New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-10
npE1n OF 4 RESTOR1TLON

The French Deputies in the recent debates on
the Pretendcrs bill appeared to be at their wits
end TO Justify so ridiculous measure of pro-
scription. One of the main grounds of COM
plaint urged against the Orleans Princes was
the fact that they suffered themselves to he adj
dressed by military officers as Monsegneur.'
The fact that this un-republican title was ap-
piled TO the Due dc Charities, the Due de
Nemours and the Due dAlencon when they
were of duty did not appelse the wrath of the
DEPUTIES. Down with them shreked those
stern democrats. "WhoeVer allows himself to
be addressed "a 'Nonscigneur prOclaims Roy
atty. and should be dismissed from the army
Then there had been q sorry spectacle at the
army mauGuvres at ChaiOns. The Due dAu-
male happened to be present, although there
WAS no official reason for it, and various officers
being introduced to him treated him with
higher respect than was shown for the Minister
of War or for the General in command The
Due de Chartrcs, moreover, being present with
out leave Mt his uncle's camp, was, indeed
ordered TO return to his regiment huJ IN the
some breath he was asked 10 dine with the
Minister of War; who delcately explained To
him that 1t was incxpedient TO have n
many "a two Orleans Princes posing before the
army in the same tent Such scenes, in the esti-
nation of the Deputies, were simply intOlcrible
The haltIug explanations Of the Ministers were
received with passionate resentment and shouts
Of derision. The Minister of Marine was not
harassed with questions respecting tho two
Orleans Princes connected with the Navy. As
the Due de Pcnthievre resigned discretionary
in 1879. and as hi, father, the NiccAdmiral,
al. ,,.ftt t,f .tss La. nm lac
tired list after this year, but is already too deaf
TO hear a storm at sea, TO say nothing OF wills
rerings of conspiracy on land, the Deputies
we're secure against attack in that quarter.
But in tho army the revolt must be crushed at
a single blow. "Why not shoot them at
once 7" shriel,cd an excited Radical. " They
ought TO have been cashered ten years ago!'
muttered many more. Even the scli-posscssed
and quicl-wittcd ClGmenceau IL angry aud I'M
reasonable. Are you going to wait until they
have shot you 1" he cries Indignantly.
The debates in the lower Chamber afford no
explanation Of the sudden onslaught which mas
been made upon the Orleans family. For that
explanation We must look outside The
Princes may have been indiscrcct in ncglccting
TO snub onicious fattcrcrs, but they have done
nothing in recent years TO excite the resentment
of the Republicans. Their rank WAS undOubt-
edly conferred upon them twelve years ago 10y
a commission which was in sympathy with the
Orleans faction in tho Assembly, but several
thousand officers in the French army who are
stanch Republicans owe their promotions to
the same source The Princes have retained
their commi- ,ions, but have not eyinccd hosti-
Ity to the present form Of government. If
they are menaccd with the loss of then military
honors and vaguely threatened with expulsion
from French territory, 1t is not because they
have been conspiring in the army or in the
capitol. 1t is because they are dreaded as the
representatives Of a dynasty which would
naturally be accepted as the only available sub
stitute for Republican President. What is
President GrGvy's title to the Executive Office 7
Not popular election. He was chosen 10y the
National Assembly under Constitution which
had never been directly ratified 10y the people
1t is parliamentary title; ard that was what
Louis Philippe and his descendants had. The
dynasty of 1880 was not grounded on divine
right, nor on popular election, or pl6Dscite,
but on parliamentary vote. Louis Phlippes
title was every whit as valid rs President
GrGvy's; and his descendants, while they have
renowned their parliamentary rights and ac-
cepted ut Fr0hsdorf the tradition Of legitimate
heredity, are the most formidable competitors
of n president in Republic which has not
ceased to dread some form Of Restoration.
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