The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1911-03-10

ton Of the question under discus
sion, and proving also the sound
ness of the. arguments ] have en-
deavored TO present, may be found
| in a brief reference to the Franco
Prussian War. The Germans and
French-Teutons and Kelts--
have never loved eoch other with
any great intensity; the long
quarrel over the possession of
the delightful provinces, Alsace
and Lorraine, always serving as a
"casus belli" when either nation
believed itself strong enough to
win.
In 1870 Napoleon third, other
wise Louis Napoleon, was emper-
or of the French, and having a
powerful army on paper, declar-
ed war against Prussia. In just
four weeks after the first battle,
Louis Napoleon and his army sur
rendered to the Prussian com
mander at Sedan. There was
fierce fighting at Metz and Or
leans, but when Paris surrender
ed France was practically con
quered. A treaty of peace was
made at Frankfort by which
France paid to Prussia the larg-
est war indemnity ever imposed
upon a nation, and the hated
Prussians evacuated France. So
many astounding events crowded
into so brief space of time, sur
prised and shocked the world.
The great French army was an.
initiated, and the Prussian army
was everywhere invincible, ne
world could not understand it.
AS Mr.. James, the great novel
list would say: two or three years
before the events ! have So rapid
ly sketched, n great numl er OF
German artists might have been
seem" in all parts of France,
trudging patiently over the
country roads, sketching an old
bridge, group of farm buildings
or an old tower hundreds of years
old. They were plainly clad, car
ried very light purses, ate, drank
and lodged cheaply; and in Their
broken French, were profuse; al
most crihpinO in their thanks for
simple courtesies. Yes, let the
poor fellows go where tley please
they cannot find any scenery in
that bleak, beerswilling country
of theirs, so beautiful as in :" la
Belle France let them 90 where
they please, and they did go
where they pleased. These men
were all sent out by the Prl!ssian
government. There was "A li'!le
army of them. The most distin-
guished artists, finest draughts-
men, the best photographers, or
map makers, the most celebrated
oiyiI engineers 1natSr uP this. ARMY
of observation. When these APP
parently poor German artists
finished their work assigned them
and reported to their government,
the Prussian war department
knew more of France than did
the French commanders them
selves. All France was mapped
more accurately than ever before.
Every railroad, highway, canal,
stream. navigable or otherwise
every bridge, farm stealing,
tower. harrack, military encamp-
ment; every fortified city, port
or fortress, arsenal; number and
efficiency of troops, number and
weight Of ordnance, number and
style of small arms. ! will not go
farther with this enumeration.
The maps were Typographical,
and showed every hill, mountain.
plain, valley, canon, and forest.
Are YOU any longer surprised that
France was whipped by Prussia
have done my best If my
proofs are defective | must bow
to the adverse verdict. But ]
shall still insist that the monarchs
of the old world do not send
their most accomplished and
brainy men to this country. They
send them to obtin full and mi
mute information for future use.
c. ID. PALMER.