The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-02

| meaning FRINGE was content TO patiently SIT
with half closed eyes-musing, dreaming,
writing, smoking-while gang of adventures
who had served him in his anxious days were
robbing the Treasury and sapping the founda-
tons Of the empire. TWAS in grand, imperial
way, what we have seen in New York in the
downfall of Tammany, and what will always
be seen in the world so long as truth will
conquer falsehood.
The misery of the present situation, so far
as France is concerned, is that the overthrow
of Napoleon brought with it the invader.
Germany stands with her heel upon the throat
| of France. Never was nation 80 severely
punished. Her country overrun two of her
richest provinces taken away her finest cities
burned, bombarded or laid under contrlbu-
ton; a money tax imposed in the way of in
demnity that will burden French industry and
enterprise for fifty years and make dearer
every morsel of bread that enters the peasants
mouth; never was conquest so thorough or
punishment 80 exemplary. Can France re-
Govern So far as the money is concerned the
French to-day are the richest people in
Europe-singularly thrifty and Industrious.
The Frenchnan is so patriotic that he will give
his money as promptly as he would give his life
for his country, which is good deal more
than many Of our Americans could say in the
day of our necessity. What France has not dis
played is the old military spirit. The only
fighting in the last war that was worthy of
Wagram or Waterloo was shown by the Com
| munists in Paris. What we fear is that the
public spirit is broken, the pride and self
respect which have always marked the French
character. Furthermore, the people have not
been educated. The severest criticism made
upon Napole0nism Is that it never trusted
France enough to educate the common people.
The empire dreaded light and truth. Hugo
was more of menace than all the armies,
and Rochefort's graceful, brilliant and daring
pen began what Sedan ended. Is the repub-
lie any stronger than the empirep M Theirs
evidently does not think 80. He is Pres
ident of republic which he fears, and
rules over people in whom he places
no faith. No man can govern France
who rests under the convictions expressed
by the French President the other day to M.
Rothschild, and sent to US by our correspond
ent from Paris. M. Theirs does not see either
ga stable government" or ga stable public
opinion" and breads the retirement of the
Germans as the beginning Of disorder. This
forlorn opinion is furthermore strengthened
by the remarkable despatch sent to us from
Paris by HERALD correspondent and which
we print 10 another column. The old states
man is very much in the position of President
Buchanan before our own war. When the
| South came rolling up against Buchanan, and
the public opinion represented by such men as
Davis and Slidell was black and lowering,
instead Of resolutely facing incipient
treason and crushing the budding rebellion
with one stern blow, be quailed, threw up his
hands and confessed that he was powerless In
such storm. Well, our republic had a
! strength which the President did not see, and
in the end it triumphed. So, we profoundly
trust, it will be with France. 81 had sup
posed republic possible" says M. Theirs,
shut now find out l was mistaken. The
republic cannot exist, even with my aid, and
shall be compelled to seek the happiness Of
my country elsewhere" Well, if France is
in this condition, then the sooner Germany
annexes the whole nation, as it has annexed
Alsace and Lorraine, the better for the peace
of the world.
We should be sorry to share the opinions
of NJ Theirs. We confess that his republic
does not impress us as lasting continuance.
No republic can be cemented with blood,
and this President has slain more men than
were slain in the coup d'<tat. Furthermore,
the opinion seems to be general throughout
France that NJ. Theirs is the candidate of
Bismarck, or, in other words, the only French
statesman who can have attentive audience
at Berlin. Aud although NJ Theirs loves
France with the fervid patriotism of q true
citizen and has served his country with q
devotion that does him all honor, he can never
hold France in hand so long as he is
afraid of the people. Like our own
trembling Buchanan, he is, we fear, too
old for the activity and vexation of his
trying place. The world regards him, and,
no doubt, he regards himself, as only a
Provisional President, trying to do the best
for his country. What of the future? Will it be
meaning of his announcement. That will
be simply NJ. Theirs over again in the
person of a younger man. Will it be Henry
W. That will be an attempt to engraft the
feudal age upon the nineteenth century. Nc
old Bourbon wine will last long in these new
revolutionary bottles. Will it be Napoleon
Only by q mutiny, an intrigue or coup dftat
Probably Gambetta And if Gambetta will
bring with him something Of the spirit of l79
France may again disturb the peace Of tn
world. but she will show that sheis still th'