Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-28
TRANCE.

The death of the last of the Bouapa
| and the recent trouble with China, though
| events in themselves of no connect N
whatever, have served, each in its own way,
| o direct the eyes of the world again to that
| restless, volatile, advcnturesome French
nation, against which all Europe is constant
~, though quietly, on its guard. The Re
public Of France--wc almost marvel it is still
called Republic. For twelve years it has been
threatened with cNtiuction-the flame of pa
| trioic resolve blown this way and thai
by every kind of public excitement and party
enthusiasm and the Vaccinations of foreign
foes. 1t is a wonder that the third Republic
OF France is alive to-day, and had it not beer
| for the unparalleled wisdom and fidelity of
| the Republican statesmen of the nation, the
| expected period of anarchy would long since
have begun. As it is the French Republic
| has most doubtful tenure of life. There is
| her great rival Germany, very watchful
for an opportunity to block the wheels
| of national prosperity aud to en-
| courage dissentions from within Germany,
ever alert for fresh opportunities of aggran-
| dizement, if need be, at the point of the
sword Ii the statesmen of France had
| been as hot-b.oo led as her people, the in
sul's Of Bismarck would long since have
provoked the nation to war. There too arc
| the foes within the camp-the Bonapartis.s,
the Lcgitimists and the Socialists each fac.
| ton eager for the downfall Of the Republic.
But it may be that one OF the very reasons
OF the stability of the Republic is to be found
| in the existence of these factions. Their mu.
| tual hatred is such that, rather than see
one of their number triumph, the others will
unite to uphold the Republic. The very
| chiyary of the factions is favorable to the
| republic, The crisis of 1873 Is an instance
in question. The Monarchists, under the
| Due dc Broglie, obtained the upper hand
and compelled Theirs to resign. MacMa
Ion, a servle Monarchist, was elected in his
stead, Then was formed the plot to over
throw the republic and proclaim the Count
De Chambord King. Fortunately he was
more sentimental than ambitious, and, refus-
Ing the tri-coor, the republic was saved.
The Monarchisls soon flew apart and the
Republicans under the splendid leadership
Of Gambetta, soon obtained the mastery.
MacNlahon was compelled to form a Rcpub.
lean Cabinet, Again did this persistent en-.
envy q the republic strive by every means
with the great power given him TO foist a
monarchy upon France, but the Republicans
of all shades of opinion forgot their dissen.
sions, and withdrew from him and his Co
conspirators.
Many thought that the fate of France
was sealed by the death of Gambct-
Ia. The rapid changes in the ministry
and The activity and braggadocio of the
monarchists seemed for Time to he full
tilmcnt of the prophecy, but the bombastic
pronunc,amento of Plon-Po called the Re-
pnbllcans to their senses, and the result of
the awakening is now to be seen in the strong
government of Jules Ferry.
The Republic shows a wonderful record of
good fortune and good craftsmanship from
the beginning. 1t this extraordinarily for
tunate condition of affairs Can be prolonged,
il may be that the Republic will outlive its
foes, 81 long ms France is de-
Ic;mined TO adhere to the policy
OF peace, there can be no Franco. German