Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-07
WHAT OF FRANCE r-wfiAT OF
HER FUTURE9

Soutnern States, to control not only those
States but the Federal Government itself.
find now their counterpart in the decree
just issued by what is styled by courtesy
'the Government at Bordeaux In or
dering an election of Delegates to the
National Assembly, which is to meet on
the 10Th instant, Gsmbetta and bis asso-
ciates have undertaken to declare ''dis-
qualified" as candidates for the Assembly
AL members of families reigning over
France since 1889; all persons who have
acted as imperial official candidates in
past elections, or who have held
Office as Ministers, Senators or
| Councillors of State under the
Empire, and also all Projects of Depart
ments who have accepted Office between
the I'd of December, 1851, and the 4th of
September, 1870" The PRONUNCIATION of
this act of prescription throws good
deal of light on the course that the re-
publicans intend to pursue. 1t fore
shadows determination TO pack the
Assembly with majority of their own
party adherents, and to hold at all
hazards the power they have assumed.
1t shows also that they are convinced
that France is not yet prepared to sane
ton the re-establishment of republic,
and that they fear to allow the popular
will TO express itself openly and unre-
servedly through the candidates of its
choice. The National Assembly, repre-
sentiDg France, and acting for France,
will either be dissolved at the termina-
ton of the armistice, through its rejec-
ton of the propositions for peace, or, in
the event of its ultimate acceptance of
the Prussian demands, will continue in
session for many months. Upon its &C
ton will depend the future destiny OF
France, its form of Government, whether
Republican, Monarchical or Imperislist,
and the fittest man to rule, at least pro-
visionslly, over the country. France
appears 10 have no one capable of d.
recting her destinies, SO that she may be
able to retrieve her misfortuRes.
| With divided counsels as to the
form of government she shall erect
upon the ruins of the Nspoleonic reign,
her prospects are indeed gloomy, but
there is SOM relief, some light in the
dark picture, in the spirit and energy that
her people have displayed since the disas-
| ter at Sedan, and that inspires the hope
that she may recover from her disasters,
and by adopting liberal institutions, with
a wise administration, recover something
of her former self. We already see that
in the present mood of the French nation
the republic which they might perhaps
establish, will have to show to the COun-
try the mirage of revenge for every de-
feat they have suffered and for every VIC
tory in and out of France, the Germans
have achieved. We find this distinctly
Swallowed forth in Courier DIES Flats
UniS, the French newspaper published
in New York. Cast down, but not
destroyed, +" is its sentiment. While the
military power of France has been over
come and forced to yield to the
misfortunes of war-tO submit to the
terms of the cUnqueror, it has confidence
that there will be restitution and redress
for the humiliation it has sustained.
There may be peace nominally, but it is
human nature to avenge the degradation
imposed by force, whenever the Oppor-
tunity occurs. Such the Courier thinks
will be the future policy of France; sub
mission to necessity, with the determine
ton to redress what. it regards present
wrongs and humiliation whenever the
opportunity comes. We copy from
the Courier to show the spirit of the
party in France which it represents
paris fallen, France fallen, the war
ended, is that peace9 No. Who then
will dare to assert that France will for
ever submit to the eternal yoke2 That
man knows very little of our country if
he believes it capable of such supreme
philosophy and such a sublime act of hu-
mility.
'When we say that the armistice ends
the war, this is our opinion and our de-
sire, we mean TO say that shattered by
strife, mutilated by the sword, and ignited
by fire, we are prepared to lower the
arms, of which the fate of battles only
has left broken pieces in our hands We
will keep breath enough to rise again, to
regain our strength, await our chance,
and, at the proper hour, jump at the |
throat of our enemy and revenge our
selves
''This may be savage-so be it This
may retard civilization, and that beauti- |
full humanitarian theory of the abolition |
of war-no doubt of it! Well be bar
barisns-so be it And the whole world |
will regard us with scorn-what ms tiers |
it! We have done enough for the pros
perity of peace, for the arts, for the sci
ences, for industry, and for the advance
ment of humanity! What thanks has /
humanity given US? What have we |
gained by the disiDterested services which |
we have rendered to the civilized world |
Not even barren sympathy have we re-
ceived from that world, and there is not
a people to-day that does not smile at our
fall, and only isolated voices give US q
few charitable words of pity.
ut is done. There will be an armis-
uce, but there will be no durable peace.
So much the worse for Europe, if she
tremble through our commissions; we /
only feel for ourselves now. What care \
we to-day for the agitations and ankle
ties of Others3 We have had enough of /
chivalry enough of generosity; enough |
of sacrifices for others. We are egotists
to-day; henceforth we will only think of
our bleeding country, of our children
separated from us, and the flesh of our
flesh so rudely torn from our palpitating
body"
TIE ruin of the agricultural interests
in France may be inferred from the fact