The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-03-26
Partisan Republic.

1 Partisan R9public.
1t is difficult to appreciate precisely tn
present situation in Paris. This much a
least appears quite apparent, that tb
movement is irreligious and anarchial.
, lie an attempt to revive the horrors of tn
French revolution and its bloody reign o
terror. The spirit that snimates the pres
emit mob is, no doubt, pretty much til,
same in its ferocity as that which presided
at the guillotine and ministered to til,
fury Of Robespierre. This is shown in til,
| brutal murder of Generals Lecompte ant
Thomas. But we may well question
whether that spirit will be as potent now
MS when formerly evoked. There is nc
class of hereditary aristocracy now against
which to arouse the populace to frenzy
of rage, and upon which to glut their tiger
like thirst for blood. And then the Re-
volution does not find surrounding Europe
weak and irresolute, but thoroughly watch
full and CALMLY determined to put down in
stantly any such denominations with it's
united strength. When to this we add
that Paris is no longer France and that
Menotti Garibaldi is not Robespierre, it
will be seen at once that the situation is
different.
1t is quite evident that Prussia, Russia,
Great Britain, Holland, Belgium, Austria
and France combined, will be able to
| overmatch Paris, that is the sans calottes of
Paris, with those of Lyons and the whole
Italian Government thrown in. The demon
of Revolution is mighty, but, taken in
time, a combined and determined resist
ance can chain him down. It might be hoped
by the bonnets-rouges that their antagon-
ism with the Church and hatred of the
well-known bigotry of England and of
certain other Protestant countries will sus-
tain any party or faction or movement i'm
bued with such spirit. But here they
would count without their host. The
nations have learned that the cause of the
Pope is the cause of peace and public well
fare. AS much as they may hate him,
rulers know by experience that they can
not afford to unchain the genius of anarchy
FOR his annoyance. These vile passions
are like pestilence let them get fairly |
started, and you know not whose home |
will be safe. Europe is not going to give
French Revolution another hearing volun-
,arily. -
This outbreak carries another feature of
allure. Its leader is a raut-rien. Mr..
Menotti Garibaldi is not o hero even in his
mpiety. A hero, even in vice, must have
nffexibility of purpose and an energy that
'auses not for pleasure or ease. If this
italian gentleman has any such qualities,
history has signalIy failed to publish them
aore naturally with billiard balls than
annon balls. We think that, like his
parent, his resemblance to a war
orse is one of distance, that he prefers to
huff the battle from afar off.
Still it would seem that his movements is,
o some extent, identified with the Ital-
an cause in its war upon Rome. France
as taken the earliest moment of peace to
Iotify Victor Emmanuel that she will protect
he Pope, and it is we'll known that Theirs,
hough Protestant, is strongly in favor of |
he temporal power. The only hope of the |
sobber- King, is therefore in the overthrow
# his control and the Inauguration of radi-
al ruie. The red shirts of Garibaldi and
he red caps of st. Jacques naturally afili-
ste and thus the Revolution, as now agita-
ing Paris, lie q hybrid monster combining
the malignity of both elements. |
Still it is impossible for human reason tn
divine all the elements that may enter into
a movement of this sort, or for human
prescience to foresee its result. 1t NAV
have wider and more lasting influence
than we now apprehend. Bismarck is crafty,
and may have given the insurgents some
indirect encouragement. The result of the
French elections may be distasteful to him.
A decent republic may not be, from pres
emit appearances, 30 utterly Improbable, rs
he could wish and, in that case, counter
plotting may be of some use
AT any rate, TIE Church and the Republic
are both attacked by this insane popular
ft H.