The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-05
Ths Future % France.

France gloomy prospects confront u.s. Tho
war which has just ended left legacy OF
misery sufficient ro'ovcrweight even Frances
great recuperative powers. Had peace and
order been allowed to repair the havoc Of war
few years would have enabled hert put on
again the appearance of prosperity. Now,
however, that civil strife has come in all its
monstrous shapes to aggravate the wounds
inflicted by foreign swords, all hope of pros
perity-must be Indefinitely postponed. 1t Ia
difficult to conceive how those engaged in the
present tumults can pretend to better the con-
dillon Of France by stopping the development
OF her material resources. Trade and agrioul-
ture may flourish while nation wages foreign
war, but civil strife ever dsorganizes society
so thoroughly that enterprise Is paralyzed
and industry suspended. This IL certain
to happen where social animosities are added
to political antagonism, and perhaps the
grayest feature Of the movement progressing
in France Is the possible conflict of classes.
Once let struggle be engaged in between the
social republicans and the upholders Of tho
rights OF property, and there can come but one
result-a reign of murder before which the
scenes of 90 will pale. Such an issue to the
present struggle is far from impossible. On
the contrary the triumph gained by tho social
lists at the ballot box in the election Of the
Commune may encourage them to advance
further pretensions which in turn would be
followed by other steps toward the social and
democratic republic, as understood by the
citizens Of Belleville and Montmarre, by the
rouge men and the socialists, as they have
been reported In our columns during the past
few days, and as they are to-day. So
on the justice Of general division Of property
the strife of classes may be avertel; but
should they attempt to put their insane doc
trines Mto practice by force conflict becomes
inevitable. 1t is by no means certain thar
law and order would triumph; indeed, the
chances are the other way. The mass Of the
population in France, holding no property,
would regard division Of wealth, by which
those who have nothing might gain something,
without any special repugnance. Even the
moderately well-disposed, ruined by the cessa-
ton Of industry and deprived of their means
of living, would be thrown by the sympathy Of
suffering into the arms of the anarchists. Add
to this that the hostility Of the ouorier class to
capitalists is widespread and deep, while the
principles which rule the relations between
employer and employed are more studied and
better understood among the workmen than
can be well imagined. That branch Of politi-
cal economy which treats Of the relations Of
labor and capital forms the staple CONVERSE
tons Of the faubonrgs and is directly
the cause Of many Of the revolu-
tionary agitations which, at a distance,
seem wholly political. In the minds of the
Ignorant Oucriers and their half-nformed lead
ers the destruction of capital is the perfect
cure for all human ills. Capital they argue.
has for many centuries oppressed US let us
now revenge ourselves by crushing and de-
stroying capital; and instead Of directing
their efforts to the Improvement of the relations
between labor and capital they waste time and
energy in preaching crusade against capital,
which, could 1t be successful, would reduce the
world to ignorance and barbarism, resolving
society into its original elements. To such az
admire Savage grandeur, scant dinners, and
would be pleasant and welcome; but as these
compose only small percentage Of the
worlds population we fear the change would
not be generally regarded with favor.
The diaordered dreams Of the socialists
offer the greatest obstacle to the development
Of rational liberty in Europe and render the
name of republic odious This striving after
Utopia prevents the growth Of moderate
republicauism, which, equally separated from
tyranny and licenses, alone can guarantee
liberty with order. After the fall of Paris
the moderate republic was established by the
consent of all parties as the only form Of
government which could prevent civil war.
The feebleness of M. Theirs and his copart-
ncrs In power have betrayed the moderate
republic to the Red factions, who impose an
unbearabe tyranny in the name of liberty.
Unless France can be saved from
the patriotism" of this faction she
must inevitably descend to tho p6si,
ton of European Mexico, torn By
internal divisions and prey to ambitious
adventurers What form the government
which shall establish order and maintain It
may assume It would be impossible at this
moment to decide; but whatever its form 1t
must fulfil the requisite Of being strong. Only
force, wisely employed, can save France from
the armed rufianism which to-day proclams
liberty, equality and fraternity, while mas
sacring defenceless citizens. The ultimate
triumph Of what is called red republioansm is
impossible, because its doctrines are opposed
to the most sacred feelings Of mankind. Men