, 1874-07-15

United States cOndoned the horrors of slavery.
This we grant simply for the argument. But
we should as soon welcome slavery back to
this country as Napoleonism back to France.
There were splendid qualities in either system,
and they were alike in this-that they were
forms of governmental tyranny. There was
nothing in the Empire as gracious and fasci-
mating as the fine old plantation life that per-
ished at Appomattox. But its fascination tand
its graces were not atonements for its sin. So
with NapOlaonism in whatever form we meet
it, Look at this crisis, study it carefully in its
budding and blossoming, and what do we see
Simply the coup d. etat in another form. Ever
since NJ. Theirs presidency, whenever France
has had occasion to speak in the election of a
delegate, she has spoken in favor of the Repub-
lilo. We believe there has been two or three
exceptions. One was the election of a Bona
partist in the Department Of the NiGvre. This
was the first sign Of life the party had shown,
and in an instant the country was in flames.
Every agency that could be used was UNI
moned to disturb the peace, throw France into
anarchy, dissolve the Assembly, and accom-
plish an electoral coup d'6tat. The country
was at rest. Content and order reigned.
There were industry, comfort, repOse. The
republicans were dOcile and patient although
they were winning victory after victory, aud
although they saw as all the world saw that
the Assembly no longer represented France,
and that the government was a moral usurpa-
ton. They would have been justified in max
ing war upon this moral usurpation, but with
matchlesS seIf-denial and fortitude that cannot
be too highly h0nOred they have patiently
abided their time, confident that when France
did speak, it would be to proclaim definitely
and forever the Republic. But Napoleonism
having won a single victory its leaders mean to
force a coup d'etat.
1t is possible the BonOpartists may win. We
can see how imperialism can return to France.
But it is not for us to welcome it or to repine at
the spectacle of a country so noble, so rich, so
endowed with splendid qualities, with SO much
civilization and enterprise and thought, o couu-
try which has done so much for freedom aud
progress in every way, passing again under the
dominion Of a beardless Bonaparte, whose tradi-
tons come from the Napoleons of the eighteenth
of Brumaire and the second of December, whose
counsellors would be Rouher, who never failed
to be the lackey of the Empire, and Fleury, who
propelled the massacres on the boulevards, and
Blzaine, who vas condemned to death for hay
ing surrendered without cause the finest fortress
and the best armies in France. All this may
come, aud Ii it may come, too, with much parade
and circumstance. Assuredly there would be
the fireworks and rhetoric of Napoleonism in
p~rofusion, and mon and women in France would
sing hosannas as men and women in America
sang hosannas to slavery, and would sing them
tomorrow could slavery only return. For our
selves our hopes are with the Republic; and
not only for France, but for the other nations.
We may have reservations, but they will be
pOstponements. We may have revolutions, but
they will be aspirations. In spite of disappoint-
ment and failure the Republic will come, and
with it peace, civilization and that true freedom
which as yet the emperOrs and kings have
failed to give mankind.