The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-03
FRANCE UNDER THE REPUBLIo
The Masses, the Reacuonists, tho Diplomas
fIata md the IIIRh ArIatocrncY.

ttata ana the High AriatOcrocy.
PARIS, Feb. 1s-Ncver since the fall Of NJ.
THEIRS. in 1873. has the French Republic pre-
scented itself under more interesting conditions
than Mt the present moment The most far
sighted politicians could not then have antici-
patcd tho change which six years has produced
In the national scntment-I had almost said
temperament. 1t is impossible to deny that
n feeling OF profound satisfaction pervadcs
the masses. especially in the provinces; that
whole districts which were then under the reac-
tlonnry or clerical influence have since become
emancpated and have learned to express their
desires by their votes. without being haunted
by the dread OF change which would expose
them to persecution for venturing TO have po-
lltical views OF their own; and that while they
have thus advanced in tho path OF freedom.
they constitute the surest barrier against the
revolutionary excuses which have always
proved fatal to the true liberties Of the nation.
People are at last beginning to understand that
despotsm only fosters tho revolutionary senti-
mcnt. and that the best safeguard for order lies
in Government based on tho popular will
This discovery Is in tho highest degree I'M
pleasing to tho aristocrhtic or reactionary party
whether they be Legitimlst or Imperialst
who have ever found their best allies in the
ultra radicals and their most dangerous enc
mics In the Moderate Republicans In proper
ton rs the latter increase in numbers and in
confidence do the former diminish: and with
their diminutlon disappear the hopes OF the
ronctlonares. bascd on their excuses. The
fayorite method both Of the empire and
OF tho monarchy in former times was to
inspire terror by the use Of whit were
called agents prorocdteTs. These were
secret agents Of the Government. who used to
mix with revoutIonists as spies. and excite
them to acts OF violence. which gave the Govern
ment an opportunity Of Furnishing them with
severity. thus first frightening the public de-
sgnedly. and then reassurng them by the vio-
lcnce OF their measures OF repression. The
effect Of these measures was naturally to EN-
bitter those against whom they were directed.
and who were thus the victims OF official treach-
NV OF tina basest kind.
Nj TINS has now become obsolete-and the
revolutionary party is ceaslnR to exist. because
the Government does not make martyrs Of
them. and In fact gives them no excuse for ex-
istence. The reactionaries curious as II may
seem. view with despair the extinction OF the
revolutionists. There is nothing for which
they pray moro earnestly than the news that
barricadcs are being made in the streets. and
that a Communist movement Ia once more on
foot. They could then appeal to tho
country against Government which
failed to protect II from mob violence.
and hope to secure it's SURFACES in
the cause OF order Failing this. they do
what they can TO spread alarmist reports which
have no foundation. Their organs harp upon
one string. According TO them France is trem-
bling on the verge Of an abyss which is to en-
gulf her in ruin and disaster. There is no
longer any security for persons or property.
Ministers are secretly the tools OF tho scum Of
the populacc. and arc in some mysterious
way supposed to be plotting in order TO
bring about chaos. An era OF universal
spoliation Is being prepared by Monsieur Gam
betta. who. for some occult purpose Of his own.
is TO lead the country to destruction. They can
give no proof Of the cx istcnce of the Machine
tions they describe. but have managed 10 Gre
ate such widespread belief in them that
the other day WAS asked by lady in Lon Ion
whether thought 1t was safe 10 20 10 Paris Just
now.
Tho fact Is that never under the empire did
public order rest on So sure Populations. II is
true that extremely exaggerated accounts are
current OF midnight assaults for purposes Of
robbery i'm the streets. and Of tho ineiiiciency
oftho police hut not long ago there was q gar
rotng mania IN London, and in New York
crime of this description Is moro prevalent nj
one time than another. IL Is possible that
the leaven OF imperialism pcrvades the police
lore" OF Paris IT, such an extent that they arc
uurpu~ely slack Ia their duties. with a view Of
discrpditing the Government. But in point OF
la't the extent OF insecurity Is immensely eN-
agg"rated.nn the streets ol Paris nj night are MS
sule ms those OF any other city of similar size.
IN" terror and CONSERVATION which the re-
aMionnry Marty SO successfully inspire they
no duuh; o. SOME extent genuinely feel. They
plain citItsn himself the son of smull
farmer; hy an obscure advocate Of jew
18Th descent; and hy an Anglo French Prot
estnui GrDvy, Gambetta. and Waiding-
tom form "A lriumvirate SO utterly OPP
posed 90 nll their notions OF what the govern
Or- ot franco ought to Doe that they are literal. y
paraly1"i with combined feling of nmu2'-
o. eit ana linpnton'e. TINS sentiment II largely
sharel hy the diulomatc body. II ia curious
that while 40 Washington men of rank from
foreign countries. who iii the highest diploma
lic fun IONS. DO not iccl themselves Inundated
simple untitled citizen. 'i IN France MGe Il
seems 90 insnira them with the most prn'ounl
i.r.in:s Of horror II was q question discussed
among sundry wives ot ambassadors of high
rnnN the other day whether they should accept
Madame GreY invitations g. n s1iric. simp. y
| ierior Co their own. And when they were
| onhged % swallow thor dignity in consequence
spirit that number OF ladies and gcn-
u ss,,n,. E s d,1 IL Harr'y IN ne
| ward rs II she had been the cook or house
Keeper. Oi course, the best Of what is called
Paris society rightly nhstainci from compro-
missing ulclr social standing by attending any
| such midde-ela~s gathering. They feel to-
| ward the present Government very much as
| the planters Of South Carolina did toward tho
! carpot-hag and negro Government but certainly
| without th" same reason
Tn" trying part OF their situation is that they
! are utterly powcrloss 20 change H. The hndt
| h"iDSSe OF Franco cannot - into the streets
aud make harrlcadcs themselves They have
| played their political game 50 badly that they
| hatn lost the confidence OF tho country. and
cannot hopr o. win back the majority In tho
| Chambers which they once had and FILTERED
| away in Internal qunrrcs. Their only hope lies
| IN the mistakes which the party in power may
make. AMI in this they may not be altogether
wrong in their calculations. The true policy
| for the present Government IL ono 81
! ultra moderation. They should avoid the very
| appearance of yielding TO the pressure Of tho
| extreme l."it, and SO give their ndYcrsnrles ~
| ground for raising hlarmist cries. Tho couu-
iry lis not 20 absolutely rcae-urrd thnt a panic
| Is impossible, and the effect Of panic would ho
| a violent reaction iu favor of the principle oi
| 'ono-m0n authority which has been the hanu
| Of France. The whole hope of tho rcuotioul-ts
| Hes i'm tncir h'ug ahlo tp create % panic; tho
! whole ann ot the Government should bee % de-
| prive them oi the pO-s ihiity Of producing one.
| II Us amusing to SEQ how tho mora advanced
Republican papers are put out boy the extreme
| mpNrrlllon ot ine people ln ia" provinces, am 1
| M what dilemma of contradictions they have
! placed themselves. The battle cry ~ these orr
! gan, has always been the uidn8dl UHpD'1'if
| which nrnut that every candidate should CON
| slider himself the mere mandatory oi
! his constituency. and have no viii OF
! his own. but veto In tho Chambers
| on every question M me was directed to do 10y
! hl9 constituents. Now one or two questions
! have como up such a. the general amnesty. the
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