The New York herald., 1873-10-14


beak. But if there is one point on which all
political parties are alike incorrigible it is in
their disregard for the lessons Of history and
despite past mishaps, broken hopes and sub
sequent recriminations we are certainly about
to witness renewal of that strange league
the earthen pot and the iron one
Nor let it be contended that any specula-
tions as to their likely results are at this date
premature, for events in France move apace.
In two months from this time the Count of
Chambord may, according to all present pros
poets, be on the throne, and if the republicans
and Bonapartists are as prompt in banding
together as were the legitimists Orleanists
and republicans in forming their anti-imperi-
alist league after the establishment Of the
Second Empire, the new King and his Minis
ters may find themselves involved in such
home troubles as may lead them, in obedi-
ence to immemorial French custom, to seek
diversion in foreign war, which would mean
trouble and panic for all Europe. Henri ",
it must be remembered, would be but shaky
king owing his crown to a few parliamentary
votes scraped together by lobby intrigue and
if sore pressed by an array of republicans and
Bonapartists, with two thirds Of the nation at
their backs. nothing would be more likely to
suggest itself to his mind than the idea Of con-
solidating his throne by reviving the military
prestige of French arms. In 1923, when Louis
XVIII was in q similar predicament the Duke
of Angouleme was sent to Spain to reduce the
Constitutionalists, who were endeavoring to
wrest concessions from Ferdinand VII; in
1873 Spain offers just as good ON excuse for
Bourbonist Intervention as it did forty years
ago, and the sight Of the Dukes of Nemours
and Aumale marching across the Pyrenees to
put down CASTELAR, and seat Don Carlos whilst
the Prince de Joinville took feet to lombard
Cadiz would be one that would certainly
crafty French vanity, if it did not recommend
itself to common sense But, supposing
Spain vanquished by French arms and King
Carlos concluding treaties with his cousin
Henri, what would be more consistent than
to yield to the clerical agitation and to seek
new laurels by restoring the temporal power
of the Pope in Italy and ousting Victor EN-
manuel, Prince Napoleon's father-in-law?
This war would be even more popular than
the other, for the French of all opinions feel
bitterly towards the Italians whom they tax
with ingratitude for having neglected to repay
the debt of Solferino by assisting France in
1870. But what would Bismarck say in such
juncture, and what would Germany do?
Prince Bismarck is a peremptory statesman,
but astute, and he is just the man to let France
embark in an Italian war and then fall
on her to wind up his settlement of old scores
(Which would signify the annexation Of the
rest of Lorraine and Burgundy, when she
was fairly in the tolls. All these eventualitiss
must be considered in judging of French af-
fairs at this moment, and particularly in cal
culatng the results Of the combination which
Prince Napoleon has been projecting.
But it may be asked, again, how can the
republicans forget the treatment they suffered
under the Empire and make common cause
With the men who gagged and exiled
them for twenty years? No doubt the ques-
ton reads queerly, but who could ever have
foreseen in lS47 that ten and twenty years
later Bourbonists, Orleanists and republicans
would meet together in amity in the drawing
rooms of NM Theirs, Berger and Marie,
turn by turn, and combine parliamentary
tactics, newspaper articles and electioneering
maneuvres to vex Napoleon Ill? Yet such
was the case. Every Wednesday, in NJ Theirs
house OF the Place st. George, and every Fri
day, in NJ. Berryer's handsome saloons you
could meet the Duke de Broglie and NJ. Gar
nier Pages, NJ. Jules Favre and NJ. Provost
Paradol discoursing cheek by jowl and fancy
ing themselves to be Of one mind because they
were temporarily confederated for o common
purpose. The reconciliation of the republi-
cans and Bonapartists will not be an odder
thing than this, nor, on the whole.
less absurd, for this one positive truth must
be taken into account, that the republican
and Bonapartist factions contain far greater
number of adventures than the others, and
that, therefore, scruples of conscience will not
weigh much more with them than they do in
the case of hungry men who wish to grow
rich. The new party will probably not call
itself liberal, as Of yore, but democratic, and,
under Prince Napoleon's auspices, it will 90
in boldly for free thought and some modified
form of socialism. The republicans will con-
veniently forget that Napoleon III. supported
the Popes temporal power for two and twenty
years with French bayonets, and the imperial
lists will dismiss from their minds all the un
pleasant plots in which Tibaldi, Cluseret and
Bianqui took parts In course of time we
may hear of Gambetta being on excellent
terms with the ''Red Caesar" and of Paul de
Cassagnac taking his absinthe at the Cate de
Suede with NJ Ranc. Then, some day, if the
young Prince Imperial disappear from the
scene, as the Duke of Reichstadt did. the
republicans may find once again that they
have bestowed all their energies in refounding
IL r