THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1681, 10 July 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1879.

The awful loss of human" life occasioned by the Franco-German struggle has just been brought home anew to the minds of all. A report has been published by the French Government showing what that Government has done towards consecrating the last resting places of the eighty-seven thousand three hundred and ninety-six human beings who fell during that murderous war. These are the victims who have been reverently interred and whose graves afro known, and officially recorded. Of these eightyseven thousand three hundred and ninetysix dead bodies, thirty-seven thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine were of French blood, twenty-one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six of German, while of the nationality of the remaining twenty-seven thousand six hundred and sixty-one the report was unable to speak with any certainty. Besides these soldiers of the two races that were buried on French soil, there have to be added the twenty-one thousand Frenchmen who died in captivity in Germany or perished in Switzerland from the effects of Bourbaki’s dreadful retreat into that country, and further the thousands of Germans who died after their return into their own country from the effects of wounds and hardships. Surely the advocates of peace can need no more powerful text from which to preach the gospel of universal peace than the report we have alluded to. When it is considered that each of those thousands of fellow creatures cut down in their prime was the important part and parcel of some domestic circle, that the parents of most of them were probably alive, and a largo percentage left wives and children to deplore their loss, some idea may bo formed of the awful amount of misery which war on such a gigantic scale entails. The publishing of this report may well bo expected to stay in some measure the longing which most Frenchmen are credited with possessing, namely, that of making a push to reconquer the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. It would seem as if humanity should revolt at the bare thought of allowing yet again such a flood of misery to cover the two countries. It is natural that France should have felt deeply the loss of so fertile a portion of her territories, but it will have to remember, before entering upon a crusade for its recovery, that, viewed with regard to their defensive capacities, Alsace and Lorraine are now far stronger thau they wore before the war, that Metz has been made practically invulnerable, and that if so much French blood was poured out during the war of 1870, far more would, in all human probability, have to be spilt before Franco regained her old boundaries. With regard to the question of prestige and honour, the Loudon “ Standard ” puts the question thus : “ Honour, wo know, is the most ticklish of all sentiments, and if there were solid grounds for saying that French honour was affected by the issue of the late war, then indeed it would bo a waste of words to offer pacific counsels. But it is notorious that the reputation of Frenchmen for gallantry and military genius stands as high as ever, and that it was the preparedness of Germany, as compared with the unready condition of France, that caused the latter to succumb. The glories of Franco in war, in art, in literature, in science, and in all that concerns society must bo pronounced to bo in excess of those of Germany. A country that sighed for more glory than Franco already possesses would stand self-condemned as insatiably greedy of prizes of doubtful value. As far as honour is implicated, the French people can afford to make the Gormans a present of the victories of the latest struggle between them.” The sad

record contained in the report we have alluded to may well dispose both nations to forbearance, oven when their mutual jealousies are most onflamed.

Our evening contemporary has momentarily abandoned its perusal of “ Cornwall’s Geography” and other elementary works, to lament over the deficiencies of its contemporaries. It has been reminded, by glancing at the columns of those contemporaries, of a story of a groat English diplomat. This great man “ through the simple faculty, which he had cultivated with sedulous care, of being able to keep a judicious silence, had acquired a reputation for sagacity beyond that of oven tho profoundest philosophers of ancient or modern times, and this diplomatic wonder of the world was decorated and honoured by Governments and Kings. At last, however, thrown off his guard —probably through a more than ordinarily heavy doso of sycophantic incense—ho began to talk, and the murder immediately was out. He stood revealed in all his native ignorance and folly.” Perhaps, in some future issue, the “ Star ” will reveal the name of this “ gro English diplomat.” It will ho interesting to learn how ho over came to bo entrusted with the management of important negotiations, for the maintenance of perfect silence is not the usual method by which promotion in tho diplomatic service is arrived at. Moreover, somewhat tho same story is told of another individual, who was neither a diplomat or an Englishman; hut perhaps this is only a coincidence, Tho way, too, in which tho great man was thrown off his guard stimulates curiosity. It was ‘‘probably through a more than ordinary dose of sycophantic incense.” Tho “ Star,” having carefully worked up tho historical details of the case, has come to this conclusion, to the entire exclusion of the possible theory that the “ wonder of the world ” had, on the occasion referred to, indulged somewhat too freely in spirituous liquors. Tho “Star” readers will of course feel pleased that the illustrious stranger was of sober habits, and will pass on to the body of the article refreshed and edified. Nor will the change of scene bo disappointing, although here too further disclosures on the part of the “ Star” are very desirable, for amongst other things we are informed that the meaning of Te Whiti’s utterances are now thoroughly- understood. If only our contemporary would only be a little more open with its readers ! It would bo so pleasant to have tho meaning of Te Whiti’s utterances explained as they burst from the prophet’s lips. They are all, evidently, perfectly clear to tho “ Star.” Why keep tho information to itself ? Why not, whenever a dark saying proceeds from its inspired source, explain it in exienso ? Tho public have almost a right to demand that the possessor of such valuable information shall not keep it all to himself. And then tho “ Star’s ” general ideas on tho present aspect of Native matters are so instructive. The Premier’s “ masterly inactivity ” is credited with the capture of the political ploughmen, and all the various other acts which have led to the present more satisfactory state of Native affairs. The settlers who were driven by the apathy of the Government to take the law into their own hands—who in reply to appeals for aid, were furnished with promises of commissions of enquiry and twaddling remarks about events that happened in Sir George’s youth, have, of course, in tho eyes of tho “ Star,” nothing whatever to do with tho matter. The great inert mass that is known as the Grey Government has alone, by its “masterly inactivity,” captured and imprisoned the ploughmen.