The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-01
THE PARTY OF TWO IN
pot JUTNG

recurrence impossible.
THE PARTY OF TWO IN FRENCH
POLITICS.
From the ~ 7. Times
In the new distribution of political parties
IN France, MN. Raspail and Rochefort have
earned the unique distinction of having
section all to themselves. The substantive
existence of the party cannot, however, be
questioned, and no one who has read the ex-
tracts from the proceedings of the Corps
Leglslatif, furnished by our Paris CORES
pondent, will doubt the obvious determine
ton of the new radical section to keep the
TACT OF It's existence prominently before the
public mind. Personally, the union of two
such men presents an odd enough contrast.
Raspail, the grim old socialist, chemist, and
herbalist equally familiar with unheard- of
cures for bodily ailments, as with revolution
airy remedies for the distempers of the State.
seems being as unlike as possible to the gay
and brilliant Count Henri de Rochefort-a
modern exquisite and type of Young
Paris. Yet the one would scarcely be com
plete without the other, for while Raspail
embodies the stern regrets and bitter memo
ries Of the past, Rochefort is the representa-
tive of the concentrated dislike and impa-
tience of the present. Between them they
represent that prejudice against the imperial
dynasty which seems to be n growing senti-
ment among the masses of the French
people.
While it is perfectly easy to smile at the ab-
surdities which the necessities of their posi-
tion will force upon the new Deputies, it is
needFul to bear in mind that they furnish the
counterpart within the Chamber of power
ful phase of popular opinion outside of it,
When we compare the unsparing use which
the author Of the LdnteJRe makes of weapons
of ridicule and satire against the dynasty,
with the very pitiable manner in which he
winces under their personal application, we
are apt to conclude that, being at once weak
and vain he is likely to become contemplate:
but when, in spite of sundry foolish exhibit
tions, we find his new paper, the MdTSeiIldise,
realizing sale, uneXampled even in novelty
loving Paris, of 10000 copies, we are re-
minded that the Deputy of the First Circum-
scription of the Seine is political power in
spite of, if not by reason of, his inconsis-
tencies. The opposition Give" of eight years
ago received fair share of ridicule but they
survived, in spite of it, to change the entire
complexion of French politics. The factions
and irreconcilable ''two' may, by the very
consistency of their bitter and uncompromis-
ing hostility become the nucleus of force
which will play an important part in the politi-
cal future of France.
The tactics of NM. Raspail and Rochefort
iOlLi uOJ tuS leubJ pOIllOu Ol lu0
which will beset the new parliamentary expe-
riment in France. M. Olivier is evidently
endeavoring to make his ministry distin-
guished example of the coalescing power of
parties. But with leading members of both
Right and Left Centres standing haughtily
aloof, with the seceders from the Third party
and the liberal minority making common
cause, and with the implacable and popular
''irreconcilables' denouncing the coalition on
behalf of thousands of angry voters out of
doors, it is to be feared that the new minis
ter will find the desire of his life rather
dearly bought. The spirit of mutual con-
cession and forbearance by which alone u
parliamentary system can work at all, is but
imperfectly developed among French poll
ticians, and still less 80 among their consti-
tuents. Yet here we have but one Gof the
many results of that deceitful calm of eight
years, during which the Empire was success
tul abroad and prosperous at home, but
during which generation was ripening into
manhood, to whom free institutions were but
name and self-government solemn farce.
And so at length, after the elected of eight
millions has been snubbed and outwitted both
in the Old World and the New, and is dis
covered to be but fallible man, like any
other ruler, the very workmen for whose sake
he contrived magnificent public works, and
invented imposing spectacles, turn round and
demand their lost heritage of freedom, and
clamor for the removal of the man who has
betrayed the hard.earned prestige of France.
Louis Napoleon may call this ingratitude
more discriminating posterity will pronounce
1T the Just Nemesis of an ambition that