The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-05

count Won SuprlVl, Ills great uTHly
bill speech WAS in one view decidedly
tlattering 10 French vanity, 1t is quite
certain that ordinarily the French
would not object TO hear their capital
spoken OF as "a fortified city such as
the world has never known before" or
to be reminded that their forts are
equipped with all the strength OF
modern sCience,h and that they have
army corps which are very different
from those OF 1870" Such sayings
would make sweet music in French
ears, assuming their source to be agree
able and their motive above suspicion,
But when Caprivi says these things for
the purpose OF converting the Germans
to his own view OF their enhanced
military requirements, and when, in
saying them, he takes tho German
army across the western frontier and
in thought plants it once more before
the walls Of Paris, the case is so altered
that compliments become almost US
singing as bullets would BIO.
French feeling was deeply touched
BY this speech-"Peace was the pre-
text" said member of the cabinet,
commenting upon it, "but war was the
subject, NJ dc Caprivi not only says
that war is possible, but he even dwells
lovingly upon tho spectacle which the
German army would witness were 1t to
enter French territory, | am we'll
aware that NJ. de CRprivl ID a general,
and that this sort OF talk must seem
quite natural to him. But he is also an
imperial chancellor, upon whom de-
pend tho diplomatic relations between
his country and other powers, and he
assuredly ought not speak in that
style. Under the circumstances we
could almost wish that ho would be
less pacific, il he would be more re-
spectiul OF Parliamentary usage, in his
language"
BENT OF FRANCE TOWARD WAR
A very palpable proof that the bent
OF France is in the direction OF war Is
seon every dRyin the ELUSIVE sentiment
tality Of the nation toward Russia. The
Russian royalties are the biggest lions
this cosmopolitan city ontertains, and
the Russian flag is seen so often in low
ing company with the trcolor, that
you could almost imagine tho two flags
were one, with but a single thought.
That the Russian bear and tho Repub.
lican lamb should be on terms OF such
gushing affection il singular specta-
Gle, and there can be only one eXplana-
ton OF it.
Another warlike symptom is the great
popularity Of the army and tho compar-
alive cheerfulness with Which the ma.
ton, at enormous expense, has resolved
itself within few years into q uni
yersal military camp, Germany sub
mits to new exRctions with reluctsnce;
she chaies and kicks under u military
system which would have to be far
more severe than it is to tax tho nation
either in pocket or person as the French
arc taxed. In Germany ut present the
contribution per head for national de-
tense is only about two.thirds as much
MS the people OF France arc paying, and
genorat taxation there does not amount
per head to even one.halt what it is
here. Tho fact is, no people in Europe
are taxed as the French are, and the
reason they submit with 80 good grace
is undoubtedly because their feelings
are aroused. They have great loss to
retrieve and n wounded spirit to avenge,
aud tho way Ill which at present they
ply out their money in taxes is only
too palpable an earnest OF how, when
the need arises, they will pour out their
blood in this cause.
ParadoXical as 1t may seem, the least
warlke OF all the things that one sees
iii France. is the physique Of the aver
age French soldier. You meet plenty
OF military men on the streets OF Paris,
but one could hardly be afraid OF them.
They look decidedly pretty, but not at
all formidable. There are many excep-
tons, OF course, but the general run OF
these Soldier boys" are boYish looking
in the extreme, with short, slender
frames, and with hardly enough mascu-
Unity in them-so 1t would sGem--to
bristle out into even a vigorous looking
military mustaChe. AS regards officers,
the specimens you see on tho streets Of
Berlin aro n race OF giants in compAr-
ison with those who trip daintily along
the boulevards Of Paris. Man to man
tho French would surely have no
chance. But tho coming war will be
one OF science and strategy, not Que OF
brute force. The fighting will be done
by machines and brains, and ii the
French arc superior to the Germans in
their possession Of these requisites,
they may como off victorious in spite OF
their disproportionato stature; ospeci-
ally ii their army shall retain until that
time its present numerical supremacy.
ANOTHER QUESTION
This question OF peace or war is
linked in France to another grave ques-
ton. II those in power should discern
the time when blow could DO struck
with tho certainty OF success, and
should then proceed to strike it, win
ming back the two lamented provinces
and treating the Germans az tho French
themselves were treated u couple OF
decades ago, 1t would not be asked
again-certainly not for many years
whether the republic had como to stay.
Such victory would do more to estab-
lish the existing form OF government
than twenty years Of peace, even il
those years were unvaringly prosper
Gus. The test Of war has yet to come to
this regenorated nation, and until this
has been reached and safely passed., the
man who should say that the republic
Is necessarily permanent would either
DO very rash or very ignorant. The
French people became desperate under
defeat, and in the event OF repetition
OF tho disaster Of II, 1t 10 difficult to be.
lievc, after all we know OF tho French
temperament and Of French history,