National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-11
OUR PARIS LETTER.
DorNos AT THE FRENCH CAPITAL,
Vlsor Of the Rcpubllc-Unsetiled Condition Of
European rolitlcs-Tho BegEars on New
Years Day--Skulls as Ornaments
The Starving Poor.

Special Correspondence Of THF RrrunbicAN.
PARts, Jan. 26.-Wheher the New Year is In any
wise to blame or not this January Of the year of
our reckoning 1852 brings with it change and
tnmors of change and rumors Of something else,
which gives the politician and the philosopher
something to think about That an abnormal
activity in Russian military and naval Affairs Is
becoming apparent has now ceased to be mere
rumor and speculation is rife as to the intentions
sf the autocHt Of the east. Some say that the re.
cent controversy In regard TO Panama and the
Clayton Buwer treaty led the Russian leaders TO
hope that n misunderstanding between Great
Britain and the United States was about to place
those nations In hostile attitude, the against
the other, In which event the capture Of Her
Majesty's Indian Empire might be readily accom-.
plished and other damage dono the British lion
and his protegc, the Turkey. That Russia had or
has any such hopes is quite unlikely, as she is
too busily engaged with her own internal affairs
20 think much of conquest or adventure, SIN the
undoubted introduction of improvements IN the
army and navy goes on unexplained, and the
government reserves the right to keep Its own
secrets so far as possible. The wise ones of the
boulevard speak at length and with considerable
feeling in regard to the matter, blaming the Ameri
can Republic for dealing so gently with tho kuotty
question, and wondering why Uncle Samuel does
not assert himself according to the tiuc- honored
custom of his progenitor, John Bul, with shot and
bnelli however mucn tne pOulcal Brlthln may
fraternze at present
WITH TIIE GAMBETTA GovERSNEST
and how much soever the Gaul aud the Angle
may combine" in this Egyptian matter, there Is
not particle of love lost, either between the peo-
pie or the governments Of these two nations. Even
individual English men and women who visit this
oapital-and thousands do so-are loud in express.
ing their detestation of the French, while the lat
ter guy es Aagdis aud les An9iaise in the most I'M
merciful fashion, showing up their shortcomings
in print and caricaturcs. The average French
man would like nothing better than to see n war
between these island mastfIs,' as old Richelien
called them, and the gallant sons of the great Re-
public for, say they, 1t would be the third and
last struggle between them, which would assure
the dismembermeut, humiliation, and almost the
total overthrow of the British Empire-an opinion,
indeed, which might hatter pugnaciously in
clned Americans; but II is greatly to be hoped
that the country at large will steer clear Of all
war policies aud schemes, as the country
which wins in an armed conflict is usually in
as bad condition after the struggle as the antago
onist which has been forced to surrender to It's
superiority OF numbers, Of science, or Of courage.
Witness the condition of Germany to-day. Ma
poleon III. forced q war upon her, was beaten be-
yond recovery and his vicunzed subjects paid
the penalty of his crime-not only with rivers of
blood, but with an enormous treasure. That same
treasure, Notwithstanding its magnitude, is now
quite invisible TO the naked eye, and German
statesmen themselves are at loss TO know how 1t
has gone so quickly. The only hope of nations
and of humanity is peace, coupled with industry.
The man who says 1t may be called ~ topian
and "trauseeudentallst," but the truth Is that IL
there was grain Of honesty and purity among
THE LEADERS or EUROPEAN POLITICS
a general disarmament throughout the civilized
world might be effected in one year. with honor
and benefit to every state taking part in the move
ment. "Civized worltl !" "Ah, there's the rub"
Who shall find il 1t will take another Columbus
On some other planet, for the word-and worlds
we have here Pagan, Mahometan, and Christian
still cling TO the meanest elements Of barbarism,
robbery and revenge. These nations seem to be
waiting like beasts of prey for some neighbor to
show sign of fcebleness which will serve their
signal for attack Therefore, prominent French,
politician said in my hearing recently the United
states offer the only chance which mankind has OF
developing the best elements Of humanity The
worst come out also, because Of Unborn depravity
and ineXtnguishable ignorance, but only in In
dividual cases, and millions OF tho second
generation, who must have remained in
the poverty and ObsCurity of so many genera
tions of their ancestors become enlightened pro.
gressive, and useful citizens European countries
including Great Britain offer no such opportunl-
tics Their inability to do so is partly physical
but largely moral, for while material obstacles
may render any movement or undertaking diff
cuh, stOlid Indifference will render II impossible.
This is the crime of European governments. A
certain formal buster pervGdes the governmental
arena ambassadors from foreign countries are
duly received and fattered; grand vapor-b bath
receptions give a brainless throng n chance to
stare at and TO be stared at; some tons of paper
and gallons of printers ink are wasted in telling
the world nothing of importance and reporting O
wilderness of CANNON which is partly conjecture
partly the verbatim
UTTERASCEs OF DISTINGUISHED BLoCKHEADs,
and all lies and trash. The men who are sent by
the people to deliberate upon the best methods Of
government and the measures most likely to secure
the happiness and prosperity Of the people spend
their time in personal attacks on one another. in
eating big dinners, aud quarrcling over financial
questions they do not understand, and never think
of advancing theory OF n principle which looks
10 the improvement and elevation Of men, which
proposes to better their moral or material condi-
IioIi. or to replace the old-time evils and follies
which exist everywhere with something more
true, more noble, and more reasonable. The con-
sequences of this indifference are everywhere mp
parent. The people continue to be divided by the
old lines Of caste each of which hates and proys
upon the other as opportunity and circumstances
permit-thc proprietor on the tenant, the servant
on his master, the state on the people, and the
people OF every sphere on one another each and
every one complaining of his i'll Success One
third of the population remains from generation
TO generation in II state of abject squalor, from
which they know not how to escape and which
they often suppose TO be their eternal lot, Your
lent 10 make an effort" But the fact is this third
of the human family does not live in the clear
light oil uny.
1T HAS 40 KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD
outside of its dTeary tenement, aud mind and
body are alike feeble, mlsled, and awTy on nc.
count OF priVatom, disease, and because of misery
winch they hardly realize, but which, ncvcrthe-
less, affects their being sufficiently TO make them
appreciate that they are wronged. What can they
know about determined effort for q better LOT,
and how should they begin such an endeaYor? II
is ont Of the question and beyond all possibility
without guidance and helping hand from those
who know the world and know how better con-
dltioI may be attained, And here conceive, If
anywhere Is the place for the peoples representa-
tive 10 be at work; he could do more good by get
ding up some scheme to colOnize these backward
ones than by spOuting about an opponents short
cOmings nv the Countess de MOulOns tea
party. Here the pres! might labor 70
much halter advantage than with empty and
-S0poTfc homilies N cushioned pulpit, and here
The treasure which Is squandcred in building huge
barns to worship preachers In might be put to a
more sensible aud respectable use. How these
millions Of our kind must suffer! Poor helplessIn
their destitutiOn with children and wives depend.
cnt OH the plttnnCe they can earn, even If cm-
ployed, and Oilen Obliged TO see starvation pinch
their loved ones to death when employment Is not
to be had when the winters frosty breath helps
hunger to do It's worst. How many In thsyGsJ nest
of extremeg are wrihing In the Inst stages of con.
Eumug disGpse without food, clothing, or fire to al
leviate the bitterness of their last hour How
many poor fathers and mothers in this biting sea-
son, when the air nils the ears Of the wc-ie and
warmly clothed, would willingly give their right
hand for few days bread for their sick children |
HOW MANY DEsOLATE WIDOWS,
who last winter had strong arm 10 help them,
but are now len alone, with young children, are
praying tonight for the little shyerng orphans
whose parChed lips will ask In vain for bread
when they awake! And how many young girls
who are descended from these caamitles can only
exist by lives of shame, and are tossed about like
drowned beetles In II stagnant pool, ever contami,
mating what is already vile st. Dupo says It's
foolish 10 think OF these things as II takes all
Of people and events TO make up world, and us