The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-31
REVOLUTIONS IN FRANCE SINCE 1888
THE EXAMPLE OF 1914.

REVOLUTIONS IN FRANCE SINCE 1889
THE EXAMPLE OF 1914.
From the NJ Y. Herald.
Since the year 1889 France has periodically
proved herself to be the focus of European
revolution. The revolution of 1889, which
was rather held in check than brought to
close by the establishment of the Consulate in
1899 and by the establishment of the empire
in 1904, not only completely changed the char
acter of France, but oonvulsed Europe and
gave birth to ideas which at intervals, more
or less regular, have found expression in the
political upheaving of the continent. The
establishment of the empire was not less
revolution than was the destruction of the
monarchy. The restoration of the monarchy
in 1914; the downfall of Charles the Tenth in
1880 and the accession to power of Louis
Philippe; the fall of Louis Philippe and the
proclamation OF the republic in 184S; the
coup d'etdt of 1851, followed, as it was, by
the establishment of the empire in 1852
these mark the great changes which have
taken place in France since the commence
ment of the great revolution.
Among all those revolutionary changes the
only parallel to that which now exists is that
of 1914. Then, as now, the foot of the in
vader was on French SOIL Then, as now,
Paris had surrendered and France was pros
trate. Then, IS now, hundreds of thousands
of armed invaders were quartered in and
around the unhappy city. The question
raised by the allies Immediately after the oc-
cupation was with whom they should treat in
arranging peace. The Emperor Alexander,
who was the mouthpiece of the allied
sovereigns, at meeting held in the house of
M. Talleyrand, where were the
leading members of the Senate and
the most distinguished characters in
the French capital, stated that three
courses were open to them-to treat with Ma
poleon, to establish a regency, ior to recall the
House of Bourbon. France could have her
choice. Talleyrand rose and said that the first
two projects were inadmissible, as the peace
of Europe could not be considered safe with
Napoleon or any of his dynasty on thu throne
of France. The third was the only course
which would be generally acceptable to the
French people. On being questioned by the
Emperor Alexander as to how he proposed to
arrive at his object, Talleyrand replied that he
would answer for the Senate, and that their
example would be speedily followed by the
whole French people. On the 1st of April
the Senate assembled at the call of NJ Talley-
rand anu appointed o provisional government
On the following day april p the Senate
formally dethroned Napoleon. The Corps Le-
gislatif, which had also been convened, en-
dorsed the action of the Senate. In the
course of protracted sitting-which COM
menced on the evening of the 9TH and lasted
till seven o'clock in the morning of the 9th
the Senate agreed to call Louis XVIII to the
throne. On the Sd of May Louis, by the gate
of st. Denis, entered Paris; and amid scenes
of joyous excitement such as have seldom
been witnessed the King took possession of
the halls of his ancestors
What is particularly interesting to us now
is that the allied sovereigns and their repre-
sentatives recognized and treated with the
Senate and Corps Legislatif. They accepted
and dealt with the constituted authorities as
they found them. The popularity of the
situation to-day is that King William has
two governments to deal with. There is a
government de fdct0-a government self
constituted, with which he has had no
choice but treat in the matter of the sur
render. There is also the government de
jTe-a government legally constituted,
and, so far as election goes, formally repre-
sentative of the French people. King Will
liam, We may rest assured, will not recognize
the revolutionary Government. The ques-
tion now is whether he will convene and ne
gotiate with the Senate and Corps Legislatif,
or whether he will convoke general assem-
bly,. 1t is more than likely that he will fol
low the example of 1914, thus recognizing
the properly constituted authorities, and yet
leaving France free to decide upon a form OF
government. At present, so far as we can
see, the choice lies between the regency OF
the Empress and the restoration of the house
of Orleans.