The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-08-13
I France.

r,nrYa NAroLEos is either very sick or
yery reticent or hopeless. Apparently, ne
exerts no influence and takes no pfrs III
public matters. The Legislature tssctlng
by itself, as far as public indications serve
to guide our conclusions.
France no more than any other country
can be satisfied with an empty throne at q
time of great national exigency. The mum
of discomfort is ringing through the king
dom. Il is, however, much mixed up with
the popular clamor for the public defence
and for instant measures to drive back the
invaders. There isa powerful element let
loose upon France now, and were there .ne
man to direct it properly, it would socn VIM
dictate French heroism, and at least clear
her borders Of the Prussians. But IL thus
far moves with the uncertainty of swarm
of bees without their sovereign. Until there
that clear, decisive voice Of competency
and superior genius which can still tumuit
and guide ferociasls and wild impulses in
| the line of public safety and public defence,
there will be no rest in France.
The public sympathy is evidently parting
from LOUIS NAPOLEON, and unless some
thing almost miraculous promptly happens
to replace him in the public respect he
must, if he lives, soon abdicate his throne.
If he abdicates he will do so in favor of his
son, who will be repndiated by the unani-
nous voice of the French nation. And
that will end the BoNAPARTEs for the Sc
cond time. The French people will either
! rule or be ruled.
It may be truly said that cam
paign that was begun in hesitation and
| impolicy, and prosecuted with disaster, is
| generally beyond retrieyal, even in an early
stage of its progress. And if the French
army RECEIVERS its losses and turns back the
| tide of misfortune, it will achieve one
amongst the nearest of things to an impossi-
bility. The task Of LOUIS NAPoLEoN's re-
linstating himself is equally difficult.
But, as we have frequently said, in any
event France will remain great Power
If the war fails it will be made LOUIS Ma
! poLEoN's war, and he will be sacriticed-he
will become the scape-goat. But what VIII
ifollow? New complications, new troubles
in the allied protectorate of Europe. The
increased potency of Prussia will excite
new iealousies, and the disposition of the
1.-TWO thrones of France and Spain will give
lrise to questions well calculated to vex the
courts Of Europe.
The first stage in France after the depo'
sition of LOUIS NAPOLEON, should he fall,
will be the Republic, whose endurance
being impossible, there will follow the in
trigues of the two branches of the Bourbon
family to recover the throne of France, and
upon these will likely be played several va
riations by the allied Powers with the OBJ
Iject of securing to themselves influence in
French policy all of which will end in en-
throning somebody in France.
A republic in France for a gay and fes-
tive season would incite Spain to new
caper about liberty and free Government ;
but she, too, will take the bit after she is
tired with racing about the dclusivc pas
lures of freedom. 1t may be HonENzoL-
LERN, after all, that will be her King, unless
England in turn becomes jealous of Prus.
sia.
A few days will throw much light on
these subjects.