The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-17

Gus mischief Our readers may remember
that we called their attention to several articles
of this kind during the rebellion; but what
ever was the feeling or wish of Napoleon ILL.,
at the time, the leading journals Of Paris not
only abstained from speculations of this kind,
but often predicted that their sapient London
contemporaries might find one day that after
all they were but Indifferent prophets. At all
events we are bound to consider whether
any, even Of the most alarming, symptoms Of
our illustrous patient are anything new.
1t Is admitted, by friends and foes alike, that
1t was for no lack Of courage or bravery the
French were defeated in SO many battles, and
finally forced to yield; but by lack of disci-
pine, by unskilful generalship and by the
superior discipline, generally good general
ship, and, above all, by the overwhelming
numerical strength of their enemies. If due
allowance be made for these various prva-
tons and disadvantages 1t will be found that
the French Of to-day are by no means inferior
as soldiers to their ancestors the Gauls. or
course those who regard France Us fallen to
rise no more will not accept this view Of the
case but let us see whether we cannot con-
vince cvon them. What the characteristics
of the French of the present day are needs
no description but people who unhappily
arc at this moment slaughtering or preparing
to slaughter each other can hardly be said to
be wanting In courage or impetuosity, what
ever other faults they have. Nay, it will
be admitted on reflection that the chief
difficulty is that they have . SUPER
fluffy Of courage; in short, the lower
classes display at this moment all the
impctuous rashness Of the ancient Gauls. In
order to illustrate this to the satisfaction Of
the most sceptical we will turn for moment
TO that honest old Greek, Strabo, who had the
faculty Of drawing truer chronological pictures
than any of the ancient historians. Taking
Posdonius, the philosopher, for his guide, he
tells us that the Gauls or Celts are universally
fond of war, hot in temper and quick to fight,
but in all other respects genial and void of
malice. Hence, when provoked, "they march
| simultaneously openly and incautiously
straight against the enemy, SO as to be easily
outgeneralled, since they may be drawn on
to engage when and where one chooses, and
for any cause, being ever ready for battle,
even though armed only with their own natural
strength and audacity."
These are precisely the characteristics which
caused the French to lose almost every battle
during the late war. That they marched
'multtudinously, openly and incautiously,"
everybody remembers; that they were out
generated accordingly is equally within the
recollection Of all. 1t was entirely different in
the time of the first Napoleon; but then they
were disciplined. When properly disciplined
there are no better soldiers in the world; but
| when undisciplined there are scarcely any
worse, for even their bravery and impetuosity
often lead them, as Strabo says, not to victory
| but to self-destruction.
| Some have remarked that there is q SINH
larity between the present rebellion and that
of the Fronde, which commenced in 1913 and
continued with but little intermission until
1853. There is some resemblance, certainly,
but only In minor points. Had France such
able generals during the late war as Condo
and Turenne the result would have been differ
ent from what it was Among the Frondeurs
there were delicate ladies, who performed
prodigies Of valor. This was true, for
example, of Clemence de Naille, the
beautiful and accomplished wife Of the
Prince Of Condo. Toe celebrated Duchess
Of Longueville, proved also military
heroine; and still more heroic, if possible, was
the conduct Of Mile. de Montpensier, who one
day made her way into the Bastile and caused
| the cannon Of that formidable fortress to be
turned against the royal troops. Some of the
greatest battles of modern times were fought
during this war, but the Frondeurs were
much more like our own Southerners than
like the present insurgents of France.
This we will take occasion to show on
| a future occasion. We can only remark
| now, in general terms, that the result of
the war Of the Fronde was also like that of
the Southern rebellion. The Frondeurs
revolted against Ann Of Austria and her
famous Minister, Cardinal Mazarin. Both had
to seek safety in fight more than once, the
Cardinal having found 1t necessary to spend
nearly year in exile. But at the end of five
years the rebellion was completely crushed,
and once more the great Cardinal found
himself the virtual ruler of France Strangely
enough, thus was prepared the way for
the long and glorious reign Of Louis
XIV, who had just attained his majority
at the close of the war, and then ruled
France for sixty years as an absolute
monarch Thus the power of the sovereign
was immensely increased, instead of being
weakened, by the rebellion, as the Frondeurs
had expected, and Michelet tells us that 1t was
no idle boast Of the King to call himself the
State; III ny aca0 dams cstte parole nj enJlure
ni oaaterie, mais Ia simple fnunciation dun
faa."