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

| Its History Teaches Us-M. Theirs and
His Troubles.
| Is there really any future for France ?
| The special dispatches sent to us over
the cable by our special correspondents
in Paris, and which we print this morn
ing, give this question unusual Importance.
When we look at the history Of this strange
people we find ourselves unable to apply to it
any of the conditions that have governed
| other countries. In the last three hundred
years Russia, Prussia and England have risen
to greatness. Before then Russia was only
| known as a wild and savage nation, more
Asiatic than European, as far removed from
active sympathy with the current of modern
thought and progress as Southern Mexico or
Iceland is now removed from sympathy with the
Peter had not given Russia life and policy.
1t is not two hundred years since England
was under the tutelage of the great Louis and
English kings were pensioners upon Yer
sailles. Two centuries ago Prussia was a
small German kingdom, scarcely more i'm
tinent was under the control of Spain and
France and the Holy Roman Empire. Hol-
land disputed with England the mastery OF the
seas. So far as the eye could see France
was the most powerful, certainly the most
ostentatious nation in the world.
Gradually the proportions have changed.
The constantly recurring wars between Eng
land and France ended in the discontinue of
the latter. The French flag was driven out
of India and from North America. All we
know of the French domination upon this Con-
tinent are the traditions that linger along the
Mississippi; in Canada, where the language is
spoken in rude way; in the far West,
where the Jesuits explored and preached.
Warren Hastings and Lord Give anchored
English authority in India. Even in Syria
and Egypt, where French influence has always
been paramount, England divides power,
and one of the legends of modern British
diplomacy is that in time England must
take Egypt and control Syria. We have
seen Spain, with her stupendous empire in
Europe and America, reduced to an
|
| and the insecure possession of few colonies
abroad This once-powerful and proud en-
pire has lost its power, and only chershes its
pride because Of its ignorance. The Holy
Roman Empire has dissolved Austria has
an anomalous position in the economy OF
Europe, and in generation or two will hold
her empire at the mercy of Russia and Ger
many. Prussia, by policy of sternness and
harsh, unbending discipline and economy; by
having no concern in European politics except
her own selfish ACKNOWLEDGMENT by develop
ing the art of war and insisting upon universal
education, has made herself the greatest
military empire in Europe-strong enough to
stand against any alliance. Russia has ar
rested her traditional designs in Europe to
strengthen herself in Asia, and is now COM
petiug with Great Britain for the mastery Of
the interior nations of that vast Continent.
While Russia, Prussia aud England have
steadily advanced for two centuries; while
| Austria, Holland and Spain have slowly re-
coded; France has had checkered career.
After Louis XIV. her power was shattered.
Driven out of India, to great extent from the
shores OF America; defeated by Marlborough
in the Low Countries and by Frederick in Ger
many, with king and nobility whose only
idea of authority was to trample the people
under foot and tax them almost to starvation
without respect at home, without power
abroad-a gilded sepulchre, 80 it seemed,
rather than a monarchy-a careful observer
would have prophesied for the kingdom fate
as dismal and wretched as what has since
befallen Poland and Spain. Surely France
was never more ignoble, never so little
worthy Of respect. as under the Regency,
the reign of the worthless Louis XIV,
with his RIGHTEOUSNESS, and the foolish
Louis XVI, with his bigotry and his
ignorance Yet there came, as 1t were in
q night, that extraordinary revolution, with
ito upheaval of national character and intel.
lect almost volcanic in its way, appalling the
world with its suddenness and Its extravaganza
only to compel the worlds admiration by it,
terrible power and splendor. Mankind hal
never fully seen the importance, the blessing
even the beauty Of that revolution, which
began with the pen Of voltaire and endet
| with the sword of Napoleon. What mass o
bigotry, superstition, oppression, feudalism
| shame. corruption, mendacity and immoralit,
was burned out Of France, even as with tn
lava and consuming flames! And when a
length France arose and saw before her com
biued Europe, ready to subdue her with fir
and sword, and, invoking the spirit o
Liberty. threw the head of kin
for wager of battle at the feet
kings and rushed upon them, never ceasin
her march until she had planted her flag upo
the palaces Of every European capital bu
London, the world saw that France had ths