Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-03
SITUATION OF FRANCE.

SITUATION OF FRANCE.
NJ. Guizot has given to correspondent
Of the New York Herald an interview,
during which the eminent statesman de-
-ivered himself of an Grafton, the report
Of which covers page of the Herald. and
in which he enters fully into the situation
of France, the character Of its prominent
men and the prospect for the future. Gut
zot y in the eighty-sixth year Of his age,
opposed to republicans, and all forms of
republican government. M. Guizot sta.
ted that Of the $4,000, 900 of inhabitants
Of France, only 1,o0o, 900 are Protestants,
and that Professionalism is growing. Most
Frenchmen are skeptical on matters Of
religion, but they like to see their wives
and daughters devout. Catholicism in
France has received a heavy blow from
the declaration Of the dogma Of infallibil-
ity. France is divided into four great
parties--the Lcgitimists, who follow the
Comte de Chambord; the Orleans party /;
the Imperialists, and those who call them
selves Republicans. Another division is
into classes Of society. Peasants, the
workingmen Of the towns and cities the
bourgeoisie. or the great middle. business
class, who control most of the money;
and small upper class, composed of no.
blemen. literary men. great preprietors,
and 20 on. The peasantry composes seven
ty per cent. of the population. This class
cares only for forms of government, as
they are carried on for their personal inter-
ssis. The burgeoisie are in the main Or
leanists; they want order, rest, and a
steady government They will never up
set things to put in power the House of
Orleans. The upper class are mainly le-
gitimists, but they are becoming more and
more tranquil, and considerate Of separate
If not opposing views.
NJ. Guizot declared his present as his
lifelong preference for constitutional
monarchy, and declared that he liked the
British better than the American system
OF government. He does not believe that
a republic is suited to France; and this is
because .sthere are few men In France
who are republicans from sincere, earnest
convictions, from belief that the people
are capable Of self-government. There
is no general, genuine. national move.
ment in favor of republic" But"
said M. Guizot: 81 would be great mis-
fortune il the Assembly were to DO dis
solved before the last German soldier left
France" Imperialism is lost cause in
France for generation at least" On the
whole, NJ. Guizot was not sanguine as to
the future Of France. but Of all things
dreaded most, is the possible success of
the Commune. Although an Orleanist,
he always supported Napoleon III. as
against republicanism and threatened an
archy. There is internal evidence in this
account. that it is fair reflex of the mind
and feeling OF one Of the most enlighten-
ed and experienced OF Frenchmcn, and
even in the brief synopsis we have given,
1t is easy to see much of the present state
Of France. To Americans, that people will
always be an interesting nation. Our ear
~ history and the wonderful career of
France, and the doubts which still surround
her future, render her one Of the most
fascinating as well as complex problems
of political destiny. 1t is noticeable that
NJ. Guizot speaks of the late Emperor with
a calmness and qualified admiration which
the press Of the country will not emulate
il 1t understands. But then M. Guzot.
the conservative and monarchist of three
fourths Of century, a statesman and a
student. could hardly be expected to form
10 enlightened an opinion Of his country
man as the writers of our more specially
enliOhfonad ma vers