The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-24

Il
the President The great difficulty in found
ing republic in France is in the adjustment
OF the habits Of the French people and the
traditions of French authority to the new
state Of affairs. The French have been for
thousand years under royal drill. The genius
Of French jurists and statesmen has been de-
voted to disciplining France 80 that it might
be an obedient vassal of the crown Conse-
auently CONTINUATION has become 80 fixed that
the nation responds to the will OF the ruler IN
Paris as the electric wires respond to the
touch of the operator in the central ONCE
The effort Of the republicans has been TO
destroy this Capitalization by giving au-
thority to the departments, to the COM
munes, to the assemblies, and by limiting
the power of the chief magistrate. The
effort of the royalists has been to make
the Presidency as much as possible copy of
the throne. These royalists conceded the
Republic under strong duress, and now
that they have founded it their effort in pass
inc the laws upon which it is to be run Is to
retain every emblem Of the monarchy or
the empire.
| We observe that NJ. Louis Blanc, tho
austere and ilustrious historian Of the
Republic, one Of The conspicuous figures Of
France who accepted this republican declara-
ton few months ago with protests, reluc-
lance and only under the urgency of his
associates, has opposed the bill because
sit gives royal prerogatives to the President
and tends to the restoration of the mon
archy." With all our respect for Nj. Louis
Blanc we should take his criticisms upon
affairs in France with q caution which foreign
observers Of our institutions should pay TO
the criticisms of men like Wendell Phillips.
The issue Louis Banc discusses ID very much
like what was discussed at the foundation of
our government We had this same question
Of q Presidency in name or Pres
idency in fact Some of the wisest
and purest men in the time Of
the Revolution were as anxious to make tho
Presidential Office as strong, overmastering
and definite as the royalists in France.
Others, like Thomas jefferson, took the
ground of Louis Blanc. The question for
long time definitely marked the earlier politi-
cal divisions Of the republic. Mr.. Benton in
his Thirty Years View" refers to CONVEX
sation that ne had with the celebrated Rufus
King, one Of the noblest characters in our his
tory the friend OF Washington and one Of the
first Senator'S in Congress from New York,
who was high enough in the confidence OF
Washington to receive the nomination TO the
ofice Of Secretary Of State. Senator Benton
IN 1926, just before the death Of this worthy
and llustrious citizen, says, in speaking Of
Mr.. King:-@In one Of our conversations,
and upon the formation Of the constitution in
the Federal Convention Of 1877. he said some
things to me which, think, ought to be re-
mesnbered by future generauo ms to enable
them to appreciate justly those founders
Of our government who we're in favor Of
stronger organization than was adopted
lie said:-'You, young men, who have been
born since the Revolution, look with horror
uron the name Of a king and upon all propo-
sitions for strong government 1t was not
q with Us We we're born the subjects OF O
king, and we're accustomed TO subscribe our
selves "His Majesty's most faithful subjects
and We began the quarrel which ended in the
Revolution, not against the King, but against
his Parliament and in making the new gov
eminent many propositions were submitted
which would not bear discussion and ought
not to Do quoted against their authors, being
&c red for consideration and TO bring our
opinions, and which, though behind the
opinions Of this day, we're in advance OF those
Of that day. These things we're said chiefly
il relation to General Hamilton, who had sub
mit,ed propositions stronger than those
adopted, but nothing like those which party
spirit attributed 10 him. / heard these words,
hope, with profit and commit them, in the
same hope, 70 after generations"
II would be fatal blunder for the French
republicans to allow any difference Of opinion
As to the powers Of the President 70 paralyzo
the efforts Of these who have succeeded after
80 many mislortunes in securing to France
this benefcent form Of government NJ.
Buff, in discussing the bill in the Assembly
on Tuesday, said, properly enough, that its
conditions were necessary TO place the Ex-
ecutiye in harmony with French customs and
traditions" We do not believe in strong
governments Of any kind, and especially
under a democracy. The change from gov
eminent like that 70 which France has been
accustomed for centuries to democracy on the
principle Of Switzerland or America would
be 90 violent that il would necessarily end in
ruin. NJ. Theirs, speaking Of the difficulties
surrounding his Presidency and defending
what seemed to be temporzing policy in
dealing with the Republic, said that
We must eat tho artichoke leaf by
leaf This advice will hold good to-
day What the republicans in France want
is a Republic. Time will surely harmonic
the conditions and customs Of the French
people with the new form Of government
The difficulty with all republican experiments
in Europe thus far has been that the men