The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-07-26 00:00:00

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SATURDAI, JULY 26:11, 1379.

THE FLITUR,E OF FRENCH POLITICS.

Fa.iNcE is so close to us, and the two peoples
are in such constant intercourse, that the
politics of our neighbours naturally com-
mand more interest with us than those of
distant nations. Consequently we read with
more attention of a political crisis in Paris
than of one in Reme, or Vienna, or Berlin.
A revolution in the French capital has before
now led to momentous events in oar own
country. The French revolution which be-
gan in 1789 was followed by a war which
lasted a quarter of a century, and was onl
brought to an end by the victory of Water-
loo; but it would have been impossible for
such a result to have succeeded a convulsion
in Italy, in Austria, in Prussia, or in Russia.
in 1830, the political upheaval in
Paris, which drove Charles X. from his
throne, led to extraordinary excitement in
England, and was the immediate cause of
the passing of the first Reform Act. Paris,
in fact, from the geographical position of the
country of which it is the capital, and which
must always ensure it the possession of a
commanding influence, is and will remain
the poli6ical centre of Europe. That influ-
ence may occasionally move with undulating
waves towards Vienna, or in the direction
of Berlin, but it cannot be removed from
Paris.

Now that the excitement occasioned by
the nntimely death of the Prince Imperial is
at an end, people are beginning. to speculate
concerning the results which such an unfor-
tunate event is likely to produce on the
course of political life in France. This
speculation is one of very general interest,
as the future of the French Republic is an
important element in the determination of
the fortunes of Continental Europe. Onthe
first impression it would appear as if the
cause of Imperialism had received a fatal
blow with the demise of Prince Louis Napo-
leon; and this impression is confirmed by
the languae.e of the Republican press in
France. The partisans of the Republic de-
clare that all possibility of a third Empire is
now at an end, and that Imperialism has
passed out of the domain of practiced politics.
Against these assertions must, however, be
placed the fact that, previous to the death of
the young Prince the champions of French
Republicanism were wont to asseverate with
equal confidence that the Napoleonic dynasty
had lust all hold on the country, and that
the notion of Prince Louis over succeeding
to his father's throne was a patent absurdity.
It is now admitted, even by the supporters
of the established Government, that Im-
perialism was until very recently a power in
France, and that the Prince Imperial, had he
lived, would have had at least a chance of
becoini.,g the Sovereign of a restored em-
pire. Long ago as he lived, the career of
the first Napoleon exercised an extraordinary
power over the imagination of Frenchmen,
aril it has not yet lost its hold upon their
minds. There is no name in France so
powerful to conjure with as that of the con-
queror of Jena and Austerlitz. Besides,
the Empire, as it is known in France, repre-
sents a sort of compr3mise between the Re-
public and the Monarchy. As a body,
Frenchmen have neither taste nor aptitude
for Parlaxnentary institutions after our Eng-
lish fashion. The idea of Imperialist Gov-
ernment is a powerful administration deriv-
ing its authority from the people, recognising
certain broad pcinciples which have com-
mended themselves to popular approval, but
acting promptly and decisively without hav-
ing to take account of constitutional restraints
and regulations. The practical difficulties
in the way of realising this ideal are obvious
enough, and the French nation has been
tae.ght their gravity by bitter and repeattd
experience. Still the fact remains that len-
; e'sm, i it were capable of being carried
Out ;lenestly and coutinuously, would pro-
la: more congenial to the French mind
ifan an other form of rule. To be power-
fa! abroad, and to preserve order at home, to
haee the State well administered, and to
secure the law being strictly and impartially
tee:'oreed, are objects for which the vast
majority of Frenchmen care more than for
individual rights or political liberties. The
reign of the late Emperor, althoug7., it ended
in a disastrous war for which the nation, no
less than himself, was responsible, had given
France twenty years of prosperity and poli- •
tical order; and many a Frenchman would
not object to the return of a system combin-
ing the latter advantages without running
the risk of national catastrophes. There-
fore, although the Prince Imperial is dead,
there are other members of the Napoleon
family around whom the supporters of such
a system could rally.
It is, of course, for the French people to
choose the form of Government which
divides them the least, whether Legitimist,
Orleanist, Empire, or Relmblic. But so far
as the Imperial traditions are concerned,
there can be no doubt that between the first
and the second there was a mighty difference
in the feelings with which it regarded this
country. The first Napoleon hated us with
an implacable enmity; his successor did
everytaing he possibly could to be on good
terms with us. He joined his arms with us
to beat back the Russian Czar from the
banks of the Dan ibe ; and he concluded a
commercial Treaty with England which en-
ormously increased the trade of beth Countries
and which it will be remembered, a succeed-
ing French Government repudiated. There-
fore, so far as our memories of the late Em-
peror are concerned, they are nothing but
His remains repose in English soil,
and those or les only son, upon whom all his
hope!, were concentrated, have lately been
laid !),..side him under circumstances which
have elicited expressions of sympathy for
tho widowed and childless Empres; from all
classes. We arc on ox.cellent terms with the
French Republic ; but, looking at the vicis-
situdes of political life across the Channel, it
would be premature to come to the conclu-
s..-,n that Imperialism died with the late
Prince L mis Napoleon, and that the system
of rule which it represents depended upon
the precarious existence of a single life,

THE IRON TRADE.
Won- E IMAM PTON, Wednesday.
A steady tone prevailed at the market to-
day, and in some departmcnts there were
rnr)re inquiries for finished iron. Tl2is was
m 0,13 noticeable in the tinplate, hoops, and
trip branches, thorqh none of the mann.
sacturers can be said to be busy. Some of