Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-17
THE FUTURE OF FRANCE

France has made a hard peace with
Prussia, but she has not yet made peace
with herself. When Theirs new minis
try was announced month ago, a special
to the New York Herald informed US
that Jules Simon was appointed Minister
Of Public Instruction because of his
svowed infdelity. Theirs must be in his
dotage. A nation Of thirty nine million
Christians cannot be ruled thus by hand
full of Paris free thinkers. Such style
of government can but breed disaffec,ion
and civil war. If it suits Paris, it will
not suit France. That turbulent city is
the knetty part in the problem. The
superficial observer regards Paris as emf
nenty Frenchy-the type of the whole
nation. But such is not the case. Paris
is not mere outgrowth of the country,
like our own New York; it is the purleius
of all Europe, of the whole world. The
young and curious and indiscreet, the
reckless and daring and vicious, Of all
chimes andpeoples, flock thither. 1t is the
Headquarters of Satan on earth; the i'm
moral pictures that food our news-etalls,
corrupting our youth even here in the
heart of this continent, are but weak re-
productions of Paris originals. We have
seen our own Memphis held forth as the
cesspool of tle Mississippi Valley, and
acquire an unenvia6le notoriety, when
not five per cent. of her criminals were
Tennesseeans. The Paris MOB cannot
rule France; will it permit France or any
decent government to rule it,
At best French republic is but an
interregnum, of few months or years.
II is given out that Theirs will decree
another appeal to the people to choose
their future government. The telegraph
Cives no intimation of outside pressure
on Theirs. Prussia keeps her secrets well,
as witness her treaty with Russia and
entente cordiale with Italy. We suspect
that Prussian Influences are at work
for the restoration of Napoleon or his son.
The apparent readiness of Baron Roihs
child to guarantee the indemnity is strong
evidence that something more certain aac
reliable than a republic or return to the
effete Bourbons, is already fixed upon.
The shabby treatment of Montpensier by
the new Spanish dynasty, indicates that
the House of Orleans are not in favor
with Prussia. Amadeus would not exile
the Duke, if his family were at ell likely
to soon occupy neighbOring throne.
Silent as the telegraph is, every thing
points to an early restoration of the Bona
parties.
For four hundred years there has ex-
listed in France, widespread belief that
the closing quarter of this century will
witness her mightiest monochrome who
will combine with the glories of Charlie
mague, the piety of Louis TX. The
prophecy is said to have originated with
ST. Francis, of Paula, and to have been
repeated by a dozen other holy men. We
may call it mere superstition, but these
things sometimes realize themselves from
the very force with which they are be
lieved. Mr.. Stewards manifest destiny"
had much TO do with the preservation of
our Union, at the expense, temporarily,
of every principle on which it was based.
This old French tradition may yet rally
round the gentle little Louis, baptized in
fire at SaarbFuck, and make him the
greatest of the Bonspartes. Prussia has
indeed achieved empire, but the situation
Of Europe is left more inaammable than
a year ago. Better have extended the
nrinciple of neutral territory, by resur-
rectipg the historic kingdom of Lorraine,
than have pinned it to the empire like
another Poland. With this disconnected
border lying on the French frontier, we
see no assurance of lasting peace in the
terms of the pending treaty.
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