The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-02-10
The Future of France.

A very remarkable article on this subject
has appeared in the Fortntg1'tly Reoieao, (of
London) from the pen df Emilio de LAveleye,
which is well worthy the attention OF alEpec
sous interested in the Welfare Of FranceEanu
the progress OF humanity. The writer takes
as the test OF his remarks the theory started
tby M. Pelletan, one Of the members. Of the
present Provisional Government, that in
modern wars the yanquished derives advan-
tsgefrom bis defeats as!wel as stheconqueror
does from his victories. This he illustrates
by the example of Prussia after her subjuga-
ton by Napoleon I; of France, after 1915;
of Piedmont, after being crushed by Austria
tin,lS4sT -iail of.which nations soon ,recupera-
| ted from their disasters, and have since be-
come leading powers, the first having the
lead and control of nearly all Germany, the
latter Of all Italy. They became great
| through the uses Of adversely; and this Is
what Is claimed to be in store for France,
| provided she will profit by the lesson. If
France does this, She may yet date her COM
plete regeneration from the year 1870 Why,
asks NJ. Laveleye, has Germany become 30
powerfuls In large part because she has a
system of compulsory education and COM
Epulsory p,1itaiy service for all. 1t was igno-
rance as well as over confidence which de-
stroyed the second Empire. The Emperor
and his advisers and generals were ignorant
Of the recent history and tendencies OF Ger
many, Of the tactics and condition OF the
Prussian army, and apparently OF the geo.
eraphy Of Europe. Thei Prnssiahs knew
more about the geography Of France than
the French officers did. The uneducated
French soldiers, accustomed to fighting
wild Arabs, found themselves face to face
with educated men Gin .spectacles," some OF
them speaking ancient and modern Ian
guases, and. writing letters in Hebrew and
Sanskrit, who were intelligent enough to
make an inferior weapon like the needle
gun prevail over the chassepot Intellect
vanished force The students annihilated
the Turcos But then Germany has freely
given her money for the advancement OF in
struction, while France had been expending
millions on the new opera, theladies Of the
ballet, barracks, palaces, gliding monu-
ments, and external display, begrudging
even such sum as $500, 900 for educational
purposes. All this must be changed if
France would regain her power and intiu-
ence. Her army must become the adult
school for every citizen, and he must therein
complete and consolidate the education he
shall previously have been con PEELED to re-
ceive in the primary schools. He must be
taught gymnastics, swimming, marching,
manauvring, and the development OF his
physical strength, as we'll as Of his intellect.
u. de Laveleye cites the testimony OF
Madame de Stael to show the contrast which
such a system has produced on the Germans.
In her time they were "soft, gross, slug
"gish, without impulse or patriotism-an in-
s'ert mass that Napoleon kueaded at his will. !"
Now they are men Of iron, bending others to
their will. France must get rid Of her tradi-
tions Of the Revolution aud OF the first EN-.
pire, and her idea Of military preponderance,
and be content to see other nations surpass
her. Provost Paradol was in despair be-
cause he foresaW that at the end OF the cen
tury there would be 70,OoO,0oO of Germans,
100000, 900 OF Russians, 160, 600, 600 of Anglo
Saxons and only 100000 OF Franchmen;
but it was weak In him to be 80, for in all
probability the United States century hence
will have, 200, 900, 900 OF citizens and Russia
perhaps 100, ,OOO, 600, and it would be absurd
for England and France to exhaust them
selves in ruinous wars, in any vain effort to
hinder them. Besides, nations are not hap
py or glorious merely on account of their
numbers or military preponderance. Athens
and Judea have rendered mightier services
to,mankind than any other nations. Military
supremacy could only be maintained by
France at the cost OF enormous taxes, which
would ruin industry and check progress.
The late French Government committed a
series of contradictory mistakes in its for
eign policy It wished to keep its neighbors
weak, divided and dependent; yet favored
Italian unity, and thereby promoted German
unity, By weakening Austria it strengthen
ed Prussia; then, making friends with Aus
tria, it threatened Prussia, and embarked in
:the war which destroyed it. 1t made an
enemy of Russia in the Crimea, and did not
secure the effective alliance OF England, and
by interfering in Mexico it made enemies on
the American Continent. Lastly, it offended
the Italians by Withholding Rome, and then
it offended the Church by giving up that
city to them. 1t would be difficult to ina
CINE policy more calculated to subvert a
government. In future France should adopt
the policy of uon-inter9ention, and give up
all idea Of supremacy in Europe, except such
as she shall become entitled to by virtue Of
her intelligence, her civilization, and her
moral and social development
These broad principles, boldly and clearly
advocated by one of Frances own publieists,
as they have been in the articles referred to
above, are the true basis of the regeneration
Of that nation. N. de Laveleye, however;
appears to have doubts as to the success or