The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-27
THE DEATR OF THEIRS.
fits Probable Effect on the Future OF
France.
Letter 10 Ms Me.c York Tribune.
LONDON. September s.

LONDON, September s.
The news of ri. Thiers' death, which
occurred at ten minutes past on Monday
afternoon, did not reach London till
Tuesday morning. It was not generally
known till about noon, when a second
eoition of one of the morning papers
announced it. Tho evening papers
learned it soon enough to enable them 10
publish, not merely the biographies
which had long since been prepared, but
articles discussing the immediate effect
Of this most unexpected event on the
political situation in France. This
morning the death of III. Thiers, known
to the whole civilized world, is the topic
which occupies every thoughtful mind in
Europe. The Russians have taken Lo-
vats, but if they had swept every Turk
out of Bulgaria, the influence of such q
performance upon the near political fu-
ture of England would have been less
than the possible results flowing from the
death of the great French statesman. I
say this from no feeling Of personal af-
fection for NJ. Thicrs; it is not an emo
tional expression; it is only the repeti-
ton of what is on everybody's lips.
Friends and foes are agreed on the one
point of the immense Significance of the
event. 1t is realized as clearly abroad as
in France; and in every country which
has any close relations with France, any,
thing to hope or to fear from her, any
interest in her welfare or her misfortune,
the death of her foremost citizen is either
deplored as a calamity or welcomed with
hideous glee. M. Theirs, during his
lifetime, had many honors paid him, but
the tributes of respect or of hatred called
out by his death are greater than all the
rest. When Cavour died, when Palmer
ston died, when Lincoln was murdered,
each country felt it's own loss, perhaps,
as heavily for the moment as that of
Thiers is felt. But in no one of those
cases was the direct result so important
rs in this case it may prove to be. 1t is
not too much to say that the security of
the French Republic was bound up in
the life of NJ. Theirs. Only six weeks
more: and its most urgent peril was
passed. I hope aud believe that the
elections may still be carried by the Re.
publicans by such majority as shall be
decisive. But while, with Thiers alive.
such result was as absolutely certain as
az future event can be, with Thiers
dead the same perfect certainty can no
longer exist, nor is there the same perfect
security in the victory, if achieved. The
doubt thus suddenly thrown upon o
question in the right settlement of which
all Europe has concern, is enough to
explain the dismay which has fallen upon
the real friends of France throughout
Europe. And not only upon her real
friends as that phrase is commonly un-
derstood, but upon every country and
court which wants peace and tranquility.
and doos not want war and general con-
fusion. More than that; Nj. Theirs was
the most French Of Frenchmen, and his
admitted undisputed services to France
have been beyond comparison greater
than those of any living Frenchman.
Yet, t. the clique of priest!y conspirators
who have got temporary hold of the
government of France, his death, comes
as the greatest of blessings, while IN
Berlin there is no reason to doubt that it
is sincerely regretted. Regretted for pre-
cisely the sans reason that i: Is regretted
in Italy or in England-that it removes
one great obstacle to the ascendency for
which restless factions are striving, and
which, once gained, would inevitably
bring France into collision with GermG-
ny or Italy, or both, and so kindle once
more the flames of European war.
That such disaster will be averted is,
repeat, still proDaOie; but with sucii mo
mentous issues pending, who can be con-
tent to exchange q certainty for proba-
bility7
And even that is only narrow view,
a most imperfect glimpse of the tremen-
dous consequences that may follow the
disappearance of NJ. Thiers from the
stage. Those of us who believe that the
hope of Europe lies in the steadv growth
of Republican ideas are those Who must
deplore his death the most. The wreck
of the French Republic would DO more
aid worse than bring war and disaster
upon that one country. 1t would dis
credit the Republican idea, discourage
Republican effort all over Europe, and
postpone to an indefinite but certainly
distant future, not merely the triumph of
Republican institutions, but the develop
ment of free popular institutions under
governments still remaining monarchical
in form, as in England. Thiers' idea of
republic was not that of Jefferson, if
you ike. It was incomplete, but it was
probably the only conception of o re-
public which at this moment the French
people were willing to accept. He had
clear eye; if not for what might be PCS
sible hereafter, for what was possible
now. lie thoroughly understood the
political timidity and the political ignor-
ance of the untaught majority of his own
ccnnt-ynmaH. He announced che maxim
which for all French Republicans of q
practical kind=for NJ. Gambetta first oi
all-has passed into q political axiom
that the Republic must be Conservative
or 1t would not be. His accession to the
Republican party outweighed every other
adhesion and argument in its favor, fol
one decisive reason. He was not @ Re.
publican by sentiment, by theory, by
preference, or by personal interest, but q
Republican because he had become con.
vinced that it was the only settled form
of government possible in the circum.
stances. He never concealed the fac.
| that he would have restored the mon.
| archy if he could. 1t was the final proof
of his surprising ability that he perceived
the impossibility of putting either branch
| OF the Royal family again ON the throne
| Few men in the history of the world
who have grown old under one set O.
lucas anu institutions, ,ia,o hooi. ..;.z ! =
emanciipate themselves, toward the close
of their lives. go far as to adopt and ac
upon new and wholly difFeren. vet.
may remark, in passing, that the Crlean
lists never forgave him. They hated hin
with hatred that in men of stronger
natures would have been ferocious, anc
that In them was venomous. Inever hnC
any relations with Thiers that would Civ,
rise to feeling of personal Loyalty Il
him: but when of late years / heard hin
talked of by Orleanists, aiwuyS felt it IL 4;
l should like to walk ont of the room