The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-07-01


"A military Mercadet with touch o
Robert Macaire, said the Red Flag. "Wha
good could be expected from such Cdndille2
The month of August wore On-a mont
Of anxiety, Of wagering hopes Of strength
enlng fears. History records no bloodie
battles than Rezonvile and GrayelOtte
fought in the middle Of that anxious month
and although Bazalne claimed the first as (
victory he was still steadily retreatlng
every day brought him nearer Metz; where
he finally retired, abandoning his communi
cations with MacMahon and the rest Of
France.
Then came the rumor that Metz was block
AIDED; Bazaine and his hundred and eighty
thousand men were bound round with bonds
OF iron, useless, helpless MacMahon was
encamped at Chalons, re-creating his army,
and thither regiment after regiment Of un-
disciplined youth was sent to him; and UNI
disciplined youth made the country round
ring with the noise Of It's follies, made
France blush for her sons. And still the
flood Of invasion rolled on steadily as the
rising tide; week, fortnight at most, and
the Crown Prince with his victorious army
would debOuch upon the plain Of GeneYl-
liers. And now In earnest this time. see
ing the enemy so near, Paris awakened to
the possibility OF siege; but even yet fear
was not so serious as to stimulate the city
to prompt and earnest action. The people
walted-expectant, hopeful still something
would happen, something unforeseen-a
miracle, perhaps.
Something unforeseen did happen; but
the unforeseen wore the shape of shame,
defeat, humlliatlon-an empire Oyerthrown
in one bloody day; Emperor state prisoner,
Empress a fugitive, army prisoners Of war.
First came the tidlngs that MacNIahon,
instead Of trying to block the passage of the
Germans, instead of falling back upon the
capital to fight one OF the worlds decisive
battles under the walls Of Paris, was moving
northward, obviously intent upon joining
and releasing Bazaine
What might not be hoped from coalition
between two such generals-one who had
risen with every defeat, the other as famous
for lndOmltabe energy as for military skill?
What might not be hoped for from Bazane's
hundred and eighty thousand men, the flow
err OF the French armyP
For two days, the first balmy days of
September, restless, feversh, over-exclted
pOpulace lived upon the bOuleyards and in
the streets; questions, statements, counter
statements flew from lip to lip, while false
reports and m0nstrous exaggerations were
In the very air men breathed. Then, on &
Saturday night, came the news of great
calamity; a terrible battle had been fought.
was still being fought, with fluctuating for.
tunes, In the envlrons of Sedan. But the
ultimate result2 For this Paris waited with
inexpresslble agitation. The newsvendOrs'
Mosques were besleged by tumultuous
crowds; hands were stretched forth tremu-
lols with excitement, clutching at the pa
pers; men stood upon the boulevard benches,
reading the news aloud, above sea of
heads.
Nothing was certain In the news thus
deyoured, nothing precise. The crowd, de-
prlyed Of official information, was consumed
by nervous lrrltablllty, fever Of hopes
and fears. Men were inpatient captlous,
quarrelsOme. AT the first word Of doubt
they were ready to treat each other as Prus-
SLAMS or traitors; for mere nothing they
would have challenged each other to mortal
combat. Voices were sharp, strangers glar-
ed at one another with angry eyes.
Lamps began to simmer In the summer
twilight cafes and wlne-shops shOne outup-
on the night, and gradually, lmperceptlbly,
the knowledge of great catastrophe spread
and circulated on every side. Details were
wanting; but France had suffered some ter
rlble defeat That was seen in every face.
No one In Paris slept that night The Corps
Leglslatlf called a midnight sitting and the
Empire sank through the stage of this world
to the realm Of chaos and night, evanescent
as a scene In fairy play; and the curtain
rose upon the Republic.
The next day was Sunday, September the
4th, and the newborn Republic began in the
glory Of clOudless summer sky. o strange
people, children of smiles and tears! Last
night Paris had been plunged to the bottom
of black abyss, stepped in the horror of
calamity, brought face to face with the GER
talnty of an imminent siege, her army an
initiated, her Empire fallen. Paris had
laid herself down in dust and ashes, with
weeping and wailing for the splendor that
had persisted, the glory that was gone.
To-day, Sunday and holiday, Paris
awoke radiant Again the excited popuace
filled the bouevards, poured along the
streets, strong current of humanity trend
ing towards the Champs Elysees and the
Bots. But to-day the note is changed. 1t is
no longer the harsh minor of Rachers wall
for her lost sons, but the glad psalm of De-
borah. The Empire has fallen, has fallen.
Long live the RepublcI Let them come,
the tetes cdrTeeS! We are more thana match
for them nolu. Joy beams on every face.
The crowd wears Its holiday clothes, It's
holiday aspect.
Every now and then battallonof the
National Guard tranps singing along the
roadway, They stop their song to cry.
"Long live the Republiop and thunderons
acclamatlOns reply, Long live the Repub-
llcr
And now came time of preparation, ex-
pectation, anticipation. The days Of UNI
certainty were over, and William and his
conquerlng hosts were pouring steadily on
towards this beautiful city Paris Bismarck
had avowed that he bore no grud0e against
France The made war only on the Empire. And
10, the Empire was ended like morning
dream, the eagles were draggled In the blood
stained dust Of disastrous battlefelds; and
still Germany pressed onward, laughing
with sardOnic laughter at the impediments
that France set in her way. Here a bridge
blown to the four winds, there a vladuct
shattered, railway-lines cut, destruction
everywhere; and yet the barbarOus hordes
tramped on over the ruins that strewed the
way, pouring, pouring, pouring onward,
like the army of locusts In Holy Writ
The Parisans expected an assault, a great
battle, victory or speedy doom. They waited
boldly, strong in their faith that Bellona
was on their side. The goddess of battle