The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-18

is now a pretty old fox and very clever
one, But when the same fox has been start
ed several times the merest tyro in the noble
art of fox-hunting can tell almost to
a certainty how, where and how often
double or turn to the right or left may be
expected. Bismarck is now merely repeat
ing his tactics in 1863 1866 and 1870. In
1868 Bismarck adroitly frustrated any chance
of common action by England and France
when their good understanding would have
prevented the spoliation OF Denmark. He
induced the reluctant Austrian cabinet to
act in Holstein, on the ground that it was
the vital interest of the two great German
powers to unite for the purpose of putting
curb upon dangerous democratic tendencies.
In 1866 Bismarck's audacity, tempered by
his habtual prudence, made Austria appear
to be the aggressor against the rights of the
German people, whereas, in reality, the boot
was on the other leg. In 1870 he drew out
Napoleon on false scent about the Spanish
throne. Napoleon, taking issue upon this
lmmaterlal point, found himself in
position where he was forced to de-
clare war against Prussia or be upset by a
revolution in Paris. And now Prince Bis
marck is using the Chinese bait and the Rus
sian decoy to prepare the same old snare for
the French republic which, from his point of
view, Is permanent source of contagion to
the rest of Europe. Prince Bismarck knows
that the majority of Frenchmeo want peace,
and only those who have everything to gain
and nothing to lose now worship glory and
Chauvinism in France. Heknows that when
the bourgeoise and the peasant proprietors
who, after all, constitute the governing class
in France, find that their republican govern
ment is plungng them into a war with a
great country like China they will cast off
the republic just as they did the pire.
The French republic has always been the
bette noir of all crowned heads. Probably
nothing could happen at the present mo-
ment in Europe that would so gladden. the
heart of Prince Bismarcks imperial master
as its overthrow.
The only alternative would be Bourbon
restoration, No doubt Don Carlos would
suit Bismarck better than the Count de
Paris. But Don Carlos is impossible, and
even the grandson of Louis Philippe would
be better than the republic. [ say no other
alternative is possible, because, by a simple
process, there has been an elimination of le
gitimacy as understood by the Count de
Chamb bord, and imperialism has been put
an end to by Prince Napoleon. He drove a
big nail into his political coffin by his mani
festo and fiasco of last winter, and on Friday
he seemed to have clinched this nail by
statements during an interview with a
Figaro reporter-statements that cannot fail
to recall Dogberry. The Prince said:
My conduct depends entirely upon the
duct of the Count de Paris. II the Count de
Paris does nothing I shall do nothing. That
would be like answering a letter that had not
yet been received. If the Count de Paris issues
a manifesto l shall issue a manifesto. If the
Count de Paris leans toward the Right I shall
lean toward the Left. II the Count de Paris
adopts as his programme the will of his father,
the Duke of Orleans, then shall go, if need be,
as far as socialism.
This speaks for itself. Everybody knows
that the Count de Paris is too sensible man
ever to make the slightest move against the
republic under the 8gis of which he enjoys
his rights and privileges With one or two
exceptions it is true that, like any other
Frenchman, he has no need to plot. His
enemies manage to advertise him sufficient
iy, and the more the people learn
about him, whether in corners or in public
places, rebounds to his credit. Fortune often
steered. 1t must be borne in mind that the
complications of China cannot fail to bring
about reaction OF some sort in France.
Several of the wisest statesmen of Europe
believe that events in China may prove the
signal to set the ball rolling.
The Holy Alliance and the compact of
divine right at Laibach was followed by the
revolutions of 1848 and the consequent hegira
of crowned heads-Kaiser Wilhelm himself
riding away from Berlin disguised as a pos
tilion. Just as the holy alliance of 1883 is
stronger and more solid than that of 1875 so
will the coming reaction be more far-reach-
ing and intense than that of 1S48, for the ex-
plosive force of revolutions, like that OF gun
powder, is in mathematical proportion to the
resistance,