The Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871

Although it occurred a continent away, the Franco-Prussian War was still covered in great detail by the Canadian Illustrated News. The magazine did not glorify either the War or the main combatants, but instead focused on the increasing cost of the War on the civilian population. The magazine challenged the international community to find alternative methods of resolving disputes rather than resorting to armed conflict.

More information:

An article by Sean Sullivan, Canadian Illustrated News and the Franco-Prussian War (July 1870-February 1871).

A sample article, from July 23, 1870, deals with the divergence between the real objectives behind the War versus the alleged reasons. It also discusses the probable consequences of the War and predicts that unless governments take effective measures, either this or the next War will expand beyond its intended combatants to encompass all of Europe.

A second article, dated November 19, 1870, further discusses the role of other nations in the conflict. It criticizes the international community for not taking steps to prevent the outbreak of war in the first place.