Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-21

The decease OF statesman and au-
thor OF the eminenca aud length OF pub
lie SERVICE Of NJ. Guzoi, whose death
was announced by cable recently
brings vividly before the mind the rapid
march OF history and progress within
the limits Of single life At tha time
Of his birth Louis XVI was King OF
Frsnc,-the fest French Republic was
yet q thing OF the fuiure--the Consiitu
tion of the United States was not YET
ordained The great American Republic
was still in the chrysaIis form of con
federation without cohesion, without
nnwer to enforce its own ordinances, and
France was just beginning to emerge
from the depths of feudal monarchy
During Guizot's life France passed
from ieuaality into the constitutional
monarchy OF Louis XVI. as framed BY
the great men of the first National
Assembly; then into the Revolutionary
Government Of the Convention, the
Directory and the anarchy OF the de-
struciives miscalled a republic; then the
Consulate; then the Consulate for Life;
then the First Empire; then the Resto-
ration, with Louis XVIII and his sue
cessor, Charles Y; then the monarchy Of
he Citizen King" Louis Philippe;
then again the Republic of Lamartine,
followed by the Presidency of Louis
Napoleon; then ihe Presidency for life;
rhen the Second Empire; then the chaos
4f,er Sedan; and finally the Republic
again, with Theirs and Mcmahon as the
successive Chieis Of the State.
The span Of Gniz1t's life measured al
Ibis. and bis public life covered all OF 10
subsequent 10 the Consulate for LIE,
aud Gown 10 the revolution OF lS4S |
dere We have eight or ten distinct form.
1f government for the French people |
within the career OF one OF her pubic /
men, There are three phases OF the /
royal or kingly lorm OF monarchy, rang |
ing from the high prerogatives Of the |
royal house during part Of the reign /
of Louis AFi, through the constitutional /
limitations imposed by the great states
men of the FIRST National Assembly, TO |
the concessions in the earlier portion OF /
tbe regu OF Louis Philippe. There are
also three iorms of what the French call
the Republic beginning with the series
Which succeeded Louis XVI, followed by
rhe two Consuates, and again fol
lowed 1t 2 longer interval by those OF
Lsmartine and Louis Napoleon and
gain followed by the series whct still
survives under Mcmahon. There are also
TWO forms Of Bonspartist government,
the two Empires and the two by bird Re
pnbllcs which preceded them. These
many personal governments ADD many
forms Of government we're accompanied
or brought about by eight or ten total
reyolutions, some Of which we're blood
less, whilst others we're made the pretext
for shedding rivers of blood-French.
men slaughteriug Frenchmeu with more
severity than they ever inflicted on their
foreign foes in the numerous French
wars since Guizot was born. n
Daring these momentJus events in
The history of his country, Guizot was
occupied sometimes in the preparation
Of his voluminous works in literature,
and at others in his offices as a part of
he Government. He served in the Cabi-
nets Of Louis XVIII, Charles X and
Louis Philippe, and it was uuder the
ast that he reached his highest celebrity
md influence as a statesman. AS Min
ster OF Foreign a fairs in the last Cabi.
act of the Citizen King" he was the
eadiug spirit Of the ministry, and as
iuch conducted the famons Spanish
forming the royal alliance
,siween the French and Spanish
'eigning families. which made 10 much
noise in the European diplomatic world
nirty years ago, but which gave
10 political strength to either House
But he was never as successful in public
ife, either as minister, ambassador or
orator, as be sas IN the literary Geld
which be had chosen before he entered
uto public life, snd to which he returned
after the last Of the Bourbon French
Iovereigus lost his throne 10 l948 The
list Of his literary works is long one,
,ut he is most widely known TO Ameri-
,au readers through bis Course Of
Modern history" and hs History Of 4
European Civilization" At the time of
lis decease NJ. GDizot was nearly eighty
sven years old, having been bbrn at
lismes October 4th, 1851.