The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-01
Frasce-Hsr Dimcsinss and Her Pres


France to-day, in spite OF all her mis-
fortunes, still commands the attention Of the
world. The Longchamps review, so long
deferred, has at last come of, and, most strange
to say, the demonstration, 30 much dreaded
revealed nothing. Over one hundred thou
sand men marched past the President of the
French republic and the members of the
National Assembly who chose to be present;
but we have no record that the troops demon
strated in favor Of the republic, in favor of the
empire, or in favor Of the monarchy. All we
know is that. under the personal command of
Marshal MacMahon, they behaved we'll. Of all
similar military demonstrations on French
soil Of which we have any remembrance the
demonstration of Thursday last on the Long
champs race course must be pronounced the
least satisfactory. The most that we can say
is that President Theirs was not insulted and
that MacMaho1 was obeyed. The result of
the military review, SO far as we know the
facts, is a surprise to the world. The soldiers
| did not speak. The sentiments of the army
are, therefore, unexpressed. The loan, how
ever, has proved still grander surprise.
Many were Of opinion that France was crushed
and crushed almost to death but, contrary to
| general expectation, the French people revea
untouched resources of unexpected bulk and
patriotism of disappointing power. We know
of no loan in the whole history of the past
which, from national point of view, has
been so grand success. The review and the
loan, taken together, seem to imply that
France, though somehow badly managed. is
yet radically strong.
The truth, in our judgment, is spoken when
it is said France is puzzle to herself. Dumas
speaks out after q manner and in style
which show that in the son the father yet
lives but Dumas letter. which we gave in the
HERALD Of yesterday, is the widest wall of
thinks of all the past, from 1889 downward.
and seeing only fictions and failures he cries
for man. ''Where is the man." he asks,
''who will save us?-we want man.
Don't look so far for this man; you
have him at hand this man, it is
you, it is l. it is each one of us. Be each one
q man, and the providential man, the great
man whom we always end by overturning and
cursing, will become completely useless. How
to constitute ones self a man. Nothing harder,
if one knows not how to will it nothing
easier if one wills it. It is not a
question of the mass let us see how to con-
stitute the individual, for it is necessary that
the individual that is the ruler of himself
should rise out of this great tempest. The
being self-contaiued and self knowing, know
ing whence he comes and whittier he goes,
what he wills and ought to do with his life and
with the group of lives dependent on him,
having his ideal and his absolute; the iudi-
vidual, in fact, does not exist in France, or at
most is very rare. y" In spite of the
much bunkum, the everlasting yeas and the
everlasting nays of which his letter is full, we
must admit that the author of 'La Dame aux
Camelas" has told his countrymen some plain
and simple truths, and that President Theirs
has done well in thanking him for his letter.
1t is not clear, however, that M. Dumas is
himself at all clear as to how his country can
be again set upon its feet. Then, again, Gam
beta has been lecturing at Bordeaux. We
have not Gambetta's lecture before us, but,
from the rude telegraphc outlines, we must
conclude that the ex-Dictator has his eyes open,
and that his thoughts and purposes are even
more patriotic than selfish. At Bordeaux the
burden Of his song seems to have been ''edu-
cation" In the interests of his country no
man in great public speech ever struck a
nobler key. France is noble, spirited, gallant,
ridden in the mass; and therefore France is
sold just as often as she gives promise of TAX
ing her place among the nations who are great
and free. Let Gambetta cling to his new idea
let him accept any government which the
masses Of France demand; but let him ham
General Grant, and he may yet prove the
savior of his country. NJ. Rouher also
speaks out. N. Rouher is one of the ablest
representatives Of the defunct empire. But
he does not despise the present government.
Accepting things as they are, he only goes in
the Assembly he will make President Theirs
somewhat uncomfortable; for Theirs, supple
as he lie, is protectionist at heart. As we
have said on more than one occasion in these
columns already, France and the world anx-
iousy await the result Of the elections which are
to come off tomorrow. The review at Long
champs has revealed and explained nothing.
Expectation on tiptoe looks forward to the
Sunday elections. The success, the unparal-
leled success, of the national loan bids us hope
for the republic.
France has 80 often swung around the fruit
less circle from the republic to the empire that
it is difficult to decide how France is to come
forth from this fresh struggle. The imperial