New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-14
A REPUBLICAN FRENCH SEM re.


vive the dismal representations of its impa-
tent friends us eilectually as those OF its
most malevOlent enemies. AT every step OF
its development, from the time when it sprang
up from the pavement of Paris five years ago,
we have heard the organs of reaction say 1t
could not long survive the violence OF Its
anarchical leaders, and we have also heard
these leaders say that the Republic was be-
trayed by its conservative keepers. But ii has
gone on, steadily consolidating itself day by day,
holding the fanaticsm of its radical advocates
in check by the mere force of circumstances,
and turning the bitter hatred of its enemies
into tolerance by the same Irresistible ntlu-
ence. 1t certainly seemed an evil day for the
Republic when NJ. Theirs was displaced from
the Presidency by monarchical coalition. A
majority of those who voted for Marshal Mac
MahOn did it with the hope of postponing in
definitely the organization of republican form
of government, and leaving themselves free to
take advantage of any possible accident which
might open the door to a dynastic restoration.
Even now it is hard to say what might have
been the result if the Count of ChauibOrd
had not been smitten with sudden imbecility
when the crown of France was offered him
ID
danger thus averted, everything seems to have
worked in favor of the reasonable Liberals OF
France. Their forces were consolidated by the
deposition of NJ. Theirs from power. An inn
mense gain Ill public confidence came to them
with the accession of this veteran statesman,
and of those respected associates of his who
followed him. The prepOnderance of power
in the Republican minority passed gradually i'll
the direction of the Center, and almost insen-
sible and unnOtced accessions at last con-
verted it into majority.
OF course, at every step which has been
made, the cry has arisen from the insOlent par
tisans of the Empire that the reign of anarchy
was nearing its end, and that the people
would soon be ready to ring in the exiles of
Chiselhurst. 1t has been echoed by CORE
spending cry from the extreme Left that the
Republic was betrayed. But in spite of NJ.
Rouher on the one hand and OF Nj. Naquet
and NJ. Blanc on the other, the men OF good
will under the lead of NJ. Theirs and VI. Gam
BETA have stood persistently by their work,
taking what they could get, always accepting
the half loaf under protest without detriment
to their claim for the whole one, until the work
seems now so near completion that further
anxiety appears almost superfuous. They have
used their victories with such moderation as
to soOthe the fears of the timid and nervous
country gentlemen of the Right Center; and
they have shown still greater capacity for
constitutional government by the admirable
use they have made of their defeats. When
the plan for the organization of the Senate
was at last adopted, after long and embit-
tered contest, there were many who imagined
that the farce of NapoleOn's Senate
was to be repeated, and that the
Monarchists would certainly secure rcac-
tionary upper house to nullify all the
liberal policy of the Chamber of Deputies. We
did not share in these apprehensions, and the
result of the balloting thus far has shown
how little foundation they had. The Left
has so far elected a prepondeIancc OF
Senator's, comprising such staunch conserv-
alive Republicans AS Laboulaye and Martel,
such distinguished converts from Orlcanism
as the Duke of Audifret- Pasquer, and even a
fair representation of the radicals, while the
leading spirits of the reactionary party seem
likely TO shine by their absence. In the cleo
tons by the councils geaeral it is fair to pre-