The New York herald., 1879-11-14

No honest man can refuse him his esteem. He Is
laborious. q well informed. even learned
writer He has compiled history of France
which for several years crowned by the
Academy. Having conceived 1t in a national spirit,
he neither careful adorn it with brilliancy OF
style fortify it with constant justice of appre-
citation. He wished to demonstrate that monarchy
had had only bad influence the destinies Of the
country. and in developing this bold proposition
did not hesitate 20 put the reader In
possession Of documents which combat it.
He was the intimate friend of Manin. the
great citizen of Venice Believing it his duty to take
an active part in politics during the FrancoGermsn
war. he allowed himself to be returned to the Bor-
deaux Assembly. and voted for the prosecution Of
the struggle. When the Commune broke out he
issued patriotic appeal both to radicals and con-
servatives; subsequently elected to the Senate.
and though his attendance at Versailles interfered
seriously with his studies he has
scientiously occupied his seat for the last eight
years. sober modest. and in every way respectable
supporter of the government. 1t was only by chance
that he was called to succeed NJ Thiers in the
Academy On Emile Olivier. during whose term Of
office NJ Theirs died. devolved the task of replying
to his panegyric. and Emile Olivier. thesscapegoat
of the Bonapartists. moved, in the lightness of
his heart. with q sudden desire to glorify them.
Henri Martin. feeling that the principles to which
he had devoted his history and his life,
in danger, could not do otherwise than assai the
Empire. The committee deemed the two speeches of
political vehemence not suited for literary body
M. Martin consented to expunge his aggressive pas
sages. NJ. Olivier tempered his eulogies. Every
body was rejoicing when the committee suddenly
found in NJ: Ollivier's revised version passage
ferring to August 9. 1870. "Then the time," it
said, "when M. Theirs ought to have grasped power
offered the Empire the prestige of his popularity.
the resources of his talents and saved France
while saving the imperial dynasty" The Academy
was stupefed. "How," asked NJ. Dufaure "could
Theirs have grasped power? Nobody had offered it
him." besides" said M. Jules Simon. I'M. Theirs
policy could not ally itself with the policy of the
Elysee. One must have devoured the other" M.
Olivier was irfexible. He rose abruptly and left
the room in heat. He refused to reply to NJ. Mar
tin. and that duty naturally fell NJ Mariner the
Revue de France article on NJ Theirs, which has
made greater sensation than anything which
has happened in Paris since the same author 8
book "Le 10 Janvier," heralded his conversion to
imperialism. "Thiers only able," says this
good hater. "to conceive republic without o
people or a monarchy without king. He had no
notion Of the real science of modern politics. He
had no mercy for the mass of the people, whom he
knew how to make dupes of. and was ready to
transport and NOW down with grapeshot. The hand
of NJ Thiers may be traced in all the ruins of our
times; and when no government but his own re-
manned to be demolished he demolished that"l