Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-05-20
THE TRIUMPH OF POPULAR COY
ERNMENT.

ERNlMENT.
1t has been stated by European CORES
pondent that one of the main reasons why
the late Gar, Alexander II, opposed the
idea of introducing any liberal reforms in
the Empire was because of u remark made
by his father, Gar Nicholas, a few days be
fore he died to the effect that Europe is es.
sentially monarchal, and must remain So u
Or, in other words, he intended TO imply
that the existing state Of things, which pro
vides so handsomely and luxuriously for
the privileged few, but presses so heavily
on the toiling millions, cannot and shall
not be altered.
Had Car Nicholas lived till now, the fact
of France having become a republic, and
with every prospect of its remaining one
would doubtless have much amazed, as
tonished and angered the great northern
despot. France has been thoroughly repub-
licanized. All the efforts of the monarch
lists and imperialists combined cannot con-
vert 1t back into the old groove. 1t is ad-
mitted on all sides that the present pros
perity of France is unprecedented. Her
revenue returns, of which we spoke at
length in former article, show surplus of
$l0,0O0,0O0 in the year, and that notwth-
standing considerable amount of taxation
has been taken. off the shoulders of the
people. This prosperous state of affairs
is anything but pleasant to those who,
under monarchical and imperial crowns, live
and thrive by plundering the people
1t has not been long since an infurated
Bonapartist had the boldness to declare that
the people were better with an Empire than
a republic. Thereupon another member of
the Legislative Chamber, once a Journey
man mason and for several years an exile
to Belgium, declared with great energy that
wages were much higher than under the
Empire, and in the trade with which he was
connected they had risen so much as three
francs daily. If workmen found plenty of
work and obtained tolerably high wages
under the Empire that was merely arth-
cial state of prosperity and could not en-
dure. In order to bolster il up the national
debt was augmented something like 300,-
100000 francs during the twenty years of
the Empire. Now, however, under Re-
public all has been accomplished without
increasing the national burden one cent.
And in the course of few years if the Re
publican statesmen are wise enough not to
NEEDLE in the affairs of other countries,
and the monarchs of Europe will abstain
from molesting the Republic, France must
arrive at such pitch of prosperity as will
excite the envy and hatred of those who
detest Democracy, and inspire with aston
ished admiration all who have more faith
in the government of nation by its people
than by a privileged class alone.
That Europe has been and probably still
is, as the Car Nicholas emphatically de-
clared, essentially monarchical, we are not
to deny. But certainly there is
nothing in its present condition at all calcu-
lated TO elevate the monarchica system in
the opinion Of the world. 1t may be said
that although France is Republic, she
nevertheless maintains an enormous stand
ing army. And this is undoubtedly the
truth. But ambition of military glory is II
monarchical tradition, and so to
acquire the glory France has suffered heavily
and almost MORALLY. That the French, on
account of their SURROUNDINGS it were,
encompassed by monarchical states, having
enormous armies-and in order to protect
themselves from attacks inspired by hatred,
fear and envy, are obliged to maintain
large military force on foot, is an answer TO
the reproach that may be brought against
the Republic. But if Europe were republi-
can instead Of monarchica It's armies might
be counted by thousands instead of mil
lions. And this is what the Gar probably
when he as much said that the
system must be upheld by force
If necessary. For he knew full well that
without standing armies thrones could not
be upheld, nor people dragooned into ac-
iuiescing with state Of things that brings |
With II misery, wretchedness. crime, muir.