Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-12-12
MARSHAL BAzAINE.

The trial of this illustrious officer has
hsen going on long while under the
grave charge of surrendering the army
AT Metz without doing all that honor TO-
ouired. While there has been a mystery
about the cause Of the surrender. the
outside world has never suspected
Bazaine Of treason He entered the
French army a private ia his nineteenth
year. and has done service forty-two
wears. On his body arc many scars
and he wears numerous decorations,
earned by his bravery on the field. It's
no wonder that he was agitated when
convicted, after long and tedious trial,
of betraying France, whom he had served
40 well all his life. 1t is said that when
the long list Of battles in which he had
participated was read in court, that he
was affected even TO tears. There are
perhaps two causes for bis trial and con-
yiction. The first is thet France feels
deeply the humiliation Of defeat, and
popular feeling demands victim upon
whom the blame can be laid, rather than
on the nation. In their eyes. failure
is a crime, and to be less than Bonaparte
is rank treason. They would vindicate
their ancient renown as a great and war
like power BY furnishing a conspicuous
person and thus divert the ignominy OF
defeat. 1t is in some respects feeling
akin TO that which demanded the MUIR
der of Mrs. Surratt. The mob demands
blood. and is led on by sham dema-
eoeues. Secondly, the fact is well known
that bitter feeling Of rivalry has existed
some years between Bazaine and McMa-
hon. The latter is in power now, but
he knows not how long he will remain
in favor, although elected President for
seven years, and his adherents desire,
doubtless, to do him a service byputting
Bazaine out of the way. Therefore, he
has been convicted and sentenced to be
shot, and the expenses of the trial paid
out of his estate. Surely it is danger
GUS thing to be great in France. If ex-
ecuted, Marshal Bazaine will not be the
first sacrifice laid upon the altar OF that
country to appease public clamor. The
head Of one of her best kings rolled into
the exeeutioner's basket to crafty
bIood-thirsty demand Marshal Murat,
who had distinguished himself on many
battle.felds, was shot on nearly the
same charge-that he had betrayed
France. The taking eff of Bazaine will
be shame to his country and dis
grace to this civilized age. 1t would
have been more becoming to the bloody
reign Of Philip the II of Spain, the
days of Robespierre of France or the
carrier Kings OF England. The court
un TED in a recommendation to
mercy. which may be regarded, but
there you'd be but little mercy
in 1pai1g the life of the battle SCARED
old veteran to degrade and Danish him.
Death would doubtless be preferable.
Mcmahon is absolute. and is a mon
archist at heart. His is TO be a cen
trail government, which will brook no
opposition and crush out all dangerous
rivalries that cannot be pacifed.
France is to be a republic in name
ouiy. IS under Napoleon III when he
was arst elected President. but will
not long remain so in fact. One Of the
bad signs is the conviction Of Bazaine
TO get him out Of the way. And what
is most disgraceful is that when his
sentence was read at TrianOn the large
and breathless audience broke out into
shout of heartless applause. This in
dieates the spirit Of the people and their
light, fippant way Of dealing With grave
subjects. Suppose that Jefferson Davis
had been tried and convicted at the
close of the war when Northern feeling
ran SO high against him, how differently
the aunouneementvou id have fallen upon
the ears Of his most inveterate enemies.
Republicanism to be permanent and
beneficial to a people must be Of slow
growth, founded upon principles Of
virtue and sustained by intelligent
freemen, who know not only their own
rights, but recognize the rights Of others.
It is never the result of sudden revo-
luton, but is a matter Of gradual educa-
ton, wherein wide distinction is drawn
between the sanctity Of human rights
and the FESTIVE spirit which would
throw off all law and order, break ap
society and call that freedom. France
is not likely to succeed as a genuine
republic soon. She is making a bad
start The only favorable sign is that a
better system Of public education is
being introduced, and under this the
people may in a generation or so be-
come elevated to the dignity and ca
paciiy Of self government
NJ. III ,,,,s-T III ,-Io cara N v.,tr