New-York tribune., 1870-08-12
THE HOUSE or ORLEANS,

The situation of the Emperor has now be-
come so serious that the world is actively
spcculating as to his successor 1t does not
appear that France as yet is ripe for repuD-
lic and probabilities point toward the restOra-
ton of the house of Orleans One month ago
the future of that house seemed hopeless. To-
day. so wonderful are the changes wrought by
single battle, it has a fair chance of grasp
ing one of the most brilliant prizes in Europe.
The Orleans branch of the Bourbon family
has held for many generations distinguished
place in French history, and more than once,
within the last hundred years, it has seemed
to be the best hope of the nation Its repre-
sentatives have generally cherished, or at least
professed, a greater respect for popular rights
and constitutional theories OF government thm
the elder line of the family, have ranged them
selves among the liberal monarchists whose
ambition it is to accommodate obsolete titles
and exploded political principles with the
progress of modern thought and an enlarged
scope of individual freedom. Since the tiine
of Philippe, tho fifth duke OF the house,
the cousin of Louis XVI. and the father OF
Louis Philippe, the popular policy OF the fan-
ily has been marked. Duke Philippe, however,
was only an ambitious demagogue who as
sumed the name of Philip Equality during the
storm of the Revolution, and disguised even
the most extreme Democrats by voting for the
execution of his royal cousin Louis Philippe,
if not a great, was well-meaning king, under
whom the French people were upon the whole
happier and freer than they have ever been
since. except for few months under the Re-
pnblican regime of 1913. The Duke of Or
leans, eldest son of Louis Philippe, who was
killed during his fathers reign by being
thrown from his carriage, was young man OF
many personal virtues and accomplishments
and great popularity, and soldier OF some
distinction. The present head of the family,
the Count of Paris, is his son by the estimable
Iouise Elizabeth of Duchess Helene MecBlcn-
burg -Schwerin who died in exile near Lopdon
in 1853.
The Count of Paris IL now SO years Of age.
He has travelled a great deal in various parts
of the world, has given considerable attention
to literature, publishing narratives of travel
and essays on the politics and social customs
of England (where he has his residence), and
in the early part Of our last war served with
his younger brother, the Duke of Chartres, on
the staff of Gen. Mcclellan IN the Yorktown
peninsula. Both the young Princes made a
very favorable impression in America. The
Count of Paris is married to o daughter of
the Duke of Montpensier; the Duke of
Chartres to a daughter of Prince de Joinville.
They both offered their services to Napoleon
at the outbreak Of the present war; but we
believe they were not accepted.
The principal other representatives OF the
Orleans family are the second, third, fourth,
of of ba
two young men just mentioned. The second
son is the Duke of NemOurs, So years old !;
under Louis Philippe he held several import
ant military commands, especially in the cam
paigns against Abd-el-Kader. He was chosen
King of the Belgians in 1881, and was
proposed for King of Greece, but his
father would not permit him to accept either
dignity He is the father of Count d'Eu, the
son-in-law and general of the Emperor of
Brazil. The third son of Louis Philippe is the
Prince de Joinville, 50 years old, in his fathers
time naval commander of repute, remem-
bered especially for his services in Mexico.
The fourth is the Duke of Aumale aged 42,
who served in Algeria under Bugcaud and
Baraguey d'IIillers, rose to be Marshal of
France, and had the glory at last of receiving
Abd-el-Kader's surrender. The fifth son is
the Duke of Montpensier, candidate for the
throne of Spain. Since 1S4s, all the family ex
cept the last named have lived in England.
All except Montpensier have dabbled more or
less in literature, all have led reputable lives,
so far as the world at large is informed, and
all are so well provided with offspring that, if
fortune should restore them to the Tuleries,
France need be under apprehension of the
dynasty's ever dying out.
II Al. Iov o,l 40