The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-16
FRANCE.

The pause in the strife has given the
French people an opportunity to reflect
upon the madness of renewing it, and the
necessity of au immediate reorganization.
Without government, without civil
order, without settled industry, she has
nothing to gain even by impossible victo-
ries; and the very hope of recovering
these first elements of national life rests
upon securing peace. All that we can
learn of the course of public opinion since
the armistice began, indicates that the
French take this view of their own stua-
ton, and mean to agree with their adver-
sary speedily.
Beyond this the news is not decisive. It
still remains a question who is to have
charge of negotiating a peace in the name
of the French nation, and who is to recon-
struct and govern the new France. The
elections, indeed, show what observers
expectcd-a strong popular resentment
against the leaders who have betrayed the
nation. The man of Sedan is despised by
the men who, within year, hailed him
father to line of kings. An imperial
restoration is impossible. This is well /;
but it is painful to see that Republicansm,
too, is in disgrace quite as deep.
There remains only besides the house of
Orleans one claimant of the throne :
Henri, Duke of Bordeaux, the heir of the
old Bourbon kings. Charles X. abdicated
the throne in 1880 in favor of this grand
son, then not quite four years old and he
has since called himself Henry vi. The
legitimist feeling and faith are still strong
in many parts of France but this prince
has no personal claim whatever upon the
confidence of the people, and would have
no influence with the intelligence or the
wealth of the country. He is wholly in
the hands of the Jesuits is without force
of mind or character; and, though married
in 1916 to Theresa of Modeua, is childless,
so that, were he king, there would still be
the shock of change of dynasty at his
DEATH These considerations make a
second restoration of the old monarchy
hopeless.
All eyes in France, seem turning to the
heir of "the citizen King, who was driven
into exile in 1848." 1t is significant that
Theirs, Louis Phillippe's Prime Minister
and friend, and the long life advocate of
constitutional monarchy in France, has
been elected to the new constituent AS
sembly by no less than eighteen depart
ments; 50 that, whatever seal he may
choose, he will be the strongest representa-
tive name 10 the reconstruction of the
nation. Trochu, too, who stands next to
Theirs in popularity, is a friend of the
Ofleanists; and it is believed that the
moderate Republicans, under the lead of
Changarnier and Jules Favre, will accept
constitutional monarchy, with Louis
Philippe III. as King, rather than run the
risk of mob law with Gambetta and Roche
fort as its oracles.
The Count of Paris, grandson of Louis
Philippe, is in the thrty-third year of his
age. His life, since the revolution of
1848, has been spent almost altogether in
England, where his family own large
estates. His character is without reproach;
and his intellect, which is regarded as ma
turalIy very good, has been cultivated by
many years of study, and by association
with the foremost men of the age. His
patriotism and his political ability may be
fairly estimated from the elaborate defence
of the prolonged resistance to the German
invasion. His uncle. the Duke d'Aumale,
with whose support and advice he would
act, is gentleman distinguished alike for
his character and bis abilities, and his
name is already powerful influence in
France in favor of the Orleans family. A
few days will doubtless decide the issues,
and give to France permanent govern
ment.