Litchfield enquirer., 1877-12-20
France a Republic at Last !

France Republic at Last!
 This has been disastrous week for presi- dents The president of the American repub- lie has been defeated in carrying out the prom ises of reform he made befoFeshis election. But this reverse is more than compensated by the victory of the French people over the president of clique of bigoted reactionists who have been straining every nerve for weeks and months to defeat the will of the people. If popular government was to suffer reverse anywhere, it is much better that we Americans should have it to bear than that the heavy-la- den, long-sufering people of France should be kept any longer in the purgatorial torments of Bourbon, Bonapartist, Clerical reaction.
 Democracy in America is old and strong. For a hundred years it has been gaining in force day by day. It can stand the pound | ing it's best institutions constantly receive at the hands of it's politicians, and not suecumb. They are having their turn now, but by-and-by comes the pnlitician's day of judgment peoples Voting Day. r 9g
 In France democracy was born amidst the wreck and ruin of all the political institutions of her civilized history The first French Re public died in winning it's independence. It beat of with tremendous vigor the attacks of monarchical Europe, only to become subject to it's own soldiers. Then followed the ghast- ly selfshness of the First Empire. Taking ad- vantage of the revolutionary fervor of the de- mocracy, Napoleon domineered over Europe till the people out of France rose to the assis- tance Of their sovereigns, and defeated this greatest soldier of all time by pure force of numbers and defiant enthusiasm. The defeat of Napoleon restored the Bourbons, but not the old despotism of the Lewises. There was a parliament but the Bourbons were the Stuarts over again, and the revolution of 1880 show ed that the heart of democracy was not yet dead in France. It was great mistake that the Republic was not then established, but the parliamentarians chose to follow the memora- ble English example of 1888, and to take prince of the old House, but out of the direct fine. Louis Phillipe, however, proved poor imitation of Dutch William, and had to be ex- pelled for trying to make himself supreme in the state. Then came few years of Repub- lican government, perplexed by monarchical intrigues. A fatal weakness for the glorious name of Napoleon gave Louis Bonaparte the presidency of that republic, and hateful ,.act of treachery made him Emperor. Of the long and debasing tyranny that followed, it is unnecessary to speak. Year by year the re- publican feeling grew stronger and stronger against it, and when the Prussian war had full ly shown how weak as well as how wicked the Lower Empire had been, it fell without strug- gle. For time the new Republic strove bravely but rvainly against the Germans Then in reactionary spasm the Versailles Assembly was chosen, and civil war followed with Communism in Paris, disgrsced by atrocious cruelties on both sides.
 Luckily the reactionary majority in the As sernbly could agree in nothingbut dread of the people and hatred of the republic. Steadily, calmly, consistently, universal suffrage contin- ued to exert it's power in France in favor of the Republic. Confident in the ultimate efflca- cy of the ballot, the Republicans have avoided riot and revolution, and stood firm to their principles with none of those vagaries that have often brought discredit on the republican name in France. After lingering till every French. man was sick of it's presence; after exerting constituent powers the people had never given it; the old Versailles Assembly finally took itself away. It had provided an anti i-Republi' can President and an anti-Republican Senate, but it had to leave the Deputies to the choice of the people. The people chose large Re publican majority and this victory seemed tc make the Republic safe; but seeing sure de feat ahead, the reactionists finally persuaded McMahon to make one more desperate attack on popular government. The unfinching firmness of the people gave 1 the Republicans another great majority in thu Deputies, and the unfiinching 6rmness of tht Deputies has finally driven McMahon to sub mission to the popular decision he demanded and then tried to annul. We are inclined tc believe that this will prove decisive victory in favor of the Republic. The Senate vii soon be Republican; and, in 1880, we shall SC, French President who will be satisfactory tt the French people. Then the great hierarchy that has joined itself in unholy combinations with Bourbons and Bonapartes to tyranniz' over the people will at last be called to sliarl account In the meantime we, old Republi cans of America, cannot but rejoice in ac knowledlng the pluck, coolness and firm self reliance of these new Republicans across tn water. One of the most curious features of the lat contest over the New York nominations is tn, change of tone in the Tribune regarding Sena tor Conking. Two mouths since nothing wa too severe to say of him. He was s'riskin, the shipwreck of his party for the qualification of an ancient grudge." He was disorganize and a sore-head, altogether rSstunic and ui1en durable, Now. however, that the rebel ha achieved success, the Tribune turns roun, and beseeehes the President to yield and no pursue reform that is distasteful to the Sen ate, and may ''hurt the party" !" Verify tn Tribune of Horace Greeley and the Tribune o Whitelaw Reid are too very different papers
 Messrs. H. c. Houghton 6 Co. of Boston publishers of the Atlantic, have just issued
 fine, hfe-size crayon portrait of John c. Whi, tier, who completes his roth year, this month
 The price of the portrait to all subscribers e
 purchasers of the Atlaatic Monthly is but On
 Dollar, and the picture, which is of unusus
 excellence and finish, is the work of Mir. J. F Baker, one of the best crayon artists in tn
 country.
 [ The New York Union League Club giv
 Pres. Hayes reception on Friday evening (
 this week. That plentifnlly-abused eabint
 officer, Secretary Evarts, win be there. Th
 Philadelphia Union League defends the Pres
 dents southern policy and denounces the a'
 tion of those who are opposing his schemes (
 civil service reform.
 The current of Southern feeling which hs
 been setting towards negro emigration to L | harsa Ah. All IaA