Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-08

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The prerent government can hardly be dig.
ni6ed with that title. IL is more like a
mob. The Assembly was elected nearly
three years ago, for the simple purpose Of
agreeing to the terms Of peace proposed by
Germany. II is in no respect a constitu-
tional body, for France has no constitution.
1t discharged the office for which 1t was
elected, and then, instead Of ascertaining
the will Of the nation as to the mode Of
government it desired, it assumed all the
duties Of government itself 1t made Theirs
Provisional President, and after bis resig-
nation it put Mcmahon in his place. 1t
holds its position not by virtue of any fun
damental law, but by virtue of its own will,
and is no more constitutional than was the
Commune
Such a state Of affairs gives rise to all
sorts Of political plotting and counter
plotting. And now, while France seems
outwardy calm and composed, it is swayed
back and forth by the most profound tides
Of political passion. No man has come
forth from the chaos to lead the nation for.
ward to a constitutional and Republican
system. The Assembly has been the battle
ground Of Orleansts Bourbons, Imperial
lists, Republicans and Communists. And it
would seem as if the Assembly was gradu-
ally drifting back to the Bourbons, with
the Comte de Chambord as King by divine
right, under the name Of Henri V. The
Orleans faction have given their adhesion
to him, and the advocates of the monarchy
have coalesced under one head, and form
one party. The Republicans and Imperial
lists are trying to combine, to hold things
as they are for the present, in the hope
that the course of events will bring to each
side the fuflmcnt of its own wishes. Into
whose hands the Assembly will fall is as
yet doubtful but the Bourbous are develop
ing great strength, and theirs may be the
prize of the French crown. 1t certainly
looks as if it would be.
There are two reasons that are forcing
the nation to this result. France wants a
strong government She is yet stung with
the memory of terrible defeats. She is irri-
tated BY the consciousness OIL her own weak
ness. Tho German flag still floats on the
walls Of Strasbourg and Metz She is ut.
terly sterile aud barren of great leading
men Gambetta flashed across her horizon,
aud for a while she dreamed that be had
come to conduct her out of her troubles and
give utterance to all her hopes and desires
But he was only wandering star, and all
his eloqueuce was the mere foam Of his own
lips She hoped that Theirs would guide
her to stability aud strength aud revenge
But he was an old man "a splendid politi-
cal economist, able to pay her indemnity by
the skilful development Of her resources
and handling Of her taxes, but not able to
compete with German diplomacy or express
the passions she was hiding in her heart
The fabric of Liberal and republican sys'
tens has fallen to the ground-promises nc
order and strength to the naton-and now
in utter despair, as illusion after illusion
has vanished, she is looking to the legiti
mist pretcndcr, and hopes to find a strong
government under Bourbon prince.
There is also a strong undercurrent o.
religious feeling, which is now greatly re
vived and fostcred by pilgrimages and &c
clesiastical arts, driving the nation in thu
same direction. The restoration of tn,
Monarchy would give delight to the Catholi,
clergy. Germany has been giving rebuk'
after rebuke, insult after insult, to tn,
church of Rome. She has Joined hand
with the Italian king, who has made tn,
pope the captive Of the Vatican" Tn,
ultramontanists have thus two-fold inhu
ence on the hearts Of the people when the,
urge the surrender of the Republic and tn
restoration of the old Monarchy. Hatre,
of German policy combines with love o
the Catholic church to make France, " tn,
eldest daughter Of the church." once agail
the leading champion of the -" tempora
power" In the establishment of the mon
archy, the clergy see France rising from
her ashes with renewed glory, and one
more taking her place by the side of tn
Holy Father and his supreme sovereignty
Hence pilgrimages, revivals, miracles, re
ligious enthusiasm and eloquence, mea,
the invcstiture of the Comte de Chamber,
with the imperial purple. Religion i
bringing all her forces to the aid of tn
king.
But whatever may be the action of th
Assembly, France is without any settleC
future. There are no elements of stabiIt,
in her affairs. Her pretenders " and he
public men are stolid devotees of tie pas
or unreasoning worshippers of the future
They have no common sense. They ar,
imbedded in medieval notions, or are bal
looming 10 the clouds. And their moral
is gone. Hyaeinthe mourns over his countr,
because Of its utter lack of moral perception
and principle, its decadence from righteous
ness and eternal justice 1t is hardly to b,
expected that the causes which have worke,
so dsastrously in the past will not prevail
in the future. Even if material order i
maintained, there will be no moral power
no common political or religious faith an,
principles. No matter what may be tn
state Of the atmosphere to-day in France
the history of the past tells us that we ma,
look for the fures Of the cyclone at an,
time.
The final act in the terrible TRACED,
Of the Modoc captives has been played
aud, on Friday, Captain Jack, Schonchiu
Boston Charley, aud Black Jim paid will
their life the penalty Of their crimes
Barncho and Sioux, on a full examination