New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-27


Longsmans, Green Co.
The writing by an American OF a DOCK III
tended to demonstrate that the mass OF the
French ncople are not republican and that, out
side of Paris and the great cities generally the
monarchical system of government is still mat
which appeals most strongly to popular sympathy
IS a sufficiently remarkable and parad0Xlcal phe-
aomenon 10 challenge attention and careful fA-
animation Mr. Hurlbert, however. goes 1urther
Than this He endeavors to make IL appear not
only that monarchsm is favored above repup-
lcanism by the French people. but that IL is
rightly so favored because it is the best form oil
government for France. and that which In the
past has done the most for the country. Inc
method employed by Mr.. Hurlbert for setting
forth his conclusions and the evidence on which
they rest is decidedly ingenious. and II Is &c.
sirable to examine this method somewhat closely
before proceeding to consider his arguments ana
deductions. inasmuch as the value of these latter
will be seen to depend largely upon the manner
in which they have been obtained and the order
IN which they are arranged. The book is made
in a peculiar FORM The gist of 1.-THE gravamen-
lies in the introduction. Here are assembled all
and some NAV think more than all-the con-
illusions drawn from the observations, converse
tions literary citations and references and de-
scrptive and statistical passages which constitute
the bulk of the volume Mr. Hurlbert makes an
almost ostentatious show of frankness in pointing
out the methods he has followed. This volume
he SAYS lis neither diary nor a narrative
II is simply a selection from my very full
memoranda of series Of visits paid to different
parts of France during the year 1889. HIS
motives for making these visits he goes on TO
state was the fact that what it has become the
fashion to call parliamentary government or.
,le tlA ol-ad frp1n n
of the affairs of great people by the directly
elected representatives of the people, is now
formally on its trial in France We do not live
under this form of government in the United
States but as thoughtLess tendency toward this
form of government has shown itself Of late years
Even in the United States and much more strongly
in Great Britain. thought it worth while TO see
it at work and form some notion Of its results
in France"
With this purpose in view Mr.. Hurlbert travelled
over France His visits were extended TO Nancy
in the east of France. to the frontiers Of Belgium
and the coasts of the English Channel IN the
north, 10 Rennes. Nantes and Bordeaux in the
west. and 10 Toulouse, Mines and Aries in the
south" Then follows this significant passage
Il went nowhere without the certainty of meet
ing persons who could and would put me IN the
way of seeing what wanted to see and learning
the introduction Mr. Hurbert declares that his
book lis not a treatise but record ; that it is
not intended TO maintain preconceived thesis.
but simply to indicate the grounds on which
I have myself come to certain conclusions and
convictions Nevertheless, it is TO be noted
that there is a singular accord between the Wit
nesses brought forward With few exceptions
they appear to be monarchists and cerlcals
and since it cannot be imagined that so sagacions
an inquirer Mr.. Hurlbert seriously contemplated
a course of promiscuous Intervening among
the 100000 French people, the curious
accord noticed would seem to point to such Il
judicious choice of testimony as could be relied
upon TO bear all in the same general direction
Now it is certainly odd that an observer having
no prepossessions should have adopted this method
Of proceeding; and possibly unre1ectins IeadefS
might be led to the assumption that the unanimity
of the statements presented indicated an over
whelming preponderance of monarchical sentiment
in France Such an assumption would, however.
be equally rash and misleading. as a moments
Thought must show. For it is clear that what
ever the apparent drift of French opinion sci
forth In this volume may be- it does not correspond
AT all to the apparent facts of the situation.
In effect France has accepted and does accept me
Third Republic In effect the vote OF the monarch
lists represents a poweress minority. In chec'
the French masses appear content VITA rcpuo-
licanism. and exhibit no pronounced tendency 10
revert to the hereditary principle
We do not accuse Mr. IIurlbcrt OF deliberate
INSTRUMENTATION. We simply desire to call at
tenton to the fact-the very obvious lact-'hf'
he has obtained his examples of public OPINION al
most wholly from representatives OF one poh'icai
party His witnesses have all lost confidence IN
The Republic. They have nearly all lost con
loCa ut lost
adence in the Monarchy Yet the failure of tie
first and second republics can hardly be SAID TO
have been more emphatic and complete than that
~ the Restoration and Second Empire and the
proofs of the capacity OF monarchy TO do Tor
France what republicanism and imperialism failed
N do are so imperfect and generally irrelevant
ne 70 make il apparent that partisanshlp has sup
ljed the placc of cool reason with the majority OF
the persons consulted by Mr.. Hurlbcrt. The whole
situation indeed, must be Transparent enough 70
any shrewd politician. Nothing is c,sier. at any
time and in any country governed by parties man
TO procure a strong indictment OF the slde III
power at the hands of the opposition. III such
cases the men in power are apt 10 Ne much less
vrulcnt in their animosity than the minority, VINO
feel a necessity for letting off the steam some
how. and are doubtless considerably relieved
when they have 'berated their successful OPP
ronents numerically. foreigner coming 4"
the United States such mission as Mr.. Iiurl-
bert's would find no difficulty in obtaining evil
dence from Democratic sources-such evidence,
that is, as passes muster in hot campagn-show-
ing that all the Republican leaders were criminals
Of the deepest dye; that their policy was sinister
and unpatrotic; that they were unfrustworthy
IN every way. If on the other hand the inquirer
turned for information 70 the Republicans. nc
would speedily acquire knowledge calculated to
mt him on his guard against Democratic state
ments. and supposing him cautious and lntelh-
cent man. he would very likely conclude that the
contract he had undertaken was altogether too
large for him.
Not so Mr.. Hurbert, however. The monarch
lists have had his ear completely ana naturally
enough they have persuaded nm tha' 'he frehch
n.orle cherish an occult passion for the monarchy