The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-24
France.

A New York ournal declares that 1t mas
,,nost despaired of the possibility of re-
public in France. We wonder that IL ever
had the hope that a republic could be MAIN
tanned in that country. Indeed, we have
nearly despaired of the possibility OF tue
existence of the republican form OF govern
mcnt anywhere for any long time. In TINS
country il has existed in the purest form III
which it has ever before appeared; but
here its vigor and purity were attrloutaoie
10 a peculiar stage Of society-a youhS
country, sparScly settlcd-tavorabie TO III
dividual independence and manly splllt.
As the country grows populouS ana 'ne
corruptions of wealth and ambition spread
themselves through the body polite the
sources of public virtue are poisoned, re-
spect for law and constitution declines, ana
the will of men in power becomes the mea-
sure of justice and the guide for the admin
istralion Of public affairs. Republican lib
ertv cannot survive this condition OF So
ccty. So we have seen one by one the
CHECKS upon power for the protection OF
civil rights broken down, until now little
Remains to show what the Government has
been.
1t is only in such country as this was
from the Revolution down to the last de-
cade that genuine Republicanism can be
maintained. We can hardly expect to see
it restored here. Such Government has
now no existence on earth. But France Is
the last country, we believe, in which we
might reasonably expect to sec the Repub-
lie maintained in any form but one of mere
mockery. The scenes that are happening
there have not greatly surprised those who
understood the Paris mob. 1t is gratifying
to know that thus far the departments have
not Joined that wretched mob which has SO
often brought disgrace upon their country
and mankind. The frantic recklessness and
brutality with which that mob turned upon
their own land the moment the prusslans
departed, and, like uncaged beasts of prey,
wentto slaughtering and to destroying, has
caused the name of France to be almost an
offence to numbers Of men who had sympa'
thized deeply with the French in all their
distresses.
We trust that Prussia will return to
Paris and put her iron grip upon these
demons and hold them harmless until a
Government that has the power to main
tain or der is fairly established. Prussia
must for her own sake do this. France can
never pay indemnity as long as anarchy
prevails. Besides, Prussia owes it to hui
mainly and civiIizaton-to the beautiful
state of industry and prosperity which she
disturbed in France-to hold the capital
uutil order and security are established.
Prussia should see that the departments
are safe from the tigers of Paris, and that
Paris itself is safe from the devaslations and
bloodshed of her own tumultuous citizens.
There was so much hope for France.
She had conservative Legislature, which,
it was hoped, might make the way to the
restoration Of the monarchy in a form that,
pro6ting hy the lessons of the past, would
be dignitied, just, and benefcent. There
fore the civilized world has been terribly
shocked at the excuses Of the wild and
beastly mobocrats. The news that DUvAL
and GARIBALDI Qhe younger) and others OF
such wretches had been put to death would
he hailed with pleasure everywhere.
We trust that we may soon hear tina! the
insurgents have been decisively put down.