The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-17
COMPLIMENT TO THE AMERICAN PRESS.
The Condition Of France-Hcr Immediate
Past and Prospective Future.
B0naparte's Rule and Bismarck's Enmity--
''SymptOms That He Has Reached
the Summit Of His Power"
Napoleonism as It Is-The Republic or
a Royal Restoration?

PARIS, Feb. %, 1874
IL is only few days ago that NJ Emile Olivier.
the once famous Minister of Napoleon ILL.,, the
man who was in power when France was hurried
into the most disastrous, ill-cOnducted and dis
graceful war she had ever waged, returned to
Paris rom the little village in Piedmont, where,
with dignity and good sense not often seen among
French statesmen, he has lived Tor the last four
years-ever since his fall from power--ln the most
complete secluslOn. Even now NJ. olivier has re-
turned to Paris, not, as will be seen below, with
any immediate intention OF re-enterlng the stormy
world OF politics, but in order to be "received,' "
formally, member OF the French Academy, Of
which illustrious body he was elected member in
1870, shortly before the war broke out and put a
stop to great many things besides NJ Ollivier's
solemn reception. For obvious reasons 1T has been
thought advisable to delay the reception by the
Academy OF man who was so terribly unpopular
rs M. olivier, and even now there Is, it would
seem, some chance of a hostile manifestation
being made against him when he takes his seat
next month.
SPECIAL HERALD INTERVIEW WITH THE STATESMAN.
Having heard tnat M. Olivier had announced his
Intention OF coming forward a candidate for the
Department OF the Var, which he represented
under the Empire, at the next elections, l wrote
to M. Olivier asking for an interview. and, having
received a most courteous answer, called yester-
day by appointment at his modest little villa at
Passy, the pretty and fashionable quarter in the
west OF Paris which was so severely and so use
lessiy bombarded by M. Theirs in his struggle
against the Commune in 1871. was shown into
NJ. Olllvier's drawing room, and while waiting
there "a few moments had time to admire large
and beautiful photograph Of the late Emperor,
which was the only picture in the room-a pretty
plain sign that NJ Olivier was still faithful to The
memory OF his late master in spite OF ali that had
occurred since he was the EmperOr's Prime Min.
lister.
AMERICAN JOURNALISM.
When we entered his study M. Oiiivier's first re-
mark was that he believed the HERALD was by far
the most important journal in the United States,
where, he understood, it occupied position OF
superiority to all rivals as marked as that OF tue
London Times, in Great Britain ''That being sou
continued the Minister, 81 am quite ready to an
swer any questions you may wish to put me-"
NAPOLEON'S RULE
Being asked to give some explanation OF the
origin Of the late war, NJ. Olivier said There is
q widely spread opinion that the great success
obtained by the Emperor in the pl66iscite of May,
1870 was the main cause OF the declaration OF war
In July following, the Emperor thinking that he
could gain new lease OF power by war which
he would not have ventured On had it not been for
the favorable result OF the May pzsbiScite. This,
however, is quite an Incorrect view. or course the
enemies Of the Empire have expressed the opinion
have stated-namely. that the war was the re-
suit of the ebisctte-but nothing could possibly be
further from the TRUTH and, indeed do not be-
lievc that any one IN France honestly holds
such an opinion, whatever he may choose to write
or to say for party purposes. Neither the EN-
perOr nor l, nor any one OF his Ministers, ever
dreamed OF going to war before the 80 Of July,
1870 when the HOnenzolern candida
ture was aunOuncedl. The war was
none of our seeking; it was put
upon US by NJ. de Bismarck, who saw his Oppor
tunty and was anxious to crush France
while still at his mercy. He provoked
us to declare war, and yet contrived to
give Germany the air OF being wantonly attacked
by France, whereas by his bringing forward Prince
Leopold of HOhenzOlern as a candidate for the
throne Of Spain he knew very well he was forcing
us to go to war. am quite aware that the Ger
mans urge that they had not moblized their army
previous to the Duke dc Grammont's speech
on the 9th of July; that they had made no prepare
tons for war at that time, and were even engaged
in supplying their men with new musket when
war broke out.
'TO this would reply that German bad faith is
prOverbial, and they picked with us what we call
IN French 'ta,e q,tereue dAHemand'-a Germans
quarrel by which we mean quarrel about moth
ing at all. They knew our weakness lar better
than we did ourselves, and were determined
TO profit by it, They are practically
always ready in military point OF
view, and then, TOO. everything favored them In
most extraordinary manner, Bismarck was
ADMIT, very clever in the way he published the
Belgian draft treaty and so alienated England
from us. We ought not to have given him the
power to publish such treaty, you say ? But who
ba
ish as to give NJ de Bismarck a draft Treaty which
he could use at any time against us?
HIS OPINION OF BISMARCK,
III Think however, that it may be said that M. de
Bismarck reputation as statesman has been ex-
aggeratod nnduly. 1t is not difficult to earn the
reputation OF great diplomatist when you have
o Moltke and 900 or armed and well disci-
plined men behind you. II he had JAILED there would
have been general cutlery against Bismarck ON
account OF his utter unscrupulousness. II You
have no scruples you can accomplish great many
things honest men cannot hope to do. You come
to see me here as q friend and might easily take
some object of my table when my back was turned
II you were as INSCRIPTIONS as M. de Bismarck Is.
] look on that carelessDess of all moral restraint
and the having immense material force at his back
MS the two great causes OF Bismarcks success as q
statesman. or course he is clever (1,a6tle) as
well but have, believe, stated the chief reasons
Of his success and / think there are symptoms
that M. de Bismarck has reached the summit OF
his power. look on these revelations OF General
La Marmoras as very damaging. and the PROOF
that they are so Is the immense annoyance shown
oy the German Chancellor at the publication OF
Heheral La Marmoras book. Many little signs
seem 10 me to indicate that NJ. de Bismarck may
calculate TOO much on his own skill and the MILL
'aiy strength OF Germany. That he did provoke
as in 1870 look on as being beyond all doubt. why
should the Emperor have gone to war? He had
inst been confirmed in power by an enormous ma
lority. Franco was prosperous ana happy.
The Emperor had Loyalty accepted con-
stitutional government in France, and the
prospects OF his dynasty were never
better. II we had wanted q war with prus
STA we could easily have found a pretext for II.
We had. for INSTANCE, only 10 call nn thu 4.