The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-02-10
Affairs In Franco.

French Republicanism does not mean
Democratic institutions like ours, but
lawlessAess, prescription, violence, tur-
bulance, a leveling process instead of
an elevating one. Frenchmen never
will sustain Republic for the simple
reason that they will not voluntarily
obey law, the very foundation stone OF
free institutions. The present medley
they are in they have brought on them.
selves, but it is to be hoped good may
come out of il. They have at length
found their master, and this is some
times as profitable to States as to indi-
vidual violators of law and right. The
Philadelphia Day gives the following
clear, and we believe accurate, descrip.
tion of the political condition of
France:
Beyond Paris, excepting perhaps
Bordeaux and Lyons, there is doubtless
a reaction in public sentiment in favor
of the empire. The war was forced up
on the emperor by the active politicians
of France; and we apprehend that the
event will prove that the active men Of
ali sHauco Vi tHc OppooitiOu ,COuipiucu W
compel declaration of war, as means
of overthrowing the empire. The
latest Intelligence supports this view of
the case. The proscriptive decree of
the Bordeaux government touching the
election of members of the national as
sembly on the Sth instant, is fair ac.
acknowledgement that the people, left to
themselves, might elect imperialist
members enough to control the assem-
bly,. The empire acas peace, however
much writers may affect to sneer at the
declaration and there is excellent rea-
son for believing, that but for the
Vaccinations of Bourbons and republi
cans, the war, which is now approach
ing an inglorious end, would never
have been declared. The condition Of
the French army is proof positive that
Napoleon had not contemplated war
with his neighbors. His hesitancy was
subject of comment the world over. 1t
was attrisuted to governing infirmity
of purpose. This, probably, was not
correct. When he looked into the mill
| tary condition of France he discovered
lack of preparation for operations on
large scale altogether unexpected.
Hence his hesitancy. But he had too
far committed himself under the spur
of popular clamor to draw back. The
| result of the recent vote was evidence
that France was with him. But for
| eighteen years he had given his ener-
| gie5 to the development of French in
dustrial resources and enterprises. At
the utmost the military establishment
of the empire was barely sufficient for
defence. The invasion of Germany was
serious blunder, and the logical result
of that blunder is now about worked
out.
But though the French masses are
undoubted imperialists, it does not fol.
low that peace will be made by the res
toration of imperial rule. After what
has happened, nobody can say that such
an accommodation is beyond the range
of possibility. But it is not probable
thing to happen. The decree of the
Bordeaux government practically dis
arms the people, unless they select men
from their own ranks, men unknown In
French politics to represent them In
the assembly. Should they do that the
restoration of the empire becomes pos
sible. We are not of those who believe
that the people want any more of wal
save its best result-peace. The extre
mists, led by Gambetta, demand wal
to the bitter end. But Favre declares
that Galnbetta does not speak fol
France, which we can well believe
The reds in Paris, who have been al
element of weakness all along, clamol
for war. But when the assembly meets
its voice will drown out the clamor o
factions, and France will refuse Longer
to resist the inevitable. The Frencf
masses are not republicans. Left t
themselves they would restore the EN-
pire at once, because to them it stand.
flor peace and prosperity. They do no
speculate in the direction of governing
but deem that best which gives then
least trouble, and consequently mos
quiet 1t must be remembered tina
rural France had not felt the war a
J all when the emperor surrendered a
Sedan. Since that time the peopl,
have been distressed by the war, an,
,, naturally enough they bear no good
! will to the republican leaders agains
whom they charge all their grievances