The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-07
THE FRENCH QUESTION.


Misrule 10 Paris has not bad its fling, and
anything like stable government is
scarcely to be expected in hurry: Things
must be allowed to settle down. Order
has to be restored, and however painful it
must be, it is to be feared that this can
scarcely be done without making an exam
ple as is the European fashion, of large
number of the Communists. The Phila-
delphia Press thinks their great mistake
has been the belief, SO long prevailing
among Frenchmen, that Paris is France.
Hence the desire to concentrate all author
ity there by establishing vast system of
Capitalization. Communism, whose lead
ing principle is that he who pos
sesses property must necessarily be
a robber, aud that all men-good and
bad, industrious and idle-should share
and share alike, is strongly antagonistic to |
vepublicanism, whose principle is full pro-
lection Of the rights of property, whether
it be earned or inherited, and the enforce
ment of the laws which do so protect it,
There is an impression, the truth of which
time must determine, that the Commune
has organizations in almost every country
In Europe; that the Communists in Paris
were reinforced by several thousand of a
like confederation in England, and that
the wilful destruction Of capitals, seaports
and great marts of commerce and manu-
features, was set down in the programme,
though only that part of it which involved
incendiary performances in Paris was all
that could be perpetrated. AS Republic
canism is protective, and not destructive,
it is a mistake, or worse on the part of the
British press, to declare, as it has done,
when endeavoring "to point moral" from
the abominable crimes in Paris, "Such is
the result of trying to establish French
Republic" 1t was precisely because the
republic was merely voted in Paris, without
being properly established, that Commu-
nism was able to intervene and perpetrate
the worst OF crimes in the sacred name of
liberty.
There is discussion now as to the re-
admission OF members of the Orleans
family into France. 1t is said, "Admit
them, and with what show of justice can
you refuse also to admit the elder branch of
the Bourbon dynasty, which calls himself
Henri v, or even the men and women of
the Bonaparte family 2" We would say,
admit them all, and do not render any
person or persons important by showing
that you fear them. The gentleman who
declares that he is descendant of St.
Louis would scarcely rally three.score Lee
gitimists around him, if he nailed his
white handkerchief upon the handle of a
bosom and desired them to salute it as
the OrAamme of France. Two of the
Orleans family have been elected men,
bsrs of the National Assembly, but have
not been allowed to sit in that body
they are more powerful out than IN
the Assembly, and if there be any sche-
ming for raising them to power, it will
be more dangerous if the public come to
look on them as martyrs. In Spain q
wiser policy is pursued. There the Duke
de Montpensier also an Orleans prince
who has been competitor for the Crown.
has been elected a member of the Cortes
and has been allowed to take his seat-ir
which, so far, he has distinguished himself
only by exhibiting his brilliant talent fol
never opening his lips. If the National
Assembly of France were to resolve tha
no man should be prevented from setting
foot on her soil, is it likely that any of thu
Bonaparte family would quit his or hel
present asylum and run the risk of i'll.
treatment from the populace
Exclusion does not answer. In 164s
the English Parliament cut off the head O
Charles T., and decreed that, on penalty o
death, no member of his family SHOULD
ever return to England. In 1860 all tn
Stuarts were recalled, and their dynast.
might have reigned in England to this da.
had James ii. not been worse than fool
In 1914 law was voted by the Frencl
Chamber of Deputies rendering it a publ
offence for any Bonaparte to return t
France; but, in 1913, this law was re
sciuded, and Bonaparte's nephew rule
France for twenty-five years after. When
ever the chance arrives the exiles return
M. Thiers is understood to have express
ed wish that for one or even for tw
years there should not be any settled or
ganization of government in France
This means that he shall continue in hi
present office Of President pro tenn. Their
are some obstacles. M. Theirs, 10 his sew
en-ffth year, cannot reasonably expect t
live through the two years in question b
may die at any time, at his advanced ago
aud that event would probably cause some
thing like &. disputed succession. Nor
it likely that France, which must desil
peace at home as well as abroad, can wa
for year or two, with an undermined fl
ture in the remote vista. 1t is impossb