Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-17
THE UNCERTAINTY IN FRANCE.

perplexity in arriving at a just estimate of
the situation there. He cannot but now
conclude that more Importance was given
to the bill. posting of Prince Jerome than
that event warranted. At the same time
he cannot find it consistent with Justice to
condemn the act Of the Government in
rebuking that prince of weakness. The
firm stand at first taken was negatived by
the alarm manifest in the extreme measure
proposed for the expulsion of representa-
lives of old dynasties, not few of whom
are serving with honor and in very quiet
way in the armies of their country. Fol.
lowing this came the vacillatiDg course
pursued in the consideration of measures
deemed essential to the safety OF the coun-
try, and not one of which has as yet
reached satisfactory conclusion. The
anti.republicans have not lost an opportu-
nifty to aggravsts the situation by bitter
criticisms of the majority and rude attacks
upon the Ministry, which has shown
timidity we in America can scarcely com.
prehend. Almost any stand taken would
have been better for France than the
course of doubt, uncertainty and distrust
of self that has marked the course Of the
Administration. No people more than the
French respect the strong hand. no people
go boldly as they manifest their contempt
for weak government. If, then,
under the terrible strain that Re.
publican institutions in France have
been subjected to from lack of cour-
age on the part of the civic authorities, the
republic still retains deep hold upon the
hearts of the people. it is strong evidence
of its ability to live through the present
storm. Let US see. 1t has, without man.
ifest evidence of serious shock, seen the
Cabinet twice dissolved within brief
space of time it has seen weak pre-
tender, whose name was the synonym for
unpopularity, made the most notorious,
not to say prominent, man in France, not.
withstanding the fact that in any effort to
overthrow the republic he could not COM
mand the undivided support of his own
Bohapartist party. 1t has seen the timor-
Gus Bourbon princes, with the best of OPP
portunities, fail to seize upon the hour
when the realization of their hopes was by
many believed to be possible. 1t has seen
the Socialists at Lyons tried, convicted,
and their punishment applied by an ex-
traordinary proceeding the Government
manifesting it's distrust of the processes of
the ordinary criminal tribunals it has
seen leader of the Socialistic move
ment convicted by the most unrepublican
and arbitrary of methods, and treated in
captivity as the vilest criminal could scarce
be in America. While this severity gave
confidence to the peasant class, it disguised
the more independent and courageous.
France has felt the weakness of the sys-
TEN that provides for Two such bodies as
the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate
the evolution of the idea of Rousseau. She
has seen the radical, socialistic and anarch-
ical clement gain in vigor steadily, while
the conservative republican strength
was shaken and diminished it has
seen the Empress boldly enter Paris
on mere pretext, but as the enemy of the
republic, and to advance a scheme for its
overthrow. France has witnessed the loss
of the man who, of all others, could lead
and control the populace; it has expert
enced the discomfort of its own people at
the position the nation has been compelled
to occupy in the councils of Europe, when
the belief has been entertained by them
that she might dictate at certain points
and it has seen the finances of the country
involved by maladministration. The re-
capitulation does not eEd here it is almost
endless-France has died daily, if we are
to believe the dispatches and the nervous
corresp ondents-bu the truth is that we
are apt to give too much credit to the
power, shrewdness and wisdom of the
enemies of the republic. Its friends are
less voluble, perhaps, but have at their
backs the debt. holding conservative masses,
who are averse to turmoil and will resist to
the last any and all efforts to drag them
into civil war. These have not shown as
yet that they are deeply moved by the
vacillating course of the ministry, the
noisy cry of the agitators and the dissen.
sions in the chambers. We believe that
in this quiet of the masses, as opposed to
the fever of the metropolitan populace and
the pretensions of Orleanists, Bourbons
and Bonapartists and the contentious of
the politicians, is to be found the evidence
of the strength of the republic. Although
France to-day is in great danger, We shall
not lose faith in her present form of gov
eminent until revolution of arms has
actually set in, and not then, until the op-
posing elemeuts shall have conquered.