The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1879-09-06
The Death OfFrench IN +.
perialisIl:.

under the i,aplieSt auspices, oless
ed with a robust constitution, an
| acnte intellect which vas develop
ed to it's fullest capacities uh'str
ti,e tuition of The most accom-
pl,shed tutors whlcl. wealth could
command, and wiilal the heIr-
apparent of the pruudest dynasty
in Europe, the yonng Prince seem
ed destined to pcrpetnate the
cause of Imperialism OIL French
soil.
A DIebiscitum had recently been
taken and the great majority OF
the people had apparently r't'fl-
ed the constitution which made
second Empire. When the acme
of power and maSniticence had
thus been reached, ambition was
| allowed to prevail over the die
tates of IL wise aud enlightened
craftsmanship, aud the wal with
the Imperial crown hereditary in
the line of the Bonapartes, At
peace with all the worItl, with
domestic tranquility secured by
| wise concessions to the popular
will, nothing was wanting to raise
a doubt us to the stability of the
Prussia became the first cause
which undermined the Imperial
throne.
With the surrender at Sedan,
the Empire seemed TO have re-
ceiveu it's death blow. But tue
exile of Chiselhurst still had pow
/, er to act AZ a disturbing element
in French politics, for his adher-
ents formed a powerful minority.
His demise tended TO weaken the
imperialism cause, but its part
sans rallied around his heir and
proclaimed him Napoleon ".
While hope seemed TO be s,nil'
ing upon their cause, and events
made the ~peiprtnity Of republican
institutions doubtful, the hand
of Providence struck down the
head Of the house Of Bonaparte.
The assegeais of barbarops
Zulus pierced the body OF a MAJ
whose many private virtues q
head and heart would have aLorr
ed any. station, While our warn
est.sympathy goes ont to the DIES
olate and bereitved mother, ant
while we Cannot help lamentin,
that a life so full Of promis,
should have had SO inglorious i;
close; yet we cannot help &C
knowledging that every thing il
ordered for the best.
Living as we donnder a govern
ment whose very cornerstone i
the principle of local self.gover'
ment, and whose cardinal maxim
Is the civil and political equalit,
of all men, it is but natural tina
We hould look with favor upol
any event which secures to tn
French people the same bool
which we enjoy. Believing as W,
; do that the government of til,
people, by the people and for til
people is the natural condition 0
mankind, we must eongratulat,
the republicans of Fcance upOl
the final overthrow of the mos
dangerous enemy to the continu
ance Ut their government.
At the same time we must en-
ter our solemn protest agalns
any such measures rs the Fcrr,
Educational Bill, which is aime,
at the elimination of religious in
struction from the schools. This
r proposed law is at direct vari
| ance with the principles of civi
and religious liberty which shout,
control the councils of a republ
can government, aud is absol,;t,
~ indefensible. The theory ado
! ted IL Il republic is that the cit
zens shall have tue maximum O
liberty and The rulers the mini
mum Of power. But in this in
stance the faction of Gambett;
AMI Ferry and W.ld;,..u,