Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-10-18
THE POSITION OF THE FRENCH
n

THE POSITION OF THE FRENCH
NATION.
The Rev. DR.. E. de Presence, one Of
the most eloquent and distinguished Pro-
testant ministers in Paris, has written .
letter to the Christian Waterman on the
present condition Of things in Europe, and
especially on the future prospects Of the
French nation. 1.-THE splendid triumph Of
Prussia is the only thing DR.. de P. can
see encouraging as for the rest, "the ter.
rible policy Of brutal conquest and bold
usurpation inaugurated by Count Bis
marck will provoke 4 terrible revenge.
Europe will go through another sea OF
blood before her kingdoms are recon-
structed."
"When the blood and treasure Of France
shall no more be diverted to Mexico, and
when it is at liberty to collect all its forces
for q final struggle, there will be q mighty
game on the banks Of the Rhine" Napo-
leon seems to wish and hope much that
this coming storm may be averssd, but
complains that the leaders Of tho Times
newspaper are daily lashing him to fury
BY ironical compliments on the calm dig
nifty with which he receives the success OF
Prussia, and even the rebufs Of Count
Bismarck. The fact, however, is, thai
Napoleon is now sick; his constitution is
becoming worn out, apparently beyond
the restoring power Of the Vichy waters
aud the baths, and clouds are gathering
round his setting sun. 1t seems to be the
penalty Of continued dissipation that a
mans constitution shall give way just
whom he wants it most-that is, In the
midst Of some mental trial, that in good
health would only have called out his en-
ergies for the highest successes. but which
overstrain and break down the powers Of
an enfsebled vitality.
In these circumstances, "the Empire ID
peace :" that is to say, Napoleon wants
rest, and would like in case Of his death
that the throne should DO left to his young
son with so quiet a series Of relations to
all the surrounding nations that there may
be nothing to necsSsitate a revolution for
the sake Of a vigorous legitimate admins
tration Of public affairs. The Mexican
business has injured Napoleon IN France
immensely, and he Is sincerely anxious to
get out. of it, as q most foolish waste Of
the national strength. How to do this,
without that open humiliation that would
lower his Government in the eyes Of his
own people, is the only question. INA
poleon should recover his former vigor,
he may take up the gauntlet to all Europe
that Bismark has thrown down. But no
is the "sick man" now literally, and does
not want to involve his empire in danger
Gus disputes, where he has not an ally
that he has not outwitted, nor an enemy
that he has not conciliated into reliable
friendship.
His promised withdrawal Of the French
troops from Italy, and giving over Vene.
tia without stipulation or reserve to Vic
tor Emanuel, have seriously provoked the
Ultramonsane party in the Catholic
church. 1t is certain that the popular
feeling 10 that religion in France would
flourish far better il lot alone by the
State. NJ. de Presence declares that
the most intelligent Of the Catholic
clergy say: Remember that the
Church lived eight centuries without any
temporal dominion. and that was the
fairies, and most prosperous period In the
whole history Of Christianity" and that
the Papacy can only recover its standard
by renouncing all p%retensions to temporal
power. The twentieth volume Of the Cor
respondsnce Of Napoleon 1. is but just out
Of the press, and in the letters Of 1909,
Napoleon's correspondence with Pope
Plus VII. he expressed himself very
strongly against any temporal power being
proper for the head Of the Church. This
is making a great sensation. The present
crisis, i. is thought, twill hasten the
period when worn-out Europe will Dor
row of free and Christian America the
only reasonable solution Of the problem Of
the age. casting overheard the care Of Diff
ferent forms Of worship, and finally and
forever separating the spiritual from the
temporal"
The health Of the Emperor may, to a
certain extent, affect the Italian question
so far as the final REIMBURSEMENT Of the
temporal protection Of the Pope's domin-
ions are concerned. The great misfortune
Of France at this moment is, being gov
erned by ono man, and that man, able as
unqusstionably he is-weak, but with
none around him to whom he can or will
dspute his power. His life is precarious ;
health, spirits and plans are all changea-
BILE, and nothing is fixed, because at any
moment the diseased mind may change it.
The San Francisco Bulletin says that in
California there are four journals which