The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-11-27
The French Army and the Republic.

The dispatches inform us that the ma
jority of the French prisoners in Germany
are decided Bonapartists. If this be true
it is matter suggestive of serious reflec-
ton. 1t is evident that the Republic in
France would have had but little chance of
being established with standing army of
half million of men opposed to and
favorng the Imperial regime which had
labored so studiously to secure their fealty.
An immense regular army, thoroughly
equipped and provided, all the civil patron
age of the Government, all the munitions
of war and all the strongholds of the c0un-
try on the side of the Emperor, and it must
be acknowledged that the cards were
stocked in his favor. The Republic had
simply no hope. Its only chance was that
by some wonderful revulsion that army
should be put hors du combat. The pro-
cess by which this should be effected might
but to get rid of a vast tumor the patient
must be willing for the surgeon to cut deep.
1t has appeared to every body that Pro-
violence was visiting France with the most
terrible reverses, the most crushing defeats,
that history records under similar circum-
stances. Certainly it was difficult for faith
to see in these unparalleled disasters any
Indications of treatment necessary to the
regeneration and political salvation of the
country. But the lapse of time frequently
develops designs that were at first hidden,
and explains the necessity of. means that at
one time appeared to be ruinous. France
NAV be far better off now than she would
be with the loyal armies of Mcmahon and
Bazaine in the field. If France ought to
be Republic, she certainly is much better
off without them. She has but her citizen
soldicry to depend on now, but they fight
for France, while her disciplined battalions
of regulars wonld fight for her master.
They might keep off the German, but they
would keep down the Frenchmau.
Be that as it may, it seems singular that
the Prussians have gained all their marked
successes over the Imperial veterans, while
they have met all their reverses at the
hands of republican recruits. 1t was the
Government which fought them at first; it
is the people who fight them now. 1t may
be that the tide has turned against the in
vader, and that as the empire was failure
from the beginning of this war, the repub-
lie may be a success even to the end. At
any rate, as things have been going, France
is better off without her grand army than
she was with it, and it is possible that SO
far from its loss being inflicted by Divine
Providence as achastisement merely, it may
have been sent as deliverance also.
Whether a republic is to be the result of
these events or monarchy is to be restored,
at least the nation is redeemed from the
enforced rule of man who seized the
powers of government in violation of law,
and welded them in contempt of religion.
The voice of the French people forced him
to protect the Pope when his unwillingness
to do SO was most manifest, but in many
ways he did not scruple to interfere with
Church discipline and thwart ecclesiastical
authority. He and his veterans have gone
down beneath the flood, like Pharoah and
his hosts, and we may hope that hereafter
the French Church will sbe free under any
government that may be established.