The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-09-22
The So-called French Republic.

The So-called French Republic.
There is no political event that could
more rajoioa the heart Of every true
American thaa the establishment Of a
genuine republic in France, strong enough
TO maintain order at home, and to defend
itself agairst the assaults of despotic
neighbors There is nothing that could
give more pain TO every humane man In
christendom than the establishment Of
a sham republic, an instrument in the
hands OF tae mob In Paris to set up the
guilotine and reenact the bloody and
horrible scenes Of the last century. Every
movement promising a substantial and
permanent advance in the cause Of hui
mao liberty must receive the sympathy
| aud encouragement OF every man who
| loves his race. Every movement in the
| name OF Republicanism promising only
license and excess, OR at most an ephem-
eral republic, can only be deprecated as
| tending TO cast doubt upon mans capac-
iiy for government, and to fortify
the cause Of despotism, already much
too strong.
Uuhappily there is very little that is
encouraging. in either the origin, the
composition or the professions Of the
present revolutionary government. The
early days of September, 1870, present
too many strong points resemblance TO
the latter days OF February 1S4S. On
Sunday the Deputies hastily convened
| to consider what to do In view Of Louis
Napoleon surrender. Before they can
| transact any business, the mob shouts
'::dechedace r " Vfre la Republic ~ so
! continuously and vehemently that it is i'm
| possible for any Deputy to make himself
heard, and the iegislaiif body is broken
up by the tumult without action. A
| handful Of Republican Deputies, accom-
panied by q crowd, go to the Hotel de
| Vile. The great hall is filed with men,
aud still more with clamor. Some nine
Republican leaders seat themselves at a
table, consult as well as they can amid
| the tumuit and excitement, and in few
moments Gambetta, one of the decem
! pirate, declares the republic fact. A
moment more, and Bureau and a
/ Periec5 OF Police are announced. The
Bureau retire, and In another moment
| return and announce a Ministry. The
| MOB applauds, demands that Rochefor
lie added, which is done, and the repub-
lican governments is made, all within one
Eour, between three and four p. NJ
This Government is not the creature OF
france. 1T is not even the creature OF
Pals. A dozen men constitute them
selves The Government, with the APPROX
al OF a mob Of civilians and National
Guards stropg enough 10 overawe the
lmperialists and Orleanists in the Cham
bcr Ct Deputies. Yes, let US admit,
strong enough to control the press and
place the reins Of power for the time
being III the hands of their government.
Let rs admit, too, that there is apparent
unanimity, If we may credit the dispatch
es, in the streets Of Paris, and Of the
larger cities Of France. But be it observ-
ed that, though Paris may be France,
the streets Of Paris are not france, any
more than they were on the I'D Odd and
o4th Of February. 1913. The present
republic" was born as former French
republics were, and nothing short OF a
miracle can save it from their death.
llthere is no hope in the origin there
IS scarcely more In the composition Of
this republic or in It's pretensions. The
members Of the ministry are, or are SUP
posed to be Republicans, it is true.
True, they are, many OF them, men dis
tinSuished for learning, eloquence or
military skill, but we have no evidence
OF their administration ability. We have
not even the assurance that they can
ride for three days the popular storm
that has swept them to the head OF al
fairs. At their head stands Trochu, who
whatever his sentiments may be, is a
soldier by profession and an absolutist
by habit; and habit is often, especially
hen turbulent masses are to be restrain
ed, too stroGg for sentiment. For the
rest, some are eminent IN the walks Of
literature and others are notorious for
extreme opinions and violent expressions.
Not one so far as we know, save, posi-
bly,, Jules Favre, possesses wisdom, mod
GRAFTON aud frmness requisite In the
great and successful revolutionary leader.
As for the pretensions Of this govern
ment, thus strangely created, even this
same Fayre is reported 10 have said to
delegation from the Chamber of Depu-
ties, on Sunday evening. that ''the gov
eminent considered itself legally created
by he people" This government, that
doesn't seem TO know whether Favre or
Troohu stands at its head considers itself
legally created That is Fiench. Again,
this same Fayre exclaims, 1--WE will not
cede one inch Of French territory, nor one
stone Of the fortresses Of France" This
is defiant reckless language in govern
meBt that has just seen one ofits armies,
one hundred and twenty thousand strong,
utterly destroyed that now sees another,
hardly less strong, ready to surrender;
aud the victorious enemy, overwhelming
force almost at the gates Of It's ca ilal
If this defiant attitude is held, the French
armies must sustain another crushing de-
feat, and after that this legally created
government will be destroyed as sudden
~, and as legally withal, as it was Great
ed.