The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-19
THE HOUSE OF ORLEANS.
Gathering Of the Princes
at Geneva.
EFFECT OF THE PILGRIMAGE TO FROHSDORF.
The Chances of the OrIeanlst Party to
Regain Power.

discuss the course to be taken by them
in view OF the Improvement Of their pros
poets in consequence OF recent events connected
with the death of the Prince Imperial. OF course
they would not have selected Geneva had they in
tended to hold mere family picnic. The moment
chosen is also not calculated to the friends OF
republican France. The educational law now under
discussion before the two branches Of Parlament at
Versailles has stirred up feelings many French
man. and probably it is not foreign to the meeting Of
the Orleans family. who have been constantly watch
ing for opportunities. The famous petition in be-
half of clerical teaching has furnished them with an
approximate estimate Of the people upon whom they
may depend. The death Of the Prince Imperial has
broken the ranks of the Bonapartists. There are
proselytes to make from them. Perhaps offers have
come to the Orleanists from Bonapartist quarters.
Coalitions and fusions have twice organized by
the Orleanists; perhaps this may make third.
A brief historical sketch of the party will con-
siderably aid us In determining the importance Of
this mysterious meeting.
HISTORY THE PARTY.
The existence Of the Orleans party dates from the
last years Of the reign of Louis XIV. Death by har
vesting freely around the throne of that monarch.
had brought into prominence his nearest relative
(the Duke Of Orleans). The Duke being at the mon
archs death separated from the throne only by
sckly child five years DID, became naturally the CEN
ire to which converged all the ambitions and hopes
OF the discontinued who. by the way. were not in
small numbers. All those who had had enough of
government of Jesuits and courtesans. became his
earnest supporters. When the Duke assumed tho
regency great change in fact took place; but he
could not be induced to so far as his partsans
wanted. He repealed the insinuations which tended
to rob his ward of the royal authority and in his
disinterestedness he went even so far to
served to the time Of his death. His real
nobody. and the party momentarily extinguished
with its founder. At the approach of the great
revolution Of 1889 the liberal Monarchsts grouped
themselves around Philippe Of Orleans. afterward
known in history philippe Egalite." Bold am
bilious prodgal and imbued with the new ideas. he
had popular favor. and. had he acted promptly.
he would have secured monarchy which could no
longer exist the principles Of Louis XIV. As it
was the Duke Of Orleans passed away. leaving only
the souvenir of an abortive treason.
LOUIS PHILIPPE.
Under the Empire and the Restoration the Or
leanist party reconstructed itself under able
leader-Louis Philippe. His immense fortune, his
numerous family. which he had educated in public
colleges to please the bourgeoe his Votarian opin
ions. his democratic manners and tastes designated
him the natural sovereign Of the people
Lafayette introduced him the people .the best
republic they could get" Little by little ow
ever. this sovereign throw away the Sleeps clothes
he had donned. He began to speak only Of ''hs own
systems" of his personal policy. Of his 'imnov-
able will. and Disguised the majority Of his most
intelligent supporters. Indeed. the revolution of
1S4S wrenched the power from the hands Of the
Orleans almost without struggle. Like the hydra
of the fable. taking advantage of the trou-
BILE into which social relations were thrown
by the revolution Of July. tho Orleans
party raised again their heads; but they felt
themselves powerless TO overthrow, alone, the Re
public. they coaesced with the legitmsts and the
Bonapartists. and from their councils which were
held in the Rue de Potiers out the election Of
December 10. Then each party resumed working on
its account. But all these conspracies in open
daylight served too well the projects OF Louis
Napoleon for him to hinder them in the least. In
those maneuvres Of Orleanists and legitimists lie
the real motive Of the coup detdt of December p
1852.
AFTER THE DIsAsTERs
For some years NO one heard the name of Orlean-
ism pronounced, but as the despotism OF
the Emperor lost of its ground the party again
pceped forth. Then they-the very Same men who
had few years before sufrocatcd the cause Of de-
mocracy-oned the radicals of all shades in their OPP
that liberal and parliamentary nstit utions should be
respected The disasters of 1870 and 1871 and the
cesses of the Commune again gathered around
the name Of the Orleans a large party.
which sent numerous representatives to the As
sembly. For a moment the House Of Orleans be-
ieved they again about to ascend the throne of
France; but Theirs. keeping his last pledge to the
Republic. frustrated their well disguised ambition
The Oreansts now gave the second performance Of
their unprincipled policy, which had entailed ruin
upon their country from 1850 to 1852. They over
looked once the interests of their country and
showed their old hatred for liberty and democracy;
and by joining in the conspracies OF the legitmsts
and the Bonapartists they caused the crisis of May
"a, 1873, which inaugurated the odous administra-
ton of the Duke of Broglic. How the threatening
fire was extinguished by the wisdom and moderation
OF the republicans is too well known to need q de-
tailed record.
ALLEGIANCE To cHAMBoRp.
The last two important acts of these disguised
enemies of the Republic are the acknowledgment OF
sentative OF ''divine rig htss the head OF House
of Orleans and the sole lawful heir to the French
throne and finally the meeting OF Geneva to which
family. 1t is the latter that attracts
the attention OF Europe. and 1t is interesting
to speculate upon its causes and possible results.
Their organs at Paris. lie Soe and lie Parts Journal.
have the death OF the Prince Imperial asserted
their m tendencies in stronger terms than
ever. and assumed degree OF violence in their at
tacks against tue BHpublic such we were not
custoncd to. ThdCount OF Cham bord is reported
to have greeted the openings OF the clerical Bona
partists who could never be induced to rally round
Prince Plon-Plon with the honeyed words.
LET all Of good will come" 1t
is consistent with history that the PERSONAL
ties which have, for some reason or other,
withdrawn have been driven away from the
political stage, should from time to time like the
grocers to their customers present themselves be-
tore the public and ask whether the latter want any
thing OF them. This is just that which the Or
leans doing How far they succeed is impos-
sibio to Ioresce; but surely enough never tar
to cndanger the cause of the Republic. With two
watchuogs like Grevy and Gambetta 1t the govern
nent France need not entertain any lear. The
cause OF the orleans was irremediably lost on the
day in which the Count dc Paris took his pilgrimage
To Frohsdorh.
PROSPECTS oRLEANrsM.
The Orleans are now simply princes of the blood
submitted to the will of AN impossible monarch.
Orlcauism has longer any root in the country; II
is longer party IL Is mere group OF persons
who belong entirely to the past and not bound
to the future by single idea. Orleanism is APP
parently dead like all those parties which, instead of