A correspondent kindly sends us the following translation of a leading article of the " National Zeitung," Berlin, of September 4 last, which, as he says, shows how German public opinion is enlightened.
"This day, forty-four years ago, the Republic was proclaimed in Paris. Even the Government of the Empire could not withhold the catastrophe of Sedan from the French people for longer than one anxious day and already on September 3, General Palikao had to admit the truth in its full extent before the legislative body in Paris. His fatal words had hardly been spoken when Jules Favre moved the abdication of the imprisoned Emperor and his dynasty. On the following day, the Republic was proclaimed and greeted with acclamation as the rescuer from the victorious German Army. The French imagination was soldiers of the third Napoleon had not been able to chic to be secured for the tricolour by the new enthusisem which filled the fighters of the Republic. Such was the great hope of September 4, 1870.
"But things turned out otherwise; the Republican legend could as little triumph over German thoroughness and courage as the Napoleonic. But the third Republic, born on the day of Sedan, has lasted to this day forty-four years—a long life for a form of government, in France so fond of changes. On the day of its anniversary, the Government of the Re public has fled to Bordeaux before the victorious German Army. Again the armies of France are beaten, again is German cavalry at the gates of Paris. But cleverer than the Empress Eugenie, who, on September 4, 1870, very nearly fell a victim to the sudden overthrow, M. Poincaré and the Members of his Government have preferred to escape in time from the depressing atmosphere of the capital, where their further stay seemed dangerous not only owing to the advancing German columns.
"Bordeaux has a less glorious revolutionary past than Paris. Bordeaux is on the sea, whence
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.