The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-12

other parts of the world, the Republic has
bad name. People are apt to regard republi-
canism as men of the world regard invitations
to reform and enter an established church.
No one doubts the virtue of the suggestions,
for religion is necessary in every society; but
there are SO many pleasant sins available for
the day that regeneration will do we'll enough
tomorrow. While most of us wish well to
France and rejoice in her prosperity and
would be glad to see her republic, we think
it better to come after our time, "when the
people are fit for a republic, and when liberty
means something more than an unrestricted
guillotine.
Thus all the signs indicate that France is
drifting toward the Empire We are far from
losing our faith in the Republic. The time is
rapidly coming when even q people as i'm
pressible as the French will see that true
greatness, and that abundant, generous pros
perity, which never abandons true greatness,
will come with modest, economical, brave
government-speaking for the people and
aiming to perform oil Of its functions with
simplicity and truth. In the speech re-
Gently made by M. Gambetta over the
grave Of q noble republican he spoke
with hopefulness and enthusiasm Of the
prospect He saw the aurora Of repub-
icanism in the skies, and he looked for such
an awakening OF patriotism in France that all
classes, the learned, the witty, the rich, the
aristocratic, would unite to welcome it as the
government that could alone give the nation
peace. We wish we could share M. Gambetta' s
enthusiasm. We ore not quite sure that he
shares it himself, as we read the accounts of his
severe speeches in the Assembly, and the efforts
of Bonapartist rufians to aid their cause by as
sailing him. Everything points to revolution
or to revolutionary agitation. The imperial
lists and the monarchists, the supporters of tho
Church and the upper classes seem resolved to
have no peace that does not mean their own ele-
walton TO power. Nothing could be more selfish
and unpatriotic than such course; but do we
not all know that in governments, even as
spotless in their repubicanism as our own,
personal ambition and the desire for gain and
place will always override other considera-
tons? If MacMahon chooses he can save the
Republic. He may make himself the Wash
ington of France, but he has shown no dlspo-
sition as yet to be anything more than its
Monk.
Little Republic in the W estern Ocean.
Some interesting intelligence in relation to
the westerly group of the islands Of the Magel-
Ian Archipelago which Commodores Perry and
Rodgers desired to secure to the United States,
is supplied by our Washington correspondence
in to-day's HERALD, from documents forwarded
to the Navy Department by Commander
George E. Belknap We obtain from this re-
port glimpse Of the political history of these
BONN Islands, which has in it spice of TO
nance, although bearing o striking resem-
blance to the history gilmore imposing Powers.
1t appears that the patriarch of the islands,
who had lived on the largest of the group,
Peel Island, for forty-four years. died in
April at the age of eighty. He was
native of Massachusetts, and must have
been a remarkable man, since he not only es-
tablished miniature Republic of Bonin,"
with simple form Of government bringing
order out Of chaos, and became the first ruler,
under the title Of Governor, but after holding
Office five years, actually declined second
term. This may certainly have been attribu-
table to the fact that the government was not
one of much wealth or patronage, and that
there was nothing, even for performer" to
make perquisites out of for himself or his rela-
tives, unless, indeed, it may have been in the
shape of turtles. But the refusal Of re-elec-
ton by Governor Savory seems to have been
unfortunate for tho people, since no other
person on the island was fit for the place,
and so "she restraints and usages of
American, Captain Pease. seems, however, to
have recently fallen upon the islands, like q
Committee of Seventy, and to have INDUCED
in variety of lawless acts in the name Of
reform
The deed which Commodore Perry secured
of PortLloyd-a fine harbor of Peel Island as
United States naval station, was deposited
by him in the hands Of the friendly patriarch
Savory, and was by the Ex-Governor conveyed
in trust to his sons, to be delivered to the
United States should it ever be demanded.
Port Lloyd will be very desirable naval sta
ton, and no doubt the annexation of the whole
group of islands will one day take place. Mean
while our government appears to have realized
the advantage OF having friend at court.
The Turkish Question Looming Up
Again.
II the Berlin despatch to the Londoaa Times
about the action of Germany Servia and Rou-
mania regarding the Turkish question can be
relied on, the old complications between
the European Powers and Turkey will
probably be revived. It is said that an
agreement has been made between Germany.
Servia and Roumania to mutually protect their
interests and position against the designs of
Turkey. The report comes at the same time
that serious differences have arisen, threaten
Iaxx ~.