The Republican journal., 1877-07-05
France.

answer has come not; but perhaps the
world is soon to have it, for once more
that nation is passing through crisis in
politics that must have very decisive
end. Other powers now look wonderingly
upon France, where one man, called Pres
ident, runs the government upon des
pOtic basis. What strides President Mac
Mahon has made, within a month and a
half, towards absolute personal govern
ment Notice the steps: he has driven
Mons. Jules Simon and his liberal Minis
try from office, and appointed new Min
istry filled with unpopular monarchists-
with the Duke de Broglie "A detested
man-at the head. He has dissolved the
legislative Assembly, and after suspend
ing it for one month, he has ut the end of
that time sent in a message demanding a
final dissolution, demand that was az
coded to,-tor this man holds the whip.
Where will this all ende The enthusi-
astic friends of a Republic in whom the
wish is perhaps father to the thought -
declare that Republican victory will re-
suit from the elections which must take
place within three months, and that Il
stable and defnitive government will be
established. On the other hand, less
sanguine observers predict restoration
of the Empire. These think they know
the weakness and frivolity Of the French
character, and believe they recognize a
lack of sturdy adherence to principle in
the French as q people,-a lack Of those
very qualities which make true Repub-
lie possible Certain is it, that with all
their bravery, the French have not the
moral worth of the Americans; they are
wanting in that power of firmly and
patiently holding on to the right which
the Americans inherited from their Eng
lsh ancestors, and which has grown while
they have developed at the same time
more grace of character and liveler per
ceptiOns than are common to-day to Brit
ish subjects. Last week Senator BayarC
of Delaware paid a noble tribute to Ameri-
Harvard College: he said, -'The spirit
OF true chivalry in all its gentleness and
unseltishness, showing tenderness to the
feeble and resistance to the overbearing,
mercy to whom mercy was due, and honor
to whom honor,-can and does exist in
America to-day, under the holden gray
OF the laborer and mechanic, the thread
bare coat of the clerk, or the grave garb
OF the hardworked merchant or man of
the professions, as truly as it ever did
under the helmet and chain armor of any
knlght-errant in the olden time"
And now to return to France. The
coming three months and their close will
make an interesting history for future
reading, and we who live to-day NAV
look on if we please and see that history
grow. Possibly the awful spectacle of a
civil war may be presented, and Reign
OF Terror like that of 1893 or the Com
mune of 1870 may be inaugurated Even
now the pulse of that nation beats high.
We read that for a month troops have
been pouring into Paris, that the senti
nels, at even the Louvre, have knapsacks
on, that the beat of a drum, or any I'M
usual noise III the street makes every Win
dow fly open, and fills it with anxious
faces. The hatred borne by the working
classes against Marshal de MacMahon,
the rapitularls- they call the army
and against the priests, is intense
For a more adequate understanding of
what is and of what is to come, a brief
review Of the political events of the past
SIX weeks will be of profit Previous to
May 10th calm prevailed. The disturb
ing political factions were at rest E; a for
elgn policy, characterized by moderation
and good Judgment, had been announced,
and it appeared as if an era of peace,
good-feellng and prosperity had begun.
But on the date just mentioned, Presi-
dent MacMahon dismissed his liberal
headed by Jules Simon in a
most arbitrary fashion, and chose an
other, headed by the Duke de Broglie-
4 confessed Orleanist. BY this reaction
ary movement French liberties were
and they took alarm; later
hose liberties We're violated. The Simon
would not agree to MacMahons |
policy OF applying a gag law to the pub
ic press, and in this they We're backed
Up by a majority OF the Assembly. An
'ther object of this measure of the Presi
tents was to prevent the Republican
Ministry from controlling the municipal
councils, which have the power of elect
ng Senators. In France the extent of
fficial influence is far greater than it is
America. All the projects, sub-pre-
ects, secretaries general and counsellors
# procedures hold their places on condi-
ion OF using every effort to serve the DO
tlcal purposes of the higher government
tficials. The expressions of opinion by
he press, and by the people even, at
ublic meetings, the right Of petition and
he making of a canvass, in act the ma
hines by which an election is run, are
IL controlled by the officials. AS log
,al sequence, the overthrow Of the old
'abinet was followed by a wholesale cast
lg out of the old projects, mayors, etc,
y M. Fourtou, the new Minister of the
Interior. The next move on the part of
resident MacMahon was to prorogue the
.ssembly for one month, to prevent de-
ate on the subject of the change of Min
try. At the end of the month, and when