New-York tribune., 1878-06-29
G1L4 DAY ~ PARLS.

To-morrow's fttc will bc the crownnS glory
of the Paris Exhibition. A colossal statue oi
the Republic will be unveiled in the grounds
or the Trocadcro With bunting tuttcrng
from every roof and lanterns hanging from
every window, with trumphal arches over the
boulcyards and partcrres Of flowers along the
orays. with Lydian measures in the GaldenS
of the Tulcrics and fairy spectacle on the
lakes of the BoIs de- BOuoguc, Paris will keep
the National feast
Two years ago there were inspiring scenes
around Independence Hall, and our cities were
ablaze with patriotic fires. Our festivities
were crude and inarti,tic compared with the
maepiGcencc of this Paris fttc and yet hearty
and loyal withal, for the day was fragrant
with tho memories of the purcst and most
glorious period OF our history. France has no
independence Day. Not long after Jclicrson's
colleagues of the Continental Congress signed
his Declaration, the deputies OF the third cs-
tate took refuge in the tennis court and made
their famous vow. That was an afternoon IN
June: and there was day in July when the
Basule was bcsiegcd, and n day in August
when the Tuilcries was sacked, and day IN
Septcmbcr when the Republic was proclaimed.
But France cannot celebrate days like these.
She rccoils in horror from those years OF rev
olutiOn and anarchy, when the robes oi the
priests were pedded as old clo', when Robes
| picrrc's hays took their knltung-wOrk
| to the guillotinc and kept count of the heads,
when men went mad III the streets and the
! gamins whistled "Ca ira.' On our own Cen
! taunioI pala-day we reverted to the historic
sccne in independence Hall, and our faith in
republican institutions was renewed. France
oatbcrs no inspiration from the awful years
| &c bcr revolution. As she looks back her
heart fails her. She sees the face OF the first
Republic mirrorcd in history, aud it has the
stony look OF a Mcdusa.
But France need not look behind her. II
those years of blood and craze are omlnous IN
their warnings, the future is bright with hope.
! The Republican leaders, wise in their genera
tion. have chosen for theaNatiOnal fete day
that has no historical associations. The new
statue of the Republic in front of the Troca-
dGro is not crowned with the bonnet rouge OF
,o3 II represents the France of to-day-a
nation that is ripe for governmental
nation that has faith i'll industrial progress
and the permancnce of republican instltu-
tions. The trucking spirit that watched the
till and tolerated the reign of political adj
| ventuIeT has disappeared Inc plo's vi 'Iio
Imperial tramps whom he left behind him
have been brought to naught. The Chambers
will not meet until late in October, and then
will be issued a decree for the Senatorial cleo
tions; and the recent balloting for general
and municipal councils has rendered the tri-
umph of the Republicans absolutely certain
In January they will be masters OF the upper
as well as the lower House, and the Prcslden-
hal succession in 1880 will virtually be de-
termined The fOllies, vanities and disasters
of the past have been retrieved. The future
| is secure.
Not with the old leaven OF vanity and cyni-
cism will Paris keep the feast, but with the
unleavencd bread of sincerity and truth. This
is not the triumph of lucky intriguer, who has
robbed the people of their liberties. 1t Is the
triumph of Nation that has learned in the
fitness of time that there is stability as well
as virtue in republican government.