Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-07-19
fail to consider this great element of mod
crate Republicans conservative De-

fail to consider this great element of mod
crate Republicans conservative De-
mocracy as you will find anywhere.
Republicanism is not popular IN the
salons of Paris. The aristocrats have no
love for Mcmahon or his government, but
the working peasantry look to it as the
guardian of property and guarantee OF
liberty. AT the recent elections they filled
nearly all the seats in the Assembly with
Republicans. In the vast multitude of the
other night, when three millions of people
thronged the streets of Paris, almost every
ole wore the tricolor or some other Re-
publican emblem, and I think France has
at last settled on the government which
divides her least.
From all appearances the coming man
is Gambetta-a fat, sluggish-looking fell
low, but popular favorite and full of
magnetism in his address. He is perhaps
the representative Frenchman OF his day.
The greatest blusterer in France seems
to be Paul de Cassagnac, Bonapartist
member. He is the best sWOrdsman IN
Europe, and generally got rid of his poll
tical antagonists by insulting such as diff
fered with him in debate so grossly that
challenge was the necessary consequence,
giving him choice of weapons, and in most
of his duels he has killed his man. But
recently young member started the new
fashion of insulting Cassagnac, and
choosing his pistols at ten PAGES, since
which time he has not been so Eoisy.
Paris is the most magnificent of cities,
and no people understand better the agree
able arts Of life. But should be sorry to
think them the leaders of European civlli-
zation They seem to have no home life,
no religion, no faith in anything, no re-
spect for true womanho0d, and all their
politeness and refinement can not take the
place Of these. Give me the gruff Eng lish-
man instead, with his ill disguised con-
tempt for all who are not of his church,
his Queen, his College or his kindred. In
his social relations he is true as steel and
his friendship means something. But
while l do not admire the nation which
would substitute philosophy for religion and
honor, 1 cannot endorse all the criticism
hear, and think the French could teach us
some useful lessons. For example, the
| debt Of France is about forty-fve hundred
millions, more than double that of the
United States. More than four hundred
millions, believe, are drawn annually
| from the people in taxes Of various sorts;
in Paris am told the taxes amount to
| nine per cent. and no cOuntryman can
bring barrel of flour, or piece of meat
or bottle of wine into the walls of Paris
| for sale without paying duty of from ten
to forty per cent. to the octroylus or local
custom house authorities. Yet there are
no debt regulators in French politics, and
instead of labouring to readjust their
national obligations the people aim to oao,s
them.
Then, strange as 1T may seem to those
| who remember the horrors OF the siege and
the commune in 1870 and III, the people of
France, even the citizens of Paris. offer as
perfect an example of civil government to-
day as the world can show. Their "COde
Napoleon" may be called the Law Of
Europe, as it is fast becoming the code of
America. But here violence is absolutely
| unknown. No man is allowed to redress
his wrongs, (unless he carries his rapier
across the border the law Furnishes all par
Elephants in a fight, as equally guilty,
holding the party aggrieved bound to seek
his remedy before a jury, and the French
juries seem to recognize and enforce the
principle. There is much to admire in
their administration of justice, and L have
studied it with special interest.
| One of their Courts is that of the Justice
| de Paix, with jurisdiction in matters of
tenancy and the like, hose duty it is to
reconcile matters if possible, otherwise to
try the case. The plaintiff is obliged to
cite the defendant before this conclliatory
tribunal before he can sue. Another is
the Council of Arbitration, (Des Prudhom-
mes, as they call it here) designed to settle
disputes between employers and their SER
wants or workmen. 1t is constituted of
foremen and master mechanics, elected by
the trades, one council for each of the four
classes of trades, one-half being employers
and one-half foremen, and disputes are de-
cided intelligently according to the custom
OF the trade. The police system too is as
perfect as can be desired, and works like
clock.
With all this rambling letter 1 have told
you nothing of the exhibition. 1t is not
so much in deshabille as when we saw it on
our way to Italy. Though limited in space
and not SO largely attended as that at
Philadelphia, it excels in the elegance of
it's buildings, ornaments andappointments
From the portico of the Trocadelo it looks
like scene of the Arabian Nights. Ame-
RIGA need not be ashamed Of her exhibits,
but regret to learn that in allotment of
space and in many other respects exhibitors
from Southern States have little to expect
from Commissioner Mccormick, who is
the autocrat upon such subjects: Indeed
it is quite evident that in all matters
representative or official our Southern
people have no recognition abroad.
T. D. r.
D. i