Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-30
n EAiPMIS APPEAL
TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1888
FRANCE Ann THE MONARCHIsTs.


France is undergoing crisis in its new
form OF government. When our fathers sci
up republic in this country, the principal
work was TO construct the new system. The
French had much more complicated work.
They had not only to do but to undo. Church
and State pervaded the whole nation, and
modified the manners and ways of thinking
Of the people, and OF the entire civil and
military system Of the nation. That work
90 extensive and 50 monstrous can be carried
on without occasional checks and intervals
Of hesitation, is net to be expected. Such an
interval is existing just now. Gambetta WAS
a man. to whom France looked in case
of any extremity arising. He was not in
power He was, as far as mere spectators
might judge, regarded with indifference.
None the less did the great mass Of the
French people rely upon the man TO be their
leader in case danger should arise, or the
new institutions be threatened. He died
after short interval of suffering, and who
was there sufficiently commanding the conf
dence OF tue people to take his place? No
one had attained 70 that degree of eminence.
The descendants Of the old French kings, the
Count de Chambord, those of the family of
Louis Phillips, and those of the family OF
the last monarch Of France, the Bonapartes,
each with their adherents and those expect
ing to profit by the rise of those with whom
they stood connected, were watching events
in France 80 the eagle watches the creature
it expects to become its prey. The leader
gone, France left as it were headless, these
people believed possible opportunity was
come. Tbs. head Of the living Bonapartes
issued an insidious proclamation, intended
ment TO revolution, that the tyrants might
victimize France once more. The priests
were 10 be made the moving impellers Of
restoration 10 the deposed families, or some
of them, and the former empress, Eugene,
appeared in Paris to resume, with the clergy,
the relations that had been found so useful
in her husbands time. The republican
government arrested the prince who had
issued the pilot balloon that was to show how
the popular wind blew, and Eugene received
Intimation that quickly sent her back to
England TbisproEBpt snd decisive action
with those wkes.sone years agos were powers
in Francs, showed that there was both power
and determination in the republic. The
sovereignty ofthe people proved stronger than
that Of superstition, or custom, or asserted
claims of a right TO hold the people in SUBJ
lection. The immediate evil being met, the
people began to seek whether there
was not more bshind the Bona
partist movements than had appeared.
Governments formerly established by
the French people had been overturned
BY intrigues, BY perjury, by priestly schem.
ing, and by reasonable conspiracy-were
such things again afool? Would it not be
we'll 10 expef from the soil this horde Of
princes, and dukes, and counts, that were
lying wait to seize the nation at disadvan-
tageg Shallow minds laugh at the anxiety
aud caution rars manifested 1t was proof
OF the wa.chfulnesa the country is inspired
with against its insidious, scheming, and per-
sistent enemies. II was also a proof Of the
desire that exist 10 hold intact and perma-
nent the freedom that has been gained after |
century of revolutions. The people, ind
log the effect their firm attitude has had up |
on those who hope to deceive and defraud |
them once more, will not carry out the severe |
measures contemplated at the first alarm,
but some action will be taken with view OF |
Gripping the monarchical harpies that |
hover over France, and reducing their OPP
portuuiiies for creating disturbance or tax
ing advantage OF disaster. The present in
dications are that those precautions will be
taken with care, so ss 10 be consistent with |
the dignity of the republic, and with sound |
staiesmanship. There will be some changes |
among the members of the government,
stronger men viii be put in Office, more care
will be taken to put only good Republicans
10 confidential and important positions. The
brief alarm is draEing conflicting par
ties nearer TO each other and indi-
vldusl and local interests are yielding to
the higher duts of preserving liberty aud
securing the permanence of the republic.
There is room, however, for anxiety on the
part of the friends Of France. The people
have not the Anglo-Saxon steadfastness, and
stagnation In business OF late has given rise
10 some popular disconlent, The national
inarces, also, are in some disorder, and the
country that should, for the present, be
bending all its energies to strengthen the re-
public and to discard with proyident care
the vestiges Of rissocracy that still en-
barrass the political working Of liberal prin-
ciples, is giving too much care TO foreign
in the East and in Africa.