Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-18

Message-A Variety OF 0ptuiORs-The
students Emeute In Paris-The
Rapid Growth Of the Republican
Party i'm France-what Bixio-s Fs-
neral Meantime Death of the Bel
gian King.
| Correspondence of the New York News.
PARIS, Dec %, 1865.
No subject is discussed here with such Vi
vacity as President Johnson's Message; and
especially, of course, that part of it which
expresses his views and policy in the mat
| ter of Republican institutions in America,
and European intervention upon that conti-
nent Does that, or does it not, refer to
Mexico and Maximilian's Empire? Does
it indicate, or does it not, an intention at
some future time to treat the new empire as
such an intervention by an European pow
establishing Monarchy ON the ruins of
Republics will call upon the United
States to put an end to it in the interest of
Republicanism? Most French people ac-
cept the document as a proclamation, not
only of peaeeahle intentions, but of abso-
lutte indifference to the future of Mexico
They take Mr. Johnson's declaration as a
simple statement that the Government of
the United States will always defend its own
form of government, within its own bor-
ders, against any attack nponit By European
powers; which, they say, is perfectly fair,
though rather needless, TO announce, mas
much as no European Power, that they
know of, meditates any assault upon Re
publicanism in the United States.
Others, however, supposing, not unnatur-
ally, that the President would scarcely give
himself the trouble to declare SO solemnly
that the United States is prepared to defend
itself from aggression Ia thing which Is
matter of course, violently suspect that he
means, in an equivocal sort of way, to claim
protectorate over all American republics,
and to intimate, though not directly nor
very clearly, that the Austro-French estab-
lishment in Mexico must some day be taken
up by the roots.
Others still have third theory on the
subiect--it is, that Mr.. johnson has express
ed himself in that somewhat enigmatical
manner, chiefly to satisfy public opinion in
his own country; in order on the one hand
to please the party which desires peace and
rest and material recuperation after the war,
and, on the other, to keep hold of the Mon
roe doctrine by dubious expressions which
may hereafter be interpreted as the interests
of the country and party exigences may re-
quire. This view of the case implies that the
President feeling himself obliged to have
certain paragraphs in his message touching
upon that knotty question, has successfully
practiced the art of uttering good many
words, and putting them dramatically into
sentences, and saying nothing. The last of
the three interpretations may turn out to be
not quite destitute of foundation. There is,
however most unqucstionably some uneasi-
ness among the official people here; the
Liberals" or Republicans of this country
openly declare their wish that Mexico and
Maximilian were left to themselves, and the
French forces withdrawn-in which case the
Empire would not stand month. But then
these Republics have the habit of attack
ing eyerythiriS Me Government does, and of
wishing for the thing most opposite to that
which the Government wishes. Probably
the Government of the Empire will soon re-
solve upon taking one of two courses in the
matter of Mexico: the one to withdraw all
French soldiers and Macmillan with them
the other to reinforce the army in Mexico
largely and prepare to make good the En-
pire against all opposition. If war arise out
of this affair, it will not be confined to Mex
leo.
There has been some little disturbance
|
the academical authorities having deprived
seven young men of their right to take de-
grees. These youngsters had attended some
sort Of Convention" at Liege, in Belgian,
and had poured forth some blarney about
the Black Flag and the Red Flag, and
their determination to live no longer as
slaves, etc. The rigmarole was printed IN
Belgian newspapers, and having attracted
some attention, the University authorities
felt called upon to notice it by expulsion
from the classes. Commotion, of course, In
the Latin quarters. One of the Faculty, a
Professor Tardieu, had refused to concur IN
the severe measure. Thousands of students
sign an address to NJ. Tardieu, felicitating
| him on his noble stand. Some newspapers
published this address; they receive first
warning (auertiesenent) on the spot. Sey-
eral lecture rooms are the scene of disturb
ance-not rioting, but only loud and excited
! outcries and interpretations; whereupon the
police march into said lecture rooms, clear
them out instantly, and shut the door.
| So are matters going ON in the Latin quarter
at this moment. Posts of police are doubled,
there is active surveillance over the student
| world, and indignant youths have TO talk
over their Red Flag in private apartments.
No serious trouble is expected to arise out OF
| this Snch things often occur.
| There is, however, a powerful and l think
a growing Republican party in this country,
although the Emperor is rising in personal
popularity. Every circumstance that takes
place is sure to be laid hold of to make a
sort Of party demonstration. For example
| Alexander B:xio died the other day; he
was an old Republican he was wounded in
| Paris in 1S48; he was much connected with
the anti-Papal party in Italy, and was IA
| miliarly known to leading literary people in
| this country. Further: M. Bixio was a
| steady atheist, and he and his friends made
| his death bed scene a species Of anti-religious
manifesto. He died without priest, with
out PRAYER or JUNCTION, and neither he nor any
| of his enlightened friends around his bed,
made the slightest allusion to religion or
future life This was considered capital,
especially as the Liberal newspapers paraded
that scene in its minutest details. Here was
the death of virtuous man and true philos-
opher! Here was a Socratic death-bed-
| "a mistake, this last allusion, for Socrates
sacrificed cock to Esculapius) land as for
| the great merit of dxing without religious
consolation, the Liberals forget to advert to
| the fact that dogs die so. However, great
| funeral for poor NJ. Bixio was determined
on; it was to be regarded, in some sort, as a
parade of the Republicans; it was to mean
| Italian unity, and no Pope, and protest
generally against the Emperors policy, If
not against the Emperor's existence. OF
| course. the Emperor's amiable cousin, Prince
| Napoleon, would not fail to attend; in fact,
he made a long journey to Paris, and II was
| announced that he had followed the body of
NJ. Bixio from the house, the whole way to
the cemetery on foot Not that he loved NJ.
| Bixio more, but that he loved his cousin
| less: and, If the thing was to spite the En-
1 peror a little, he was very certain TO stand
| barsheaded in q damp cemetery "a long as
required for the purpose.
Americans, think, find it hard to under
| stand the intense interest excited in Europe
by the death of King Leopold of Belgium:
| 1t is because Leopold. was the most successful
practitioner of the Z he of King in modern
times. Beginning with a small capital OF
| high German blood, he has allied himself as
son-in-law and as father-in-law with all the
greatest royal houses has been King HIM
| self for FIVE and thirty years, amasslng a
| vast fortune all the while, and has now died
| a millionaire. That family seems TO have
a wonderful aptitude for the royal business.
How exemplary a King was Leopold How
| illustrious a Prince Consort was Albert
| Leopold always professed himself perfect
| Belgian, and az to Prince Albert was not he
model of an Englishmane 4 Coburg is al
ways ready to reign anywhere--if the sltua-
| t;on he elieible. has no objection 10 town