The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-09-24
s'TO THE BITTER END"

Forty-seven years ago today, on
Sept. "a. 1870, it was announced that
the negotiations for peace between
Jules Favre, representing France.
and Count Bismarck, spokesman for
Prussia, had failed, and the provis-
ional government of National De-
Tense, at Tours, issued a note Of de-
fiance calling upon the people to rise
and flight to the bitter end" 1t was
the brave challenge of a PROSTATE
and vanquished land which refused
to admit defeat, and it found an echo
throughout, France. Napoleon III.
was a prisoner, his government had
crumbled, Paris was besieged, yet the
failure of the negotiations was greet
ed with wild enthusiasm, and "war to
the knife" and levees en- nasse were
proclaimed by the projects
Gabriel Claude Jules Favre was
we'll qualified to express the senti-
ments of the democracy of France,
which had assumed power on the
downfall of the empire. He had been
the strenuous opponent Of Louis Ma
poleon and in the legislative body he
distinguished himself by his speeches
in favor of complete liberty of the
press and freedom of thought, against
1.-the law of deportation, and other I'M
democratic acts Of the imperial gov
eminent. He bitterly opposed the
war with Austria in 1859, the French
participation in the scheme to place
Macmillan on the throne of Mexico,
and the war with Prussia in 1870.
When the news of Sedan reached
Paris and was announced in the as
semb1y, Favre declared for the estab-
I ~
tense of France to the last gasp. The
city, frenzied by the news of Napo-
Icons surrender. was taken over by
the mob. On the pillars of the Palace
| Bourbon they chalked the names of
those they wished to take part in the
! government, and, without further
election. the government of national
defense was formed, with General
Trochu as president, Jules Favre as
foreign minister, and Leon Gambette
as minister of the interior.
Favre's first act was to- call upon
/ the United States for moral support,
and the French republic was almost
Immediately recognized by Uncle
Sam, and shortly by Spain and Switz-
| erland. Favre. issued a proclamation
processing a desire for peace, but as
serting that "we@will not cede an inch
Of our territories nor stone Of our
Ifortresses.'' The negotiations with
| Bismarck were foredoomed to fail
ure, for Bismarck was determined to
have a part of Alsace and Lorraine
and a large cash indemnity. Favre
/ admitted that France had been in the
wrong, and laid the responsibility al
the door Of the Emperor. He urged
Bismarck not to continue a war in
which over 100000 had already
fallen. Bismarck had resolved no.
to consider any propositions of peace
that did not involve the acquisition OF
Alsace and Lorraine and so the nego-
tiatfons ended. He was opposed tt
republics on principle. and denied the
right. of the defense government te
act.
i Although the republic. carried OF
the war with energy, and Paris hele
out ZAP days, and capitulated, not tt
the Germans, but to famine, the un
trained soldtors of France were un
equal to the struggle. In the enc
Favre had to sign the treaty nego
: tiated by Theirs with Bismarck, b.
; which France was to pay $1,000.000,
600 within three years, and cede all O
Alsace except Belfort. and one-fiftl
Of Lorraine, including Metz.