The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-31

weeks imprisonment at the Conciergerie, he
was conducted to the frontiers. Six months
later, the time meanwhile being devoted to
travelling through England Switzerland, aud
Italy as an involuntary exile, he was suffered to
return to France. Louis Napoleon had appealed
to the people, and the people had elected him
President for ten years; Theirs was no longer
feared
After his return to Paris, Theirs devoted his
time principally to literary pursuits, ignoring
politics almost altogether for some years. In
addition to his two great historical works, and
an able essay on ''Law and his Financial Sys-
tenn" (frst published in 1926, at this and other
periods of his life he wrote numerous political
pamphlets, and attained position of the highest
rank in the literary world. He received an eX-
traordnary prize of 10000 francs from the
French Institute for his Consulate and EN-
pire," was elected a member of the French
Academy, and of the Academy of Moral and
Political Sciences, was made grand officer of
the Legion of Honor april 81, 1S40), and re-
ceived foreign orders and honors almost innu-
merable at different times
He Goes Back to His Old Trade.
On the approach of the general elections of
1868, he re-entered the political arena, offered
himself as q candidate to one of the Paris dis
tricts and was elected member of the Corps
Legislatif He took the oath of allegiance to
the Empire, after the French fashion, and re-
sumed his political career as one of the original
tive" opposition members. Early in 1864, he
signalized his re-entrance upon the arena in
which he had been conspicuous for SO many
years by delivering powerful speech against
the Government in which he threatened that
France would insist by force upon certain rad-
cal reforms, if they were not voluntarily granted
H., tI,aT Xla,,. hat,,
liberty, parliamentary liberty, the absolute
liberty of the press, and individual liberty in its
freest and broadest sense. 1t was a broad and
comprehensive platform-much broader and
more comprehensive than the veteran agitator
had ever planted himself on before, and the
eyes of the world were once more riveted upon
the bold champion of constitutional freedom.
From that date down to Napoleons pre-
tense of a responsible ministry, at the opening
of the present year, Theirs remained firm and
consistent opponent of the Imperial policy,
separating from the opposition on one notable
occasion only supporting the second expedition
to Rome, in which he had the countenance of
Bourger's cooperation. During all this time he
was regarded as the leader of the Orleanist
faction, which had never abandoned the hope of
witnessing the restoration of the younger line
of the Bourbons, but which was content to
temper its opposition with moderation. Aside
from the dynastic issues of the day, he became
the especial champion of the protection party,
and in his earnest hostility to the free-trade
policy of the Empire, opposed the commercial
treaty with England in speeches which have
been freely and effectually quoted from in our
own tariff disputes. At the election of May,
1869, he was reelected a member of the Corps
Legislatif, and when the Emperor indicated his
will, signifled his intention of giving the So
called constitutional regime" independent
support.
His Patriotic Course Daring the Present Crisis.
To this pledge he was faithful until the out
break of the present war; Just previous to ii
he delivered powerful speech in the Chambers,
| in which he insisted upon the strengthening OF
the armament of France, as precaution against
! the rising power of Prussia. But when, on the
| 18th of July, the Declaration of War was
| announced, he delivered long and powerful
| speech in opposition to it, insisting that the
withdrawal of the Hohenzollern candidature
| should satisfy France prussia" he said,
''should have been attacked when she attempted
| the union of the German States; then war would
have been legitimate, and we should have been
sustained" He recalled the two great blunders
of the Second Empire, the disastrous Mexican
expedition, and the policy of non-interventiou
between Prussia and Austria in 1866, both oi
which he had denounced at the time they were
perpetrated, and now denounced the raid upon
Germany as blunder of equal pro
portions Subsequently, after the disasters o.
Weissenburg, Woerth, and Forbach hi
denounced the Government for plunging tn,
country into war when 1t was unprepared
France was not ready" he said, sand this II
the only explanation of our reverses. Tier,
was absolute incapacity in the manage
ment of affairs" he continued. 'Let us no
weaken an explanation which shields us in the
eyes of the world" But he displayed thorough
devotion to the national cause, and in subse
quent speeches has continued to advocate th'
resistance of the invaders to the last and at any
cost. BY decree published in the Journal OF
.fciel ON the 27th, his name was added to tht
Committee of Defense, to the general satisfac
tion of the people. In announcing to the Corp
Legislatif his acceptance of the position, hi
significantly added that he must have the sup
port of the Chamber declaration which wa
received with general applause, and the an
nouncement by the President that the entir
Chamber acquiesced in the appointment.
Meanwhile, he is reported to have said tina
''the Empire is ended, and Republic is inevi
table," 1t cannot, however, be supposed tina
his lifelong devotion to the House of Orean
has passed away. At the opportune momen
we may anticipate the turning of ali his sti.
vigorous powers towards paving the way for il
restoration, and If such contingency shoul
arise, NJ. Thiers old he is, may perchanc
again become the most important parsonage i
France-the power behind the throne th0
prompts and oyerawes its occupant.
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