Daily Republican., 1883-07-19
England and France.

land and France is so marked as to
cause anxious thoughts and fears to
those who desire to live in peace with
all the world. 1t is serious matter to
see two such powerful nations drifting
gradually into war, especially when it
is known that d war between England
and France would involve the wboe OF
Europe before it would be over. The
differences between these two great
nations are the results attending the
occupation of town in Madagascar by
the French and the tendency of absC-
lutte control of the Suez canal by the
English, but the differences on these
subjects do not threaten revival of the
old i'll feeling Of the Napoleonic age.
That was rather the outgrow h of con-
ditions antecedent and long existing.
The two nations had been rivals in
ever part of the world for a share in
the new colonization and the resulting
commerce. Their natural characters
tics were marked by wide differences
and it was only during the present GEL
GRAFTON that the old prejudice has dis.
appeared. But they had the same form
of ofgovernment. Kingly power was not
threatened by either nation and had it
been, they would have united to resist
the aggressor. The growth of the Re-
public and the marked favor with
which the people hail Republican
form Of government is what now dis
turbs the serenity Of the soul OF Eng
land and other European powers The
establishment of the French Repub-
lie has had marked influence on Eng
land The growth of Democracy has
been 50 rapid that it has long been pre-
dicted that Republic would eventual
ly result in England from the spread of
this sriri>. The conservative elements
of English society have therefore long
look, d with alarm upon the establish
ment Of a Republic on the other side of
the channel. The associations of the
English and French have been greater
than the associations of England with
America, because of the short distance
between them. A steamboat ride of
few hours from Eng land to France is no
more than ride from Baltimore to
Norfolk.
On the one side Of the comparatively
narrow channel is the strongest mon
archy in Europe, and on The other side
is the Strong gest Republic in the world
excepting the United States. AS mon
archy and republicanism are antipodes
of each other it Is 20 more than
ma .ural that a collness of feeling should
he en- Dgrndercd between them. Nearly
ten years ago, long before he became
President, NJ. Grevy asserted his be
lief that if the French Republic could
secure tenure of twenty-five years it
would result in turning England into a
Republic. Since that time Republi-
Can Government has secured a hold in
France from which it would be difficult
to disGodge it, and the feeling that NJ
Grevy's prediction was on the way of
fulfilment would naturally lead the
conservative devotees of royalty to wei
come anything which promised to shake
the existing form Of government across
the channel. This would also be in
tensitied by the influence which the
Radicals are securing in English poll
tics and their well known attachment
to the French Republic. But this
change which is going on in favor OF
Etpuh!caisIn, will not be permitted
to turn England into I Republic with
out Violent struggle. The defeat ofI
the late Emperor NAPOLEON at Sedan
turn,d France into aKrpublicand should
hostiities break out between England
and France decisive defeat would turn
England into a Republic.
But can we anticipate success for
France if war was 10 break out be-
tween the two great nations" 1t won Il |
be expecting rather too much. A war
L.tvr,n nunarrhisIn and republicans
ism IN Europe would in all probability,
result disaNtrouSly TO tn" French Re
public, tor in such Il conflict all the
crowned heals OF Europe would be in
sympathy with England. In such
conflict a ray Of light comes out Of the /
darkness IN favor Of Republican rule
England has the Radicals and the Irish |
AS di-rOrd mt elements III her govern
ment. Germany has The Liberals to
contend with and Russia has the Nj
hili>ts. a these factions if permitted
to follow the bent Of their own incli-
nations will be found arrayrd against
nOnarchical government. It cannot be
denied that the tendency Vf he times
is toward tepublicanisn, Education
and genera diifu ion Of knowledge al
leau III 1Eat direction, and as the light
Of science and civilization spreads over
the world the greater will be- the long
in-S Of the people for more liberty and
halce to govern themselves Every
railroad hui!t, every telegraph line r,.
tahIi,h,d, every school house built, com
biLc- to weaken ,nonarchies and
s,r'L.'h,n E1uhIjr5.
\ fhc Ir'scrt time we would trrmhe
fo. IL, tate ot France in an encounter
viii ',.n Enrli-h, Thee differences
wlIth i,w exist promise TO ripcn in
to "r"u hoetIIj'jr, and they will unieN
there is Uur>pHcd lru for Fran