The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-01-29
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

| But a lew days ago the tnlrd frenCn NepuO-
lie entered upon the thirteenth year of its exis-
tence. Born amid the disasters of the Ger
man invasion, graded among the ruins of i'm
perialism it had terrible infancy and all its
subsequent years have been full Of adventure.
'Since September 4, 1870" says the London
Times. 'the Republicans had three presidents,
81 cabinets and several scores of ministers.
No less than IS politicians have held the port
folio of the home Office. So many embassa-
doris have been accredited to foreign scourts
and recalled that in certain countries. France
can scarcely be said to have been represented,
seeing that her pleniopotentiaries were made
to resign before they had found time to learn
anything about the nations to which they had
been sent" But the wholesale displacement
of projects and sub-prefects has been even
more remarkable. An idea of it may be OBJ
tanned by noting that not long ago, when
petty official in a country town was reprimand-
ed for not having saluted his project in the
street, he excused himself on the ground that
there had been three changes of projects in
bis department in the year and he had bad
memory for faces. OF course all the changes in
officers have caused the prestige of the gov
ernment to suffer and widened the breaches
between the many political factions, besides
tending to make uneasy the bourgeoise ele-
ment on which the stability of the Republic
depends. Add to this that the efforts of M.
Duclerc and his colleagues in recognizing the
judicature, and concerning the concordat and
the scrutin de liste, were not in thorough ac
cord with the wishes of the people, and it will
be readily seen that the Republic had occa-
sion to be restless even before PlonPlon
issued his manifesto claiming the throne. This
action was doubtless fastened by the death of
Gambetta, whose individual genius and force
of character had been very effective in keep
ing the Republic tranquil. But, the one strong
man gone, Duclerc and his associates, lead
ers of the Republican party but not men of
genius, grew weak and suffered the melting of
the people to mobocratic acts, when prompt
exercise of their power would have averted
much trouble. There are now in France three
great parties, the Oreanist, the Bonapartist,
and the Legitimist, eagerly waiting
to take advantage of every false
move the Republicans may make, and as
they have able leaders they may soon tire of
letting events shape themselves. The whole
nation is agitated. The fall of the Republic
is freely discussed. Ifit does fall what then
Revolution, bloodshed. The throne will
again appear, but whether..6lled by an Orleanist
or by Jerome Bonaparte or his son no one
knows. That a Bourbon will not rule may
be assured. The principal supporters of the
Orleans family are the priesthood, the landed
proprietors and the peasants; of the family
of Napoleon, the army and majority of the
rabd workmen of the cities. So the govern
ment is passing through dangerous crisis.
Plon-Plon's most able adviser has been ex-
Empress Eugene. She says she 'buries the
past" Granted. Who would not when
one desired to assist Jerome after re-
pudiating him and his alleged claims
TO the throne, Withdrawing financial
support from his newspaper organs and pro-
nouncing her intention of never interfering
with the Republic. Yes, indeed Eugenie's
change of heart has been most wonderful.
But her sympathy with Jelome may not have
the desired effect. Republican leaders claim
that it will result in revival of Republican
sentiment and will, therefore, strengthen the
government. If this be SO the Chambers
might adopt Floquet's motion to drive the
Princes from France. So it would seem that
the ex-empress has stirred up hornets nest;
yet her conduct may be the only means effectual
of terminating the disturbances with which the
Republic is shaken.
THERE is yet hope for the young philos-
opherS who grind out snake stories for the
press. In early life Gambetta was the Paris
correspondent of Frankfort newspaper.
CONFIDENCE is quite too apropos when one
is buying beautiful blue city milk, eating hotel
hash and listening TO some of the San Antonio
sermons which neither the audience nor the
preacher understands.
THE editor of the Memphis Scimitar is the
Langtry's latest mash. OF course when the
fact became known somebody said he was
charmed by her scimatry and that it was
scimitarial what he wrote finer.
Miss NELLIE PALMER, a young lady who