The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1883-09-20
IA. EsEts 49, - :. oE El ~ SANE %

The French political ehessiOard 10
being rapidly cleared. ''Sik FeaTs
ago says the Paris correspondent Of
the London Times. "thers was sn ex-
eessiFe number Of nretendefs, or at
teast Of persons spoken Of for the Chief
Magietracy, but most Of them have
since disappeared rhiers died ap-
parently on the eve Of his reinstat-
menti ID The Presidency. The Prince
Imperial persisted la search Of the
laufels Whieh were 30 dazzle the ma
ten. Gambetta was cut on ct q low
ebb % his fortune but Ct q time When
be was universally expected 20 re-
trieve his position. Chanzy followed
him 30 the tomb almost immediately.
and now the Cumte &c ChambOrd'a
name sWeils the list Of the departed.
The Due diAumale may be likewise
numbered among those who have van
ished from the field for, though Il
may be hopsd that be has many years
before him, he u altogether out OF the
competition. The only object Of his
election 10 the Presidency would nave
been 10 eheekmate the Comte de
ChambOrd, and such q motive can nc
longer exist-t0 say nothing az the
recollection Of Marnhai McMahon's
Fdie having destroyed Tor years 90
come al chance Of the success Of q /
military candidate. nobody, indeed, |
disputes the mafshAl's good Intentions /
but nobody can forget his radical mis- |
conception Of his position brought /
France to the verge Of civil war.
"The chessbOard Is thus much 4
thlnned, and. contrary 10 what usual 1
~ happens I'm such cases, the Interest
Of the game, especially 70 foreign OBJ
servers, b sensibly impaired Il has
become, 10 fact, q pawn game. The
CHIEF pieces have disappeared ; aud
there h q humdrum rivalry between
the paWns as % which shall first get
% the edge Of the board. Not that the
competitors are all nOnentities-far
from &c. Prince Napoleon will always
be an Interesting example Of the
NaPOleOnic physiognOmy and intel
lect. The COnte de Paris has the
charm Of descent from long line Of
kings, and Ia, besides. thoughtful, sa-
gacious and honest. Nobody, how
ever, can claim brillianey for NJ.
Grevy; and he himself would be the
first 10 dssclsim &c. He has horror OF
Ostentation, aud has not revealed any
literary or artistic tastes. He was
formerly fond Of chess-in which, !
characteristieauy, he played a defen-
EiTe game-and he occupied n re-
spectacle position at the bar; but |
brilliant display OF any kind has never
been 10 bis TASTE. He owes his posi- ,
ten 60 his reputation for honesty, to .
the sudden death Of THEIRS, aud 70 the
accident OF the Republicans not being
prepared 10 accept GRmbetta.
His presumptive successOr-fOr,
though much may happen In three
years, nj. BrissOn has as vet no COM
petitor-is even less likely 10 be con-
spicuOus. He presided with dignity
over the Chamber, but foreigners NAV
be excused for net knowing Of him,
since there Is scarcely anything 10 J
know. He has been an advocate aud
q journalist, like 80 many French pol
itielRns, but his chances are due TO !
his tsciturnity, a. well as to the ali ,
senee Of rivals. AZ for any Of the rad
zeal Leaders, they are Ostensibly Op-
posed 10 q Presidency altogether and ,
though this did not stand Ia NJ.
Grevy's way TO the Chief Magistraey,
&c must be remembered that thirty ,
years elapsed between his famous ,
and his elevation They ,
have moi, moreover, gained-they have
rather lOst-grOund since t4ambetta'a ,
death perhaps because they have no ,
longer anybody 10 harass Their ,
hammer Is swinging Ia empty air In
stead Of shifting the shoulders OF a
dictator. France, in short, six years
ago had q plethora Of individuality
end historic lustre, and she is now ON
the point Of being reduced 20 COM
mon sense and mediocrlty."