The New York herald., 1874-08-24

ment, Jules FaVrer VINO IL yuea FaVrer"
A republican assured me only the other
day that the older heads among his
party would be we'll satisfied to see Prince Napo-
leon at the head OF affairs. ''SOOn," my friend
added, .he Will be the sole true representative
left OF the ideas of 1889. He knows the wants and
feelings Of the middle class, and he ls thoroughly
He would rule despotlcally, perhaps;
but his despotism would, at least be enlightened"
Though Gambetta has, on the whole, behaved with
moderation since he resigned office
at Bordeaux, he has not yet succeeded In winning
the confidence of sober men. Theirs is seventy.
seven, and Ledru ROllin, too, is very old.
A STRONG DEMOCRACY PREFERABLE TO A WEAK
REPUBLIC
Liberals, therefore, VINO understand what they
really want, would prefer q strong democracy
under Prince Napoleon to a nominal republic
under weak leaders and assailed on every side.
Gambetta, however, has no idea OF self-efacement.
Young France still admires him, and he still speaks
and acts as Chief His last order to his followers
Is to be careful whom they elect to the Councils
General, which are. as you are aware. local
government boards. proportion Of The members
of the Senate to be shortly created will probably
be elected by the Councils General and republicans
are anxious to secure respectable minority in the
upper house. For more than this they cannot
hope 1t Is curious to notice the obstinacy with
which constitution makers maintain
THE NECESSITY FOR SECOND CHAMBER.
Washington first accepted the doctrine, then
Napoleon, then all the rest OF Europe, with the
exception Of Greece, while the New World has Of
course followed the lead OF the United States. The
origin Of the idea. as every one KNOWS lay in
study OF British legislative machinery. TO Amert-
cans it had been especially interesting to observe
that while majority OF the House of Commons was
obstinately bent on subdulng the revolted
colonies, the House Of Lords in which was heard
the voice OF Chatham, did sometimes reflect more
truly the calmer sense OF the English people.
Hence arose the American Senate, the only upper
house besides that OF England which has ever had
real influence. Napoleon Ills Senate was q
lamentabe failure, though some brilliant names
were inscribed on its rolls. Among those was
Prosper Merimee's who confessed that he felt
shy at first on addressing that august
assembly. ..But l soon took heart" he con-
tinued, remembering that was only speak
ing to two hundred FOOLS" According to
the Duke OF Broglle's plan the Senate was to
consist partly OF members sitting ero0fcfo as mar
shals, admiras and perhaus archbishops; also
Judges Of the Court OF Cessation the highest Court
of Appeal in France, members named directly bv
the President of the Republic and members elected
by the Councils General all to hold their seats
members Of the Academy should also be entitled
to seats 1t might be answered that this would be
TO close the door Of the Academy on many emf
nent men whose political views happened to differ
from those of the majority.
sAvANs NOT POLITICAL LEADERS.
Unhappily, this Is already the case. What
must be confessed Is that men of science and let
ters have not proved themselves very brilliant
rulers during the present century. Guizot ana
Olivier are names which mark the downfall OF
two dynastles. Even the ability Of Thiers must
seem to an impartial spectator Of mis- career to
have been overrated. In 1910, when Prime Minis
ter, he committed series OF blunders and was
completely outwitted Dy Lord Palmerston. he
then threatened war without taking the pains
to ascertain If he could act on his menace
and found his statements co0lly repu-
dated by the King. He now has the
credit of having put down the Commune and liber-
ated the territory. Yet 1t was through his care
lessness that the Commune broke out, while As to
the payment or the indemnity France proved
to be richer than any one could have anticipated
and was naturally only too glad to be rid of the
Germans. No extraordinary financial ability was
displayed by M. Theirs, finance being according to
the admission Of his friends, his weak point. The
leqitimists also 1t must be remembered to their
praise, stood BY him very loyally till the hostile
occupation OF the soil was virtually at an end. It
was only their patriotic resolution not to add to
the dnlculties Of TIE situation that prevented .
vigorous crusade throughout the country in favor
of the Bourbons after the troubles OF 1901. No
wonder they are now little bitter at having let
the chance Slip After the civil war France was
In 80 exhausted and sickly frame of mind that
she would have rejoiced in the sway Of any one
who represented prescription or even decency.
ONE GREAT HOPE FOR FRANCE.
There Is one great hope for France, let Paris do
her worst, and this nope Is best illustrated by
Burkes allegory Of the OK and the Grasshopper.
"He would be wrong" said the most pbiosophic
of statesmen, ''who should fancy that those voices
which are heard 0ftenest and loudest represent
pubic opinion. Judge merely by sound and you
would fancy little insect was lord OF the field
and that the huge steady OK, silently chewing the
cud and regardless OF the clatter around him, had
no existence. Yet he can low, on reasonable oc.
casiOn, and then makes himself heard very dis
tinctly." so the great French people pay less
need tnan some newspaper correspondents are apt
to fancy to Ministerial intrgues and conee house
rumors regarding this that pretender. still but
busy life is that Of the Provinces life OF toiling
and saving enlivened by many q Sunday holiday,
when the young folk, instead OF slipping absinthe
and reading the RepttbliQ,te Frdncafse, dance on
the village green, while the fathers Of the hamlet
discuss, not TOO violently, some very thin wine
and the news OF last month. They have no time
to fever themselves with contradictory kilograms
at morning, noon and night. You may learn more
Of what the country really thinks and does from a
story like Sands "La Petite Fadette," or the pop
ular tales of Erckmann- -Chatrian, than from a
thousand and one leaders, even such men as
NM. yeuillot or John Lemoinne. OF course there
are one pr two opesuods TO which tpe French