New-York tribune., 1872-07-03
GROWTH or REPUBLIC1N SENTIMENT
IN FRANCE

The partisans of order, that is TO say, the
gentlemen who 0ink dat tLtre will Fever be
peace in France until king is brought in 10
keep it, have not yet lost their halit of look
ing to Chselhurst or PrOhsdCrff for thtir pO-
htica salvation. But it ia pleasant to observe
that the country at large is rapidly settling
into quiet acGuiescoIce in the existing state
of things. Unless the mOnarchical members
of the Assembly take tie desperate resolution
to act promptly against the Republic, they
will find it permanently established before
long in public affection and confidence. The
best opportunity for monalcmcal restoration
was Immediately after the election and assem-
bling of the present Legislative Body when
it cannot be denied that strong
reaction against the Republic and
a strong tendency to the old traditional names
was declaring itself. The oldest and most
illustrious of the landed proprietOrs profit
ed by this sudden attack OF rev ere1ce IN
their tenants and gained seats in the Ass mbly
which they could never have achieved in or
dinaIy times But the fact that in that mo-
ment of success and strength, the COnscrva-
tives did not dare to attempt the establish
ment of new or the restora i'm of an old
II
seemed difficult if not impossible to accomplish
such an attempt. Since then, the cause OF the
monarchy has been gradually losing force and
life. At each successive special election. it is
seen that the reasonable, sensible Republicans
are in a majority over all other parties. The Bo-
napartist movement has almost entirely disap-
reared. Mr.. ROuher was forced to go to Corsica
to obtain seat, and, upon his entry into the
Chamber, the first elaborate speech he made
was an entire failure, on account OF the evil
dent hostility of all parties. Mr. Abattucc
has lust succeeded in gaining another seat
from the Napoleonic island, but the vote
against him showed remarkable Increase OF
Republican feeling in that district. The
recent elections in the North exhibit a sudden
and important growth in the same direction,
and not the least significant sign OF the hour
is that the army vote is nearly ten to one i'll
favor of the Republican candidates.
Every day the Government stands and main
tains itself as it is is day gained for the
cause of the Republic. The old reactionaIy
partes which fill the Chamber ere entirely
unable to agree among themselves or to adopt
any fixed and harmonious line OF conduct
They imagine that by permitting the Republic
to go on for the present in this provisional
way they are merely bridging the ehasm be
tween the fall of the Second Empire and the
restoration of new monarchy. But they for
get that it is proverbial in France, that the
provisional is the only thing which lasts.
Mr.. Theirs was certainly not an enthusiastic
Republican when he assumed the reins of
the Executive power. But he recognized the
Al 1in thn
form of government which least divided France,
and though once or twice it has seemed that
his ancient attachment to the house of Orleans
had not entirely lefthim, ne has not only had the
LOYALTY to stand by his oath of Office but also the
sagacity TO sec that this was the only practi-
cable course The leaders of the Left have
also acted with singular judgment and dscre-
ton for several months. While the Right mas
from time to time assailed the Executive with
ANNOYING demands, the fiery and impracticable
Left has treated it with the greatest courtesy
and reserve. Even in the late unfortunate
scene. where the President again threatened to
resign if tho term of compulsory service in
the army were reduced, tho friends of Mr.
Gambetta simply abstained from voting and
allowed the Monarchists to show, by q small
vote, both their opposition and their weak
ness. The longer this State of things con-
Times the stronger will grow the prestige and
sanction of the Republican form. Already ii
has lasted nearly two years, and has done
its work in that time remarkably well
By and by it will come to oc-
cnpy in the popular mind that posi-
ton of established power which gives
to every government in France an i'm
mepse moral weight in elections, even where
il uses no corrupt means TO influence them,