Year: 1871

With the surrender of Paris the Franco-Prus-
sian war is virtually ended 1t must be plain TO
the French people that further resistance is use
less We cannot doubt that every effort was
made for the relief of the beleaguered Capital
The French must lose three or four hundred
thousand men by the capitulation, besides an
immense quantity of arms and munitions of war
In addition the capture of Paris sets free to over
run the land half a million of veterans. France
has no military organization whatever, and we
may rest assured that the victorious Germans
intend making short work of their allotted task
Were it not for the power and greatness of the
nations engaged, the magnitude of their military
preparations and the number of men sent forth
to battle, we would hardly term the European
conflict OF the past few months, q war. Yet,
brief as the struggle has been, the most warlike,
spirited, and the nation generally deemed the
most powerful in Europe lies PROSTATE at the feet
of the conquerer. FROM the declaration of war
by Napoleon to the captulation of Paris was just
six months and thirteen days. 1t is not to be
doubted that the French have fought bravely.
From the time of the surrender at Sedan, they
seemed to be actuated oy the energy of despair.
The French Nation, whatever else may be laid to
its charge, cannot be reproached with cowardice
They have failed to offer any effecual resistance
to the foe through the incompetency and treach-
cry of their Generals and the utter ineficiency
and rottenness of the military system organized
by the Empire. 1t is more than likely that under
different circumstances the contest might have
been protracted, but everything points to the
conclusion that the odds were largely in favor of
the Germans becoming victorious in the strife.
Since the first Frederick William, of Prussia.
the Prussian drill has transformed the army into
a machine of irresistible power on the battle
field, The military talents of dozen Freder-
icks could never have achieved his brilliant vic
tories without the rigid discipline and mechani-
cal precision of bis soldiery. Prussia is now the
first military power in Europe. No other nation
can hope to cope with her successfully until
able to put forward man for man as brave. as
intelligent and as we'll drilled and equipped.
The new German Empire will strain every nerve
to maintain the imposing position so suddenly
attained. For a while it will be apt to be ag-
gressive. Conscious of strength, ambitious for





the future, knowing that there are none to gain
say, we will probably soon hear of the annexa-
ton of the Netherlands by the German Confed-
GRAFTON. This they must do if they desire to be-
come maritime power. Among the reported
terms of peace proposed by Bismarck, forty ves-
sells OF war are demanded. If true, this fact has
much significance. Six months have made
great change in the map of Europe. Six years
will probably cause total alteration Austria
is on the point of falling to pieces Russia is
laundering at the gates of Constantinople with
an evident understanding with Prussia that
neither Will permit interference with the other.
When the glare of military glory ceases to daz-
zle the eyes of the people of Europe then will
come struggle for Republican Governments,
but we are afraid not till then.