The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-28
SPIRIT or THE PRESS.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
From ire s. Y. Tribune.
We are profoundly Interested in the exist
ence OF the French Republic. We earnestly
trust that it may be able to maintain itself
through the present crisis, and that after the
terms of peace have been agreed upon, aud
the German armies have left France, it will
be established permanently. If the circum-
stances under which it vas proclaimed were
in some respects unfavorable for It's estab-
Iishment, they were in others hopeful and
encouraging. It is true it came into being
when French power was humbled by the
triumph of an invading army; it is true that
the first action of the Republican leaders IS
to sue for peace from victorious adversary;
but the Republican party was in no wise re-
sponsible for the war or its mortitying results.
These were the work of Louis Napoleon
aud the Imperislist party, and them alone
will the French people hold accountable for
their gtievou5 misfoTtuneS. 1t Is hopeful
circumstance that the new republic was pro-
claim ed throughout France without internal
oommotion or Outbreak, and was promptly
accepted with Joy and acclamatlon In all the
great cities from Marse;lles and Toulouse to
bordeaux and Lyons, aud by the army shut
up in Strasburg as well az by that behind the
defenses of Paris If it be distasteful to the
ignorant and priest-led peasantry, to the inn
perialist functioDaTies, and to the class who
have fattened on the corruptions of the en-
pire, it has assuredly commanded the ardent
support of that liberal and intelligent France
with which all the hopes Of the country for
power and progress must hereafter be iden-
tilted.
This is an immense element of strength for
any government of France; and if we were
assured that it fully understands and is pre-
pared to take advantage of the situation in
which it isplaced we should have no doubt
whatever of the continued and stable exist
euce of the French Republic. We also re-
gard it as exceedingly encouraging that men
OF such character and genius as Jules Favre,
Jules Simon, and NJ. Cremieux are among its
leaders. II they are Republicans without
compromise" they also possess strong intel
lect, large experience, moderate temper, and
just views in politics and government. They
have secured the cooperation of even such
''irreooncilables" as Rochefort and Gam
BETA, and the few Reds who have taken
ground against them are without influence or
followers.
We cannot, as yet, form any intelligent
Judgment concerning the political compost
ton of the proposed Constituent Assembly,
which, though temporarily abandoned, must
soon be recalled. The delegations from the
large cities will doubtless be radical Repub-
lican, but we cannot feel at all assured of the
character of the representatives of the rustic
'pOpWallOn, WHICH, Ut SnS pL6O1SctIUW Oh the
present year, cast some five or six millions
of votes for the Imperialist regime.
1t would not be surprising if there were
q. very large number of Bonapartist
members. We learn from recent French
paper that the agents of the late en-
pire have appeared in largo numbers
IN the provinces, and are busily engaged in
intoxicating the idea that the Emperor, who
has been deceived and betrayed, will yet be
the savior of France, and that, as proof of
his high minded honesty, he is quite ready,
in pursuance of his invariable principles to
submit his case to another plebiscitum.
statement of this kind may seem absurd to
some people here, in view of the events of
the last two months; but those who best know
the French peasantry, and the way they are
led, Will be the least surprised at finding q
large Bonapsrtist representation in the Con.
stituent Assembly.
To secure France against the dangers thai
menace her newly acquired political liberties
We look to the Intelligence and courage Of
the Republican leaders and the Republican
party throughout the country. If they sue
ceed in establishing republican government
with fitting republican constitution, ant
with republican institutions adapted to the
necessities and character of the French peo
pie, they will lay those substantive founda
tions on which alone the greatness of Franc
Can be reconstructed.