New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-08
THE OPPOSITION IN FRANCE.

ne lCautTS u VIC ltaNbiOh''J h"'''''-' -
France have habit of inspiring the political
watchwOrds os the Republicans In one OF the
debates which followed the 10th OF May, Nj.
de FOurtOu exclaimed: You forget that the
"men now in Office issued from the election
"of 1871, and formed part of that Assembly
(Which NAV be described as the paciicator OF
the country and the liberator Of the SOL 3"
In an instant a Deputy of the Left sprang to
his feet and pointing to Theirs, cried: ~ ola
ale Iib6rateur du territoirc ~ A thrill of en-
tbusiasm passed through the Assembly as the
Reubhcans, rising in body, chcered Tor iYe
minutes. At the moment when the Mar
shal, in panic terror, was dlssolvlng the
Chamber and appealing to the country,
his intriguing Minister by this unfortunate
phrase brought into the foreground the Re-
publican leader who had saved France once
and who could be depended upon to do 1t
again. With equal faulty, NJ. Baudry dAsson,
who is almost as noisy a brawler as VI. de
Cassagnac, interrupted the debate on the
Ferry Educational bill with this taunt TO the
majority: ." You represent the dying Repub-
"lic - II was the fiery Gambetta who gave
the retOrt from the Presidents desk: The
"Rcpublic lives and will live. II there be a
"party dying to-day it Is not the Republican
"party.n As the Left applauded these words
NJ. Baudry d'Asson Kissed, "This is not the
"day to make such a remark" 1t was the
day when the death of the Priucc Imperial
was the gossip OF the bOulevards and cafes.
The political influence of the Bonapartists
has dWindled of late years until there is
scarcely enough of it left TO constitute Il
no. nuga
now is, they have neither Pretender nor
leader in whose destiny they can put trust.
Before the young soldier of fortune whose
career has come 10 a tragic end in the tail
grass of Zululand was born, the succession to
the Imperial throne was determined. In No
vember, 1852, a decree was passed that in
the event of the death of Napoleon H.,
Prince Napoleon or his heirs should baye the
political inheritance. This decree was subse-
mcntly ratified by pl6blscitum. and must be
accepted by the BOnapartists as the Imperial
law governing the succession. But the heir is
the man who declared three years ago: "The
Republic exists patriotism imposes it; it is
"the only form of government possible in
France. | wish for it Loyalty, without res
eryatIon.n The group of Adventures who
have worn the Imperial livery nave always
hated him for his Republican proclivities, and
the Clerical party, who play so important a
part in reactionary melOdrama and farce
have nothing to hope for from his interven-
ton III politics. The BOnaparhsts are now the
weakest group in each chamber of the Legis-
lature. Their luck has left them and they
cannot hold together long. EVENT. the father
consents to remain in the background and the
son Is dragged forward, the NapoleonIc legend
has lost its magic.
1t is clear that bY the death of the Prince I'm
perial one factor in the political problem which
France is working out has been stricken out
1t is also plain that the death of the Comte de
CbambOrd whenever it occurs, will simplify
that problem still further. The current of
Legitimism Will be diverted into the Orlcanist
channel Constitutional Monarchy will be the
pivot upon which the Opposition will tun
Divine Right and Imperial Destiny will then be
fctions OF the past; and whether there be
n President or a Constitutional Sovereign,
there VIII be Cabinet Government and Parlia-
mentaTy supremacy.