, 1875-05-09
REpuRL1CANIaM IN EUROPE,

" to its effect and popularity, .
REPUBL1CANIsM IN EUROPE.
Mr.. EDWARD A. FREEMAN has been writ
ing, in thoughtful way, Of the difficulties O
planting Republicaniam in European soil
He makes ont a good many. The truth O
of Government is concerned, was long since
recognized by all students Of politics outside
of France and Spain. Good Governments
grow. They cannot be manufactured to or
der, unless, indeed, the materials Of the old
| structure are literally used in building the
| new. So monarchy can safely become
Republic only by slow passage from
the rule Of the one to the rule Of the
many. Moreover, local self-government
must preceds general self-government- A
democraho State must be combination OF
political units. And the units must form the
State instead OF the States being artifcially
separated into them. The latter process has
boen tried in France, where the central power
split up the country and appointed lot Of
projects to superintend local action. But
there has been no local action. The presence
of the projects crushed it, and the division
merely aggrandized the central despotism.
/ When these two leading principles a
new form Of government must have its roots
deep in the old one and that local must pre-
oede general self f-government-are applied to
particular cases, it is evident that Mr. FREE
MANS doubts about an immediate Develop
ment Of republican institutions abroad are
justified
There is Spain This unhappy country
tried to be a Republic, as it, or part Of it, has
tried every other known system Of govern
ment But the new form had no connection
with the traditions OF the past. It IVES op-
posed to them Moreover, Spaniards are
guilelessly ignorant Of local management,
though not of local independence, despite
their sharply. drawn provincial ines- Mr.
FREEMAN thinks the demand for Federal
State, which wrecked CAsrE1AR's pretty
theory OF rule, was healthy symptom. He
interprets it as sign Of growing desire
and capacity for local eH-goyernment. But,
while palaces built by Kings for Kings stood
empty in Spain and Spanish King lived at
Paris, what could be expected save what
came?
France, according to the eminent historian,
has not succeeded in making out q very ser
viceable scheme Of government. He picks
flaws in the new plan ruthless1y. Still, it
may be permitted us to say that the new
scheme is really in great part q growth, and
that France has passed through so many
phnses Of government that any new theory
must find root somewhere in the post It is
true that the prerequisite Of local manage
ment does not as yet exist, but there seam to
be chances of the survival Of the Republic,
which are perhaps more weighty than the
chance, upon which Mr. FhEEa1AH lays stress,
Of the return Of HENRI Fifth under the lilies,
or Of NAPOLEON Fourth under the violets.
Switzerland is the eminent writer's ideal
Republic. He discusses the details Of its
government with rapture. It's Executive
Council seems to him fur superior to our
single Executive oficin1 for, as he says with
some humor and more weight, The Fed
,eral Council is never born, it never dies, it
never marries, it never falls sick and recoV-
ers its walks md rides cannot be recorded
in Court circular it holds no drawing
rooms or levees it pays no one the honor
Of visit, and no one has the honor Of being
invited to visit it in return" There is no
chance for the gradual introduction Of cere-
monious pomp by which BoNARARrH the
Consul paved the way for NAPOLEON First,
Emperor.
Switzerland is sure to maintain her Re |
publicanism Franco may; but elsewhere !
thore are no prospects Of any Immediate de- !
yelopment o: democracy. We are not aware !
that the fact is bad one. A government |
generally fits the governed When they |
grow, it grows. No doubt a Republic is the |
only good form for such highly-intel1igent !
and civilized people as our own, but '* effete
despotisms" suit efete nations Working to
Repub1icaniBm abroad instead Of
purnfy ying it at home is much like subscribing !
supply the Feejee Islanders with scripturd
shirts, while thousands Of nahve-bon heathens
are left to rot and die uncared for.