The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-08
The French Republic.

The instability OF affairs in France could not
be more strongly demonstrated than by the
fact that since 1870 there have been no less
than twenty-one changes OF ministry, and that
the term of office of each successive cabinet
has been steadily, with but one or two excep-
tions growing shorter-the average term of
each ministry being but little over seven
months. The French government itself has
also been subject to sudden and violent chan
ees Since 1899 the form OF government has
shifted twelve times; changing from republic
to empire from empire to monarchy, from
monarchy to republic, from republic to en-
pire and back again to the existing republic
which became the form OF government after
Sedan in 1870, and which thus far has shown
no greater evidences OF stability than It's pre-
decessors. The more stable forms OF govern
ment since the beginning OF the present cen
tury have been those of the monarchy under
Louis XVIII. Charles X and Louis Philippe,
and of the empire under the first and third
Napoleon. In no single instance has any
French government, since the first revolution,
lasted longer than eight cen years, and the ay-
erage term of the twelve governments that
have succeeded each other between 1899 and
1888 has been but seven years. 1t is by reason
of these frequent changes from Que form of
government to another that we are beginning
tc hear 1t predicted from many quarters that
Il
called upon to give place before long to some
other governmenl--it may be that of dicta-
tor, if the change is wrought by revolution, or
ola monarchy, under one of the Orleanist
princes, OF of an empire, with Bonaparte on
the throne. These are merely speculatiOns,
however, in which any one may indulge. But
whatever form the change may take, there
seems to be belief prevailing even among the
more thoughtful republicans The mseyes that
a popular reaction is setting in which will re-
auire greater strength to overcome and to turn
into more healthy channels than The existing
government is credited with possessing. The
Strength of a government that has any real
chance ofpermanency depends upon the con-
fidepce reposed in it by rural France, although
the reyolutionists inhabit the larger cities.
The greater part Of the lands i'll the provinces
is held by small proprietors-peasantp roprie-
tors. many of them-who till with their own
hands till their little Bit Of soil, and scrape and
save. and live on the humblest fare, either to
add another acre or to Two TO their holdings,
or to invest in a government loan and rise to
the dignity of small bondholder. These
neasant propretors constitute the strength of
any good government, and are Slow to help
change q bad one. The people Of the proyin
ces are religious people, and although they
NAV have welcomed the downfall OF the en-
pire and the advent OF the republic, large num-
bers of them haye been alienated from The lat
ter bv what they deem to be persecution OF
tie church, while they dread any increase in
the power of the radicals as a menace to prop
erty The Bonaparte manifesto would, no
doubt. have passed quietly into the limbo of
political absurdiles ii the government, by the
arrest OF Jerome Napoleon, and the Chamber
of DEPUTIES, by its frantic demand for the eX-
mission of pretenders, had not brought it into |
prominence But no manifestation can be re- |
garded as harmless which has caused the down |
fall of two ministries in quick succession. 1t
has also introduced into the Chamber OF Dep
uties new elements OF bitterness between the
factions into which that assembly is broken
up, and the result of which nas been TO bring |
the radicals more to the front and weaken the |
confidence. OF rural France in government
that has shown itself timiG and Facilitating at |
A time when it should have been vigorous and
fearless. At this time, and from these causes,
the state of affairs in France gives rise to
good deal of anxiety. The mere retirement OF
the Orleans princes from the army VIII not
satisfy the radicals in the Chamber, or the
communists and socialists outside OF 1t. The
expulsion of Jerome Bonaparte would only
increase the number of his adherents, while
the lenity demanded for the rioters OF Nor
ceaux les Mines, OF Lyons and other places,
and especially to the men no have been ia
miliarizng themselves with the use OF dyna- /
mile, has q tendency to rouse in the provin- |
cial population, the landowner, the peasant
proprietor and the shopkeeper desire for
Change, and ready acquiescence in any
change that will put strong man at the head
of the government. Things are not yet crlll-
cal, and the unexpected 80 often happens in
France that the opinion of to-day may be talsi-
fed by the events of tomorrow. All that can
be said just now is that the government Is I
drifting towards the rocks, and that 1t Will re-
quire more skillful steering than it has hao as
yet to keep it clear Of them.