The Portland daily press., 1883-11-07

NATIVE representative of the London Times
was recognized, called by his name, and as
be passed about, looking as though the fate
of Europe depended upon his getting
good place, was laughed at heartily. AS to
the other correspondent, he saw through
the eyes of the Alfonsist Gaulois, as a COM
parison OF his despatch with the report given
in the French journal of the kings recep-
ton will show. There were very few roughs,
there was positively no menacing rowdyism,
but there were intense and universal irony
and sarcasm. Paris begged Alfonso to ac-
cept the expression uf it's thorough contempt
as believe New York would have done
too. if he had landed there under similar
circumstances. Perhaps it was impolite to
do so. But what great public manifesto
ton of anger ever was polite? The throw
ing of the tea into Boston harbor was,
have no doubt, censured by many staid
and convention bound New Highlander as a
crazy act, and it certainly would have been
treated as such by all grave historians if
Washington had been defeated by King
Georges troops.
What did the Parisians see in King Alton
SOS state visit? A whole lot of things. 1t
was stone intended to knock down
whole flock of birds. Certainly, the minis
try hoped by parading Don Alfonso in the
streets, at the Opera House, and at a review
at Long-champs, to divert attention from
Tonquin and to get up a current of feeling
which would initiate against the Clemen-
cist Radicals, who have been triumphing at
all the partial elections for the Chamber. I
do not believe that M. Jules Ferry himself
or any of his leading colleagues wanted to
| facilitate an Orleanist restoration by parad-
ing king in state through the great thor
oughfares. But this idea was in the heads
OF the lukeWarm and money getting Repub-
licans whose views are expressed in the De-
bats and Temps. 1t was also harbored by
those shady Gambettists who attached
themselves to Gambetts when he was at
the top of the wheel and not before, and
who succeeded in isolating him from those
friends who followed him in difficult times.
M. Leon Renault and M. Herrison saw IN
the kings visit an occasion for promoting
financial schemes. 1t was an understood
thing that Alfonso, although here 'sofficial-
ly, was to run down for day to the Cha
teau 'Eu to visit prince who wanted to
put himself forward at the Comte de Cham
bord's funeral as the legitimate king of
France. A large and brilliant party of
Royalists had been asked to meet the Span
ish king. This part of his majesty's pro-
grsmme, | believe, grated more on the
nerves of the Parisians than even the colo
nelcY OF the Schleswig- Holstein Uhlans
1t was foolish thing for the Government
to ask Alfonso to come here officially The
modern French heart has a vast capacity
for the worship of heroes, but none what
ever for kings whose majesty is, thing of
mere convention. 1t was also very stupid
to give out that the whole of the streets
from the northern terminus to the Spanish
Embassy, in the Rue Dominique ST. Ger
main, were to be lined with troops, and
that grand review was to be held in the
Bois de Bouloene in honor of the royal vsi-
TOR. ms was as sure way to draw a
| crowd of persons whose hearts were ifif1amed
with anger against him, as rubbing him
with honey would have been to attract flies
and wasps. When his carriage ride through
Paris was likely to assume spectacular
form, people could not help rushing to wit
ness ii. But knowing that their curiosity
would be taken by all those who openly
or secretly wish for the destruction Of the
republic as sign that monarchical feeling
was springlng up again, they determined to
manifest their true sentiments. This they
did without violence and excepting the
hawkers of Red journals and of catch-penpv
attacks on the royal strangely With ut sour
rility. Every one laughed. There were
many cries of "There goes the Uhlan king"
why does he not wear the pointed
casque%' give la republiquer' "Viya
PEspagnesp give Grevyr' But not
word about Marfori, the Casa de Campo af-
fair, the Duchess of Medina Celi, Blanche
Espronceda or other scandals They be-
longed to the private life of Alfonso and did
not concern the Parisians All the latter
set up to judge were certain public acts
which had close connection with his visit.
The Judgment was merited. That admir-
able orator and thorough gentleman, Caste
lar, thinks it was, and expresses this opn
ion in his Journal He also saws that he es-
teens the Parisians more highly for having
made Alfonso feel that his room was more
welcome than bis company. Why should a
great nation bear being walked upon by this
k1ngling? If he had not been received as he
was by the crowds drawn by the promise of
street spectacle into the thoroughfares by
which he passed. the whole anti-Republican
press would have drawn the inference from.
the respectful curiosity that even Paris was
sick Of the republic, and longed to see the
old royal line restored. Blowitz and the
other aspiring Christianized Jews of the
London press would have been jubilant, and
made believe that Philippe VII had only to
show himself to be acclaimed. The other
daflies, whose perception of what is right is
stronger than their courage to express it,
would have followed the lead of Printing
House square and Peterborough court.
They would have found excuses for doing so
in the Debats articles, written by another
Israelite in whom there is deep fund of
knowingness if not of guile-M. Gabriel
Charmes; and in others which the public
might trust M. Hebrard to bring out in the
Temps.
This would have suited Prince Bismarck
better than anything else. All his agents
here are now trying to make believe that the
Comte de Paris will soon be king With
what object? With the object of frighten-
ing the German people, and so leading
quiet life and having everything his own
way in Parliament But in what way could
the Germans be alarmed at, the prospect of
an Orleanist restoration? 1t is very easy to
understand. The idea is encouraged land
it rests ON substratum of truth) that
France is without monarchical allies because
she is republic. Her republicanism has
set against her most of the courts of Eu
rope. Therefore, were monarchical form
OF government to be revived, Germans would
hear and believe that they would have to
look out for themselves and trust rather to
their own military force than to alliances
Italy, furthermore, would be scared by the
advent to power of Bourbon prince. who
would have to buy the support Of the Jesu-
its and The Legitimists by advancing the in
terests of his cousins of Parma and of Ma
pies, of the pope, and of Don Carlos in