The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-11-29
OUR PARIS LETTER.


riencei not 50 much a defeat as Dc route. Their
caniidates had not the pluck 70 avow they were
monarchists, but shrouded themselves in rapid
phrases about maintaining order and u~pholding con-
servative interests, rs II Theirs and his friends were
Jewelers. The Republicans manfuly declared for the
tric0lor. were not ashamed Of what il represents;
their antagonists did not even display the smallest
corner Of the white Gag; they dragged in McNIahon's
name, keeping Il on their lips, while they intrigued
% replace him by Henri V. These tactics must
cease, since the liberals intend to elect Mcmahon
President, and Theirs his prime minister, TO organize
the Republic, and 70 elect q new Assembly. The
people unquestionably desire 10 see the Republican
form Of government guided and directed by that
soldier and statesman, and have fOrcibly reminded
all pretenders and intriguers, such Is its wish. The
mode Of voting which elected the present Assembly,
Is the same which always returns Republican depu-
ties since 1871, and unless the one-fOurth or the one
half Of the electors be suppressed, the fusiOnists have
not the ghost Of a chance Of heading a poll. The
verdict is also important as s~ignifying that the pro-
VisiOnal must end, and either the monarchy or the
Republic be definitely proclaimed next NOyembeT
France has pronounced for 4 continuance of the Re
public, and its enemies decline 70 face 4 general
election. The hour is come for France 10 decide on
her destinies; she cannot either walk, act or work,
so long as she IS weighted down with uncertainty.
Monarchy cannot indefinitely remain q mirage and
an enigma, and in the person Of Comte de Chambord
is involved the last struggle for Right Divine, royalty
against the modern rights Of peoples. Such royalty
may disappear, but net France, happily. To BE Of
utility is the sole right the Comte de Chambord can
HAN " H1AAs NL- AS - AA1 ~ . Ia AAl
balances and found wanting.
The prospect of q restoration of royalty is daily
becoming small by degrees and beautifully less. 1t
is also evident that since the overthrow of Theirs in
May last, nothing has changed in the cOuntry-Only
the office holders. Even q majority Of one" in
favor Of the Comte de Chambord, and but this on
condition he previously subscribes 10 the trlcolor and
n constitution, would be too dersiye for him to ac-
cept, as the opinion of the country, or for MacMahon
TO send an escort TO the frontier, to conduct him to be
crowned. However, the nation is now up and doing,
and decidedly repudiates being chained to the dead
past embodied in Henri v, who cannot divest him
self of his political religion, become an apostate to
his principles and his honor, to gain a throne. Per-
haps ii might be as easy to believe the Pope would re-
nounce his infallibility 10 regain his temporal power.
The Comte de Chambord would not burn heretics or
break them on the wheel, but his administration
would exclude all liberals from office; his religious
peace, would be on n par with the political peace of
Napoleon III. 1t is not believed that the Assembly,
with the detection OF such wandering Jews as the
Bonapartists, and in presence of the clOSed-up ranks
of the republicans led by Theirs, whose good works
the nation remembers, can find even n majority of one
TO invite the Comte to sit on q throne of thorns for
even a few years. 1t has the legal right to pronounce
for Henri ", Napoleon ". or the Pope; but the mo-
rality of the decision The Assembly should daily
read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest, that they are
Ministers not Of the letter Of the law, but of the spirit;
g for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.'
Up to the present, opinion here finds no change in
the grave position Of Bazaine. His preliminary justi-
fcatiOn-the trial promises to travel in n circle-is
OulJ dA lL1 ~ liz OAA ObhoAN loIlL dHOs
and is not intended as an important opening either
of his defence. The Indictment by revealing the Sc
rious charges against other officers, draws off for n
few hours, attention from the chief of the corps of
these compromised generals. France admits she had
no idea of the disorder and depravity which under
mined her army; blames the late Emperor more than
ever, as he was omnipotent and cannot shelter his
reputation, as being deceived by subordinates and
betrayed by n bad system. Like master, like man;
he appointed his Instruments; he created his system;
and in using both imperfections to place himself at
the pinnacle Of power, instead of combating the
enemy, constitute the gravamen Of BaZalne's mis-
deeds. France must be better after passing through
this fire, and making exemplary examples of others
as well as of Bazaine. In the technical examina-
tons which have taken place, the marchings and
cO"unter-marchlngs, are mere matters OF opinion, ap-
precautions; it is in their connection with the prison
er's political plans and strategy, that his guilt or in
nocence must be found. But in the tableau of French
military Reorganization so markedly exposed, where
no central command existed, where projects were
vague and calculations based on n something turning
up, where a chief depended for all on subordinates,
and subOrdinates for everything on the chief, 1t is i'm
possible not to admire that terrible German army;
where every movement was calculated, every plan
m%editated, every action infinitely cared for, so that
war was reduced to n problem of algebra. The French
fought haphaZardly and depended on chance for sue
cess, rs they did for their knowledge of the enemy,
and their own supplies. The due d'Aumale is admit
ted to be a most pains-taking president, as polite as
an old Versailles courtier, which is perhaps no en-
courging sign for the fate of the accused. In France
judges are most polished, when intending to be most
severe. The attitude of the prisoner is so far digni-
fed, but it is evident he looks upon the Court with
something like content for its ability. lie snubbed
the due d'Aumale by ironically abiding to his knowl-
edge of active war-he saw none-and sneered 4 lit
tie at the talents of Canrobert and Bourbaki. With
out his uniform, no person would take Bazaine for q
soldier bronzed by forty campaigns; and such a con-
clusiOn would be confirmed on hearing his little
s~queaking voice, which recalls that of Theirs. When
speaking, he loses that jeering expression so habitual
with him, which is replaced by n look more ruse
more artful, suggesting a man of deep calculationg
and fit for sc strategems and spoils at least.
The condemnation to death of e~x-deputy Commit
mist Ranc has profoundly affected the public in
eliciting regret at seeing q Council Of War infiicting
q punishment so disproportionate to the offence, as
to destroy all the moral effect of the conviction, and
making n martyr of the condemned; for it is well
known the franc affair . is q question of high
politics. Ranc seeded from the Commune when its
acts took q criminal turn, and he had something not
to justify, but to excuse his conduct. The mass of
observers, however, will conclude, his greatest crime
was to be the friend and colleague of Gambetta. His
contempt of court, by not surrendering to take his
trial was blamable, but does not merit 4 capital
sentence. Theirs was wrong in not putting Ranc on
his trial when he would certainly have been acquitted;
the present authorities have m~agnifed that wrong in
the condemnation pronounced. All these political
plumbers will be corrected when n new Assembly
meets, but many years must elapse before French
men will learn to regard difference of opinion rs
other than personal enmity to be persued with a |
Roman hate. i
LdES IN ~ ~ very SdJs NutL i mdAIuS al
preparations TO pass the winter jOyously. If the
return Of families, native as we'll as foreign, be an
indication of confidence in the future, that future
ought to be very brilliant and safe. 1t would be a
mercy 10 finish with the political question, that
p~aralyzes so many energies. which if set free could
powerfully advance France, but are now wasted in
miserable personalities and puerilites. There is no
lack Of employment, but business is stagnant because
trades people live in an atmosphere of uncertainty, 1
hesitate to expend money, and prefer to wait coming
solutions with folded arms. Il
Law expenses in France in the fourteenth century
were no joke, and suitors resembled very much those
of the time of the Romans, when lawyers eat the
fish, securing the shells for clients. Not only had
the direct costs of n suit 10 be nail. but the salaries |