p. 168 | News and Miscellany

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 9, 1871

News and Miscellany.

“Can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

“The situation around Paris unchanged,” is the closing announcement of the week relative to the European war.

Paris.

FRIDAY and Saturday last, according to the news from Paris a general attack on the city was “imminent.” Sunday it was certainly going to begin. But nothing of consequence really occurred Sunday. Monday seems to have been fooled away about as usual.

This French siege of Paris has now been going on a little over a month; and while it may end at any moment, it may continue a month longer. From all that appears to outsiders, the great question on both sides seems to be how not to do it. The Germans occupying some of the forts around Paris have been enjoying an excellent opportunity to observe all the worst weaknesses of the French military system. Doubtless, they have often laughed grimly at the indecisive movements of the contending French forces, and their abortive style of fighting. Having whipped both French parties themselves, they now occupy the position of honored spectators, while the French fragments are engaged in polishing each other off; and, doubtless, they find the situation sufficiently interesting to relieve the tedium of garrison duty. So long as Germany gets the stipulated cash, it makes no difference to her which of the two French factions whips the other. But every Frenchman killed is one more possible future foe of Germany put out of the way. BISMARCK can truly say, in imitation of Iago: “Now whether THIERS kills the Commune, or the Commune kills THIERS, either way makes my gain.” Consequently Germany, thus far, has not exhibited the slightest disposition to interfere; and, as Germany holds so large a mortgage upon France that the country is in a sense her property, no other nation cares to interfere, as any interference might make the meddler responsible for the payment of the French debt to Germany, and Germany is pretty sure to collect her debt of any party becoming responsible for it.

The Versailles army seems to be gradually getting the better of the Communists, notwithstanding the lack of vigor on the part of THIERS; though French affairs are so exceedingly uncertain that he would be a bold prophet who should venture to predict the exact result a single hour before its final accomplishment. If THIERS succeeds in putting down the Commune and in capturing Paris, the next conundrum is, What will he do with it? Nobody has ventured to guess the answer, except in the vaguest of terms. But nearly all people except the French seem to feel pretty sure that whatever is wisest and best to do is exactly the thing that will not be done.—Det. Post.