The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-23
NATIONAL AIRS.


The French are nothing if not pictur.
esque and sentimental, even in their poll
| tics. Rhetoric and epigram are the most
| successful weapons of their orators an
"incident" or an epithet often has more
emotion, inspired by an impassipned ap-
peal or fervid, patriotic maxim, some
times produces in the staid halls of legisa
ton thrillingly dramatic scene. That 80
susceptible people should be without a
national anthem is a curious and sugges
that all Frenchmen, of whatever political
hue, may sing, is just now stirring up
much debate and agitation in Paris. A
trifling event has given rise to this dem and
for patriotic hymn. The long-shunned
and tabooed "Marseillaise" was played by
a regimental band at the Nantes Theatre,
as feature of new drama that had been
put upon the boards whereon the band
was prohibited by it's commander from
again attending the performance. This
awoke the wrath of the extreme republi-
cans everywhere. Was not, they said, the
"Marseillaise" a republican air, and was
not France a republic Hence has ensued
hot discussion, the radicals insisting that
the magnificent war-sopg of Rouget de
PIsle should be solemnly declared the
national anthem, and the other parties as
warmly opposing it.
Certainly, the power of music to excite
and exalt the human soul, to inspire it to
intense feeling and bold, rash, uncontroll-
able action, never had a more striking
exhibition than the history of this spirited
chansOn of the Revolution presents. Few
Frenchmen can sing il without glowing
with emotion, without trembling in the
voice, and tears rising to the eyes. Un-
happily, the words which Rouget set to the
ringing Aisatian melody were, while really
grand, and in keeping with the air, party
appeal ; and ever since the days when the
"Marseillaise" was sung by band of insur-
gents, marching on Paris to overthrow the
established government, the song has been
appropriated by the friends of revolution,
and has been accepted by all classes as the
musical symbol of overturning and dis
order. II is pity, for the "Msrsei; ;laise"
is certainly the most thrilling patriotic
song that mortal ever created. Many q
time has il rung out in Paris aud in France,
but, singularly enough, always, or almost
always, as defiance to the powers reign
ing at the Tuileries.
It has greeted advancing regiments from
behind barricades it has been muttered,
with sort of religious solemnity, and with
the effect of q chanted oath, in secret con-
burst out at midnight, from che thrOsts of
half-dr0nken bands of blue -bloused Sons of
toll in quiet streets, to die away before
approaching minions of authority. Three
kings and two emperors have forbidden it
on pain of heavy punishment the sounds
of its war notes have caused many q timid
heart to beat fast, not with patriotic ardor,
but with fear. Once, and once only, has @
French sovereign heard, with pride and
approval, this most fervid of all national
airs. One night, on the very eve of the
Franco Prussian War, the third Napoleon
held a grand reception at st. Cloud. The
historic palace was crowded with glittering
officers and on q sudden, as if by inspira-
tion, band of the Imperial Guard struck
up the long unheard, but ever familiar
strains. At that solemn moment, there
was or could be no frown for the strophee,
or even the fiery words, of ROuget de PIsle.
1t ia not likely that even the French Re-
public, being conservative and half Rris-
tocratic, will adopt the "Marseillaise" as
the official national anthem aud if not
that, the French may we'll be bewildered
what to choose. The perplexity arises not
from the want but the multitude of "eligi
BILE" airs. Only less besrt-stirriDg than the
.MaIseillaise" is "Psrtsnt pour Ia Syrie,"
the composition of Queen Horteuse but
that was the fliAlly adopted air of the now
detesteH Second Empire. "Vive Henri
Quatre J" is beautiful, but Bourbon LA
OmpIainte de MalbrOuck" is full of jingle
and sparkle, but is, after all, b burlesque-
a sort of French "YaBkee Doodle" It may
be that, as an English writer suggests, a
new national cong may be created, with
Victor Hugo as it's poet and GOunod As its
composer. But national airs are born, not
made; and such an experiment., even
though the great genius Of these two are
caltd into service, would not promise
much success.