The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-18
PLON PLoN VERSUS IDEAS.

miserable fiasco. The death of Gambetta
was great loss to the French republic, but
even the life of a republic like France does
not depend upon one man. The France of
to-day is not the France of Louis XIV, Louis
XVI nor even of the Napoleons. The
splendor of the former nor the grandeur
alone OF the latter would satisfy the people
of 1888. Napoleon III sought to amuse and
divert his subjects by making Paris the most
superbly beautiful as we'll as the gayest city
in the world. The skill OF Mansard and Baron
Hausmann, backed by unlimited means,
have made the French capital the
most brilliant of modern history. A hun
dred broad avenues were cut through the
narrow, crooked streets of the most popu-
lous districts, and miles of palatial buildings
sprung up during the last empire. Yet the
people were restless and dissatisfied. De-
sparing Of longer amusing his subjects by
these means the last Napoleon led the for
lorn hope of war with Prussia, which by the
very nature of things could have
but one result The legions of France
were overmatched in every respect: in
numbers equipment and discipline, To the
unprecedented the surrender at Sedan and the
capitulation of Paris were visible from the
day the French troops started on their fatal
campaign. 1t is not impossible that some
thing of the kind was felt by the Emperor
himself. But he was helpless to turn back
the tide, and was compelled to furnish the
diversion of war to people satiated with the
splendid frivolities upon which they had so
long been fed. With the fall of the empire
the new republic sprang up on its ruins.
This was not the accident of war,
for its inception long preceded it,
The empire went to pieces because the public
sentiment no longer sustained it, and in the
midst of disastrous war with an invading
foe, supplemented by an internecine strife
even more destructive popular government
came naturally into existence. Had the
empire of France been strong in the hearts
of the French people from 1860 to 1870 the
war with Prussia would probably never have
taken place, and if it had, the disaster
eliminating at Sedan would not have
resulted in a change of the form
of govern ment. Behind the men who lead
in public affairs there is a sentiment, upon
the approval or condemnation of which
their success depends. Few men can manu-
facture or shape thissentiment in the minds
of ha ha hu Il
Intelligence is more widely disseminated, the
people are less able to be swayed and led at
the caprice of any man.
Herein lies Prince Napoleon's mistake.
geoise. He was popular only as
rightly interpreting the public will.
Gambetta as an individual would
have forfeited his high regard in
day had he dared espouse doctrines hateful
to his constituents. Hence it is that though
Gambetta is dead, and his eloquence and
force of character are lost to the people, the
French republic is probably as strong to-day
as though he were living and possessed Of
all his vigor The time has not ar
rived when one man can gather into his own
hands the reins of government. The people
are jealous of their rights and seem satisfied
that they are competent to rule. The events
of the last past eleven years have proven
this in an unmistakable manner. While the
at the Tuileries, st. Cloud and Yer
sailles, the great mass OF people
are industrious, prosperous and
contented, So far as is known the public
finances are managed with ability and fidel-
ity, and the condition of France will COM
pare favorably with any of the European
countries. Communism is not half so strong
in France as is Socialism in Germany and
Nihilism in Russia. Italy, Austria and
Spain have more to fear from In
ternal disturbances than has France.
Hundreds of thousands of French citi-
zens who were Imperialists in 1870 are
Republicans to-day, because they are satisfied
with the present order of things or would
avoid the trouble and dangers OF change of
government 4here Is no popular ulSSauls-
faction now that can be taken advantage of
by any man, and much less by one who, at
the age of fifty years, has no record
for valor, craftsmanship or popu-
larity This scion of decayed and
defunct imperialism has misinterpreted the
popular will, and will probably add to his
already distinguished record as first-class