The Duel Between France and Germany | Page 4

open.

CHALLENGE TO PRUSSIA.
A few incidents exhibit this movement. It was on the 30th of June,
while discussing the proposed reduction of the Army, that Emile
Ollivier, the Prime-Minister, said openly: "The Government has no
kind of disquietude; at no epoch has the maintenance of peace been
more assured; on whatever side you look, you see no irritating question
under discussion." [Footnote: Journal Officiel du Soir, 3 Juillet 1870.]
In the same debate, Gamier-Pages, the consistent Republican, and now
a member of the Provisional Government, after asking, "Why these
armaments?" cried out: "Disarm, without waiting for others: this is
practical. Let the people be relieved from the taxes which crush them,
and from the heaviest of all, the tax of blood." [Footnote: Journal
Official du Soir, 2 Juillet 1870.] The candidature of Prince Leopold
seems to have become known at Paris on the 5th of July. On the next
day the Duc de Gramont, of a family famous in scandalous history,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, hurries to the tribune with defiance on his
lips. After declaring for the Cabinet that no foreign power could be
suffered, by placing one of its princes on the throne of Charles the Fifth,
to derange the balance of power in Europe, and put in peril the interests
and the honor of France, he concludes by saying, in ominous words:
"Strong in your support, Gentlemen, and in that of the nation, we shall
know how to do our duty without hesitation and without weakness."
[Footnote: Ibid., 8 Juillet.]
This defiance was followed by what is called in the report, "general and
prolonged movement,--repeated applause"; and here was the first stage
in the duel. Its character was recognized at once in the Chamber.
Gamier-Pages exclaimed, in words worthy of memory: "It is dynastic
questions which trouble the peace of Europe. The people have only
reason to love and aid each other." [Footnote: Ibid.] Though short,
better than many long speeches. Cremieux, an associate in the
Provisional Government of 1848, insisted that the utterance of the
Minister was "a menace of war"; and Emmanuel Arago, son of the
great Republican astronomer and mathematician, said that the Minister
"had declared war." [Footnote: Ibid.]
These patriotic representatives were not mistaken. The speech made
peace difficult, if not impossible. It was a challenge to Prussia.

COMEDY.
Europe watched with dismay as the gauntlet was thus rudely flung
down, while on this side of the Atlantic, where France and Germany
commingle in the enjoyment of our equal citizenship, the interest was
intense. Morning and evening the telegraph made us all partakers of the
hopes and fears agitating the world. Too soon it was apparent that the
exigence of France would not be satisfied, while already her
preparations for war were undisguised. At all the naval stations, from
Toulon to Cherbourg, the greatest activity prevailed. Marshal
MacMahon was recalled from Algeria, and transports were made ready
to bring back the troops from that colony.
Meanwhile the candidature of Prince Leopold was renounced by him.
But this was not enough. The King of Prussia was asked to promise that
it should in no event ever be renewed,--which he declined to do,
reserving to himself the liberty of consulting circumstances. This
requirement was the more offensive, inasmuch as it was addressed
exclusively to Prussia, while nothing was said to Spain, the principal in
the business. Then ensued an incident proper for comedy, if it had not
become the declared cause of tragedy. The French Ambassador, Count
Benedetti, who, on intelligence of the candidature, had followed the
King to Ems, his favorite watering- place, and there in successive
interviews pressed him to order its withdrawal, now, on its voluntary
renunciation, proceeding to urge the new demand, and after an
extended conversation, and notwithstanding its decided refusal, seeking,
nevertheless, another audience the same day on this subject, his
Majesty, with perfect politeness, sent him word by an adjutant in
attendance, that he had no other answer to make than the one already
given: and this refusal to receive the Ambassador was promptly
communicated by telegraph, for the information especially of the
different German governments. [Footnote: Bismarck to Bernstorff, July
19, 1870, with Inclosures: Parliamentary Papers, 1870, Vol.
LXX.,--Franco-Prussian War, No. 3, pp. 5-8. Gerolt to Fish, August 11,
1870, with Inclosures: Executive Documents, 41st Cong. 3d Sess., H.
of R., Vol. I. No. 1, Part 1,--Foreign Relations, pp. 219-221. The reader
will notice that the copy of the Telegram in this latter volume is the
paper on p. 221, with the erroneous heading, "_Count Bismarck to

Baron Gerolt._"]

PRETEXT OF THE TELEGRAM.
These simple facts, insufficient for the slightest quarrel, intolerable in
the pettiness of the issue disclosed, and monstrous as reason for war
between two civilized nations, became the welcome pretext. Swiftly,
and with ill-disguised alacrity,