The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-06
M. Theirs and tho Prospect for the
French Republic.


French Republic.
The political situation in France commands
attention to-day from variety of causes.
Prominent among these is the fact that the
war indemnity is now fully paid 1t is only
two years and half since the preliminary
treaty of peace was signed by the representa-
tives of France and Germany at Versailles;
yet in that brief space of time, in addition to
meeting all the pecuniary requirements of the
home government, France has paid over to
Germany five milliards of francs, equal to one
thousand millions of dollars. In the whole
history OF the world no nation in the same
space OF time has responded 30 nobly to the
call of its government. It seemed at first
huge burden, but on the shoulders of the
French people it rested lightly. The incubus
is now removed and France is free In few
days more the last of the German invaders will
have left her soil, and the famous s'Pact of
Bordeaux" will be at an end.
What will France do with herself, now that
she is free is question which many are anx-
iously asking This question is rendered all
the more important now that, according to COM
mon report a fusion of the Bourbon interests
has been effected and that ex-President Theirs
has openly avowed his conversion to the
Republic. One other item of news, although
not yet properly authenticated, lends interest
to the general situation. It is stated that
President MacMahon no longer makes it q
secret that he will not serve his country in
any capacity under the white flag. This last
item Of news may be true or it may be false;
it is not yet as we have said, properly anthem
ticated but, true or false, it requires to be
stated in this connection. What will France
do with herself? is, therefore, q question
which compels us to look at the general situa-
ton, and to consider ut once the character Of
the existing political combinations and the
relative strength of the various political fac
tons.
It is undeniable that the Bordeaux compact
has hitherto restrained the factions from seek
ing individual expression except in the quiet
est and least offensive manner possible.
Legiimists, Orleanists Bonapartists, republic
cans have, no doubt during these two years
steadily kept their sectional interests in view;
but it is not to be denied that these sectional
interests, much as they may have been cult
waited secretly, have been subordinated to the
general welfare of France. NJ Theirs was strong,
and his services were deemed indispensa-
BILE SO long as he faithfully chung to the COM
promise; but when, in November of last year,
he declared in his message to the Assembly
that it was necessary to proceed to establish
the institutions essential to the national life
parted from the Bordeaux compact, to GER
tain extent betrayed his trust and made his
downfall certain. From that hour the monarch
lists in the Assembly distrusted him and made
the arrangements which accomplished his
downfall in May of this year. M. Theirs
deaux compact which made the victory of his
opponents SO comparatively easy The con-
servatives in the Assembly, who now rule,
have said nothing, have done nothing openly,
indicative of any intention to do violence
to the arrangements made ct Bordeaux. Their
likings and dislikings have been but thinly
disguised but their public actions have been
cautious to the last degree. 1t has been
deemed necessary by all parties to wait until
the indemnity was paid and until the soil was
free. If M. Theirs had been more cautious
he might still have been in power. He was
incautious, or rather he was too trustful of his
strength, and, daring too much, he lost his
hold, and the power which for two years he
had used so skilfully and SO much to the ad-
vantage of his country passed into other
hands. True it no doubt is that his over
throw was accomplished by a coalition
of legitimists, Orleanists and Bonapartists;
but it is not less true that such coalition was
effected on the principle of the "Pact Of
Bordeaux" The indemnity was not yet paid,
the country was not yet free, and consequently
the time for decisive action had not yet come.
With the payment Of the last franc Of the
indemnity money to Germany comes enamel
pation-the emancipation of France as q
nation and the emancipation of the factions
from all binding engagements. The Bordeaux
compact is no more. With France, to-day,
we rejoice. We rejoice that she is restored to
herself. We rejoice that she has done so
nobly in the years of her sorrow, and that she
is free to decide her own destiny But we
cannot say we rejoice when we think Of the
future. Whether the future form of govern
ment for that country is to be monarchical or
republican we do not pretend to know. It is
certain, however, that when the Assembly
meets the question as to the deinitive estab-
lshment of q government must be raised
and in some way settled. The chances for
the immediate restoration of the Empire are
small, mainly because the Bonapartist repre-
sentative is under age. The restoration of the
monarchy might be easy were it not for the
white flag. France will never have the