The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-30
G U I z o II.
His Great Pamphlet on the Situa-
tiOn in France.

We have before ne the complete text OF very re-
markable utterance of opinion from no less dis
tnguished publcist, orator aud statesman than
NJ Guizot long OF the ruling and authoritative
minds OF Europe The limits Of our space preclude
its reproduction IN full to-day, but, to use tho
language Of o leading French journal Of December
1s-the latest date Of the pamphlet in ques-
tion peing few days earler-"the talent
Of M. GulZot has never, perhaps, been
more sirilingly manifested ana characterized
than In this little work. The reader finds
II there complete, condensed, summed up with all
It's eminent qualities, and all Its deficiencies, too.
The critical sketch OF the situation is superb. The
eminent writer distributes to parties and 10 ipdivd
uas praise and blame alike with admirable Impair
TALLY; and II he errs In some points ne does 80
through his inaulgent hum0r. Age excuses while
n explains this weakness. Republicans, legtmat-
iss Orleapists and even Bonaparrsts are judged In
style thar may be termed irrevocablc
But NJ. Guizot senslbly weakens when he sug-
aests the remedy to be applied to the evils that are
now preyinG on France. Tho old Parliamentaran
sees no rescue for our.country excepting in the
vocation OF q national assembly. How could such
an assembly DO called together under acceptable
conditions OF free choice, and now could 1t, when
convoked, meet and move the governments This Is
what M. Guizot does not explain with sufficient pre-.
cision simply contenting himself, as lie Does with
investing the idea in the splendid flowing garb Of
his phllosophic style. y
NJ Guizot may be pardoned his preference for
she parliamentary regime to which lie owes most Of
his glory; but those who have no personal cause TO
feel any attachment for the wordy system OF gov
eTDment may ask themselves whether 1t is not TO
this disso,ving method that France owes most OF
her existing troubles.
NJ. Guzot cites FOR the support OF his propositions
the history Of the formation Of the United States OF
America, when Washington led their armies and
had to struggle, OF one and the same time, against
the British troops and the dstrust OF Congress- This
citation OF his Is ingenious, but wewould ask the
eminent writer to show us where there is o WASH
ington in France, In December, 1902 When we
shah have found Washington we shall, perhaps,
feel the less repugnance to placing him under the
tuielage OF Congress-
the above rapid apercu is fair enough criticism
Of M. Guzot's IDEAS aud may serve as sketchy IN
dex 20 the pamphlet OF which we can cite only q
few passages to-day. 1t is plain enough, however,
that the critic himself prefers dictatorship to an
M Guizo. address 'ahe Members OF the Govern.
ment OF National Defencc IN France, and earnestly
compliments them NOT only for refusing TO despair
Of their country but FOR the noble Efforts that they
have made to rescue her from the invader and TO
save her from anarchy. lyon have sustained the
war" he says, "withOut appealing 70 Revolutionary
passions, and while showing yourselves friends OF
peace, provided 1t were neither shameful nor q
the country and reorganlzed armies whlch nave
already shown themselves effective. Considering
together all the facts and difficulties OF yonr situa-
ton you have conducted yourselves ike men Of
heart and good citizensn
This much admitted, the writer reminds those
whom he addresses that France AFTER all, her honor
saved, desires peace, and that the boon cannot be
obtained on solid basis without complete
effective government to treat with the enemy. He
then regrets the incomplete, provisional aspect
presented by the existence OF two governing
centres, one at Paris and the other al Tours NOW
az BordeauX). He rebukes certain concessions to
ultra parties on the hand anu on the other, and
Hnds the only safety from all these contradictions
In
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
..SNch an assembly he adds, "coud alone, by
It's discussions and decisions, realize and cover the
responsibility OF the depostares Of power and. at
the same time give the government the unity, the
fuicrum and the strength at all points when II
requires" -.
ages, seek merely 10 appeal to the Ideas ana the
passions OF prcexisting parties strongly pronounced
and well known; the object In view Is no longer 70
set Catholics and Protestants, the whites aud the
blacks by the ears The questions ana arrange
ments before MS are far more complicated ana doubt
ful. We nave TO enlighten and shape pubic opinion
a. vet deiciensly instructed; we have incessanti!
10 sustain aud direct national sentiments Inc'lpeu