The New York herald., 1874-07-18

A Radical View OF French Armies.
The recent contest over the Army bill in the
German Rechstag, in which the acceptance of
the measure or the resignation Of the leading
statesmen of Germany and the dissolution Of
the Parliament were the only alternatives
seemed to indicate fear of the increased
armaments in Russia and France. The new
armies OF the Czar, however, are not 30 much
a menace to Germany as TO England; for, in
spite of the recent wedding at st. Petersburg,
over which the laureate sings in houndering
verse, it is plain that Russia will not tolerate
divided dominion in the East. The new
levies in France, on the other hand, have a
more immediate, if not nearly so important,
signlhcance. These are to be- used possibly
against the Republic; but, if we may believe
the French, certainly against Germany. The
traditional policy OF France has been set aside
by the overwhelming influence of more pow
erful States and France-whether as monar-
chy, empire or repubIc-is determined upon
regaining her old place and potency in the
affairs OF Europe. But it may be accepted as
foregone conclusion that radical Germany
has nothing to fear from old or young France
and that the prestige of French armies has
passed away forever.
Mr.. Karl Blind, in q recent letter to the
London Erdminer, sets out these views with
great clearness. In his view the unsettled
condition of France is in itself an effective
curb for the party of ''revenge." The increase
of the army. then, means danger to the Repub-
lie rather than a real menace to Germany.
With reactionary Assembly at Versailles and
Marshal of the I'd of December as Presi-
dent of the Republic it is not strange that this
should be so Nor is it strange that Ger
man radical should be the first to see the uses
to which the new armies of France are TO be
put. Owing to the stubbornness Of the
Count de Chambord France will never
know Henri Cinq as o ruler. The Orleans
princes never had much chance. The final
struggle when it comes, and it is bound to
come, sooner or later, will be between the
Napoleonic dynasty and the Republic. Then
the elements which composed the much
! abused Commune will be useful if they ever
are to be of any use to France Napoleon Nv.
cannot succeed to the throne ofhis father by
simple dechsance or n coup detat. When the
final struggle comes, Herr Blind thinks and
so the reactionary parties fear there may be
simultaneous democratic rising in number
of cities. Paris may be even more desperate
than in the days of the Commune. Lyons may
again rise in instruction. Marseiles may
gather round the standard of the Republic.
Bordeaux may have its popular tumults.
Even Nantes, Besancon and Lille may give
trouble. 1t is for this that MacMahon is in
creasing the armies of France and trying to
train them after the German model. The cry
of "Revengel" may be cloak to these de-
signs but it is nothing more. France may
render herself unhappy by internal dissen-
sions, but she cannot reconquer her Rhine
provinces or surround neighboring States, as
of DID, with network of political dangers.
| What, then, is the condition to which
France has been brought by Napoleonism and
the Bonapartes ascribed to England nation
of shopkeepers. Happily the French will
make more delightful shopkeeping nation
than the English. A franc, if it is OF less
value than shilling, is airier in Its influence,
and leads not so much to closefstedness and
hard bargains. Shopkeeping in France will
be entirely different from shopkeeping in
England, and will mean millinery and byou-
terie and science and literature and art
solid comforts as we'll as delicious
pleasures With drama the best in
the world, and music sweeter than Italy
affords and more consecutive than Germany
imagines; with all the appliances of life and
letters and art in their highest perfection.
Paris will still be the mistress of the world.
And so, when the statecraft is gone, it will
matter little whether France is ruled by en-
peror, president or king, and as o nation Of
refined shopkeepers, blessed with long-con-
tinued peace, in whatever guise, the French
people will slowly come to learn that the gibe
of Herr Blind, that they 'tare by no means
over-fond OF military SERVICE" is, in fact, a
deep-seated truth, not dishonorable to people
who can point to Jena and Austerlitz as ev-
dences of military prowess.
RUSSIA AND CHNA.-We learn from China
the details of the reception of the Russian
Ambassador by the Emperor of China on the
Doth of May. 1t seems that the Ambassador
was received with the usual ceremonies, and
that he was treated with more courtesy than
was vouchsafed to the Ambassadors of the
other Powers recently. The Overland Mail
trusts that in future all ENJOYS will, immedi-
ately on their arrival in Peking, initiate the
good example of the Russian Minister and
''demnnd audience of the Emperor for the
purpose of presenting credentials from their