St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-22


the general state of affairs in France
continues an acute crisis. A number
of Republicans who formerly would not
see anything dangerous in Gen. Bou-
langer's proceedings now believe him
to be an instrument of royalist restora-
ton. Others, however, believe that
Boulanger is not so much a wOuld-be
monk as would-be Caesar. France has
three kinds of monarchical preteDders--
BOnapartist, Orleanist and LegitimlSt OF
the Spanish Bourbon branch. 1t is
sometimes said that there is safety In
multiplicity of pretenders. But, under
certain circumstances, this very state OF
affairs is to produce revolutionary
dictator, who would ''save the country
from mOnarchical reaction for the pur-
pose of his own elevation. The Repub--
lican party in parliament has at present
a decided majority, but it is split into
groups bitterly hostile to each other.
In the large towns the moderate Re-
publcans and the COmmunard ele-
ment are at loggerheads. Some of the
socialists, no doubt, are bitterly
hostile to Boulanger, but men like
Rochefort, who, though reckless, is not
really a communist, are, to the surprise
OF all sensible Republicans, still hand
and glove with the would-be dictator.
Another serious matter is that many
Republicans labor under the mistake
that their present difficulties are caused
by secret dealings of the German gov
ernment, and that in BOulanger's re-
cent election by so large majority they
see also the hand of Bismarck. Prince
Bismarck is known
TO BE NO SPECIAL FRIEND,
either of parliamentary government IN
his own country or OF the principle or
democratic institutions as a rule. But
in reference to France he unquestiona-
bly, wishes the maintenance OF the re-
public guarantee of peace. A mon
archial restoration or dictatorship would
armed conflict. All the unwarranted
talk about Bismarck's alleged secret
dealings with the republic is only apt
to feed the flame of chauvinism
in France and thus prepare
the way for military dictatorship.
1t is strange that so many French Re
publicans do not see this. They are
actually laying traps for themselves by
their groundlesS assertions. Whilst
thus promoting BOulangerism they at
the same time help to make to make
militarism a national necessity in Ger
many. The death of Emperor Freder-
lex just now would undoubtedly have
the effect of creating strong feeling OF
antipathy toward Prince Bismarck
throughout Germany, as it is generally
understood that the chancellor'S queS-
tionable policy in the matter OF the
union of Prince Victoria to Prince
Alexander had the effect of at least
Fastening the progress of the disease.
The emperor was satisfied with Prince
Alexander. There was a minor queS-
tion of court red tape. Prince Alex
ander'S mother did not belong to the
royal caste. But as there was no
QUESTION OF SUCCESSION
to the PrusSian crown, this point Of
genealogical pedantry could have been
dismissed. The objections of the czar
of Russia could possibly have been re-
moved by simply making Prince Alex
ander ineligible to the Bulgarian throne.
Still Prince Bismarck insisted
that such match was objection
able as well as politically incon-
venient, and that such union would
seem, naturally enough, to the car to
be the symbol of policy which Ger
many has hitherto officially disclaimed.
The whole policy of Prince Bismarck
since last December has been to avoid
doing anything which would give
Russia preteXt for attack upon him.
The alternative put to the emperor's
choice was between match which
he favored and policy of hostility to
Russia. In declining the match he was
understood in Russia to be afraid and at
home to have bowed to the dictatorship
of minister with whom he has no SYM
pathy. If he accepted it he ran the risk
not only of offending the czar, but of
being misunderstood by his own peo-
pie. The doctrine of an absolutely in
dispensable minister is merely the cloak
of despotism worse than that of any
monarch. The emperor held that bold
policy was better than weak one. and
that to ''be just and fear not'' was a
more worthy policy than to shrink
before an imperious neighbOr. Public
opinion in Germany has undergone
rapid change around to the emperor's
view during the past week, and that
Notwithstanding Prince Bismarck's
concilia tory policy towards Russia.
Prince Alexander will have only few
months to wait, as events in the East
by that time will settle the relations
between Germany and Russia indie
pendently of all personalities.