The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-01


appointment, yet strengthens and supports )
its possessor, Ike the ivy that clasPs and
shelters some aged oak or venerable Pne, !
adding lustre to its beauty, and protesting \
it from ruin.
mn GHOST OF 81. HIKHA II
If tho Empire means peace, We arc at 1
loss to know what preparation TOR war
means. An army reorganization bill mas
been passed by the French legislative body
by a majority of 1879 to 60. This measure,
during it's passage through the assembly,
was subject to vast amount OF discussion;
It was cut up and cut down, amended and
reamended, and it became pretty well nigh
remodeled in all it's parts before it became +
law The opponents to the Government,
as well as some of its ordinary supporters,
had fling at the measure: But, opposition
or no opposition, France is determined to
have nearly O million and a half OF soldiers
at her call whenever she requires them. 1t
is hard to say what mysterious thoughts
| are fitting at present through that brood
| ing brain in the Tuileries, and it is d1hcult
| to believe him, when he smiles, like Me- |
phistopheles, while assuring his uneasy all !
across the straits that the Empire means |
peace" It may be noteworthy here TO re-
mark that the discussion of the army Or |
ganization bill brought forth some genuine
| flashes of rare talent and ability, and con-
spicuous amongst the rest was Celtic Mar
shall O'Neil. Although the original inten-
ton of the Emperor was not carried out In
the present measure, yet he has secured q
measure sufficiently strong to enable hum TO
command whatever he can possibly require.
The first draft of this bill amounted to this,
a demand that every Frenchman should be
obliged to Join the army unless ho was
! physically incapable. This wholesale con
scription was resisted, and though the OBJ
he did not overlook the object he had in
Z his mind, in lieu of which he secured q plan
based on nine years service. With the
National Guard, France ia now IN position
to hold her own against all new corners, ana
o to loose the hold of Others In certain quar-
i tiers should she desire it. The great aug
: mentation of the French army consequent
u on the new measure will creates uneasy
doubt in Western Europe. 1t is surmsed
that Marshal O'Neil is maturing plan for
the more perfect organization of the Ma
r tional Guard, and if this turns out to be
: true. IL is not unlikely that this popular
II force will be divided into battahOns, squad
l. rons, and batteries, etc. If this takes place.
Or there may be somewhere near 3OO,OO men
e, added to the army Of France.
ia Some time must, of course, necessarily
Is elapse before the imperial power can have
Id it's desired quota of trained men in thu
liz grand army supplemented by the required
number of the National Guard. But thes'
oy things do not take long to make perfect IL
ri a military nation like France-where ever.
tn citizen and peasant is almost essential.
n a soldier. ---
&C. The Chassepot rifle, OF breech-loaders
M are nov manufactured by. the thousand
he and before the spring is out it will be prett
lin we'll supplied to all the soldiers for whom
Oh is intended. The artillery, of which tn
ers Emperor is himself no bad practical judge
Sc, is more perfect than that of AIRY other Pewe
ion in Europe. Fortresses are also in course {
inc preparation and enlargement, and In all tn
in arsenais and armories of the capital bus
ing ness is very brisk indeed.
on Well, of course, we are to accept of tn
ne, as nothing but evidence of the peacef'
ill, intentions of one who would be content
site walk in the footsteps of Caesar, as he h
rist been to vindicate his character. The
OBJ may be some possible fears agitating hi
,er- who had not at one time a place wherein
ries lay his head, that dynasties, though east
18th established, are not SO easily transmitted
be, and that, oppressed with this belief,
re- might be advisable to remove all obstacl
= in the lifetime of the transmitter. To hill
wn, self the knowledge is q {" dead secret" y
rom we are favored betlmes, In the action al
, to utterances of men, with under glimpses
ave their intentions. Who shall bury the toe
Val of the dead Caesar, who shall preach
rist- funeral grafton 7 We know nothing of t
in existence of the Mark Anthony that is bo
the to do it.
There have been Roman walls and I
ton man roads constructed in Britain, and til
less, still exist in their mighty though shatteI
new grandeur, to preach amonition to the pow
flor who prizes them, though she did not bu
OPP them. Empires have overrun empires, a
with thrones and sceptres have been rlven
, acs swept away, and out from the migl
and womb of time, whose parturition r.
de- Christcndom, nations have been born ant
1850 If the child is the father of the man,
Empire will live, and France " may t
Irish and call on the chief of her choice."-L
iero- don Gnircrsdt NGcs.