Russian society by the
catastrophe of Sedan was at least equal to the
impression produced IN Paris by the victory
Of Koniggratz. When Alexander III ascend.
ed the throne Paris and Moscow were impa.
tient tn hear the Franco Russian alliance pro-
claimed explained at the time wha; infu-
ence led the emperor then not to adopt policy
contrary to that OF his father lie is still anx.
ous for good understanding with Germany
and Austria but doubts are entertained as Ia
whether he possesses the power 10 withstand
what is more and more becoming popular
movement. The dissatisfaction is so great that
war is sought as a means for establishing an
entirely new state OF things In Russia. You
may therefore fairly assume military men In
Central Europe TO be seriously preparing for
the eventuality predicted by SkobeIeif In his
| Paris sDesch