The record-union., 1891-10-26
THE FIVE LIONS OF FRANCE.
A Figurative Representation of the
French Political Situation.


IF had to depict figuratively in q man
ner that would be striking to the eye the
present state of parties in France l should
draw large circle in which would be rep
resented live lions. France is PROSTATE
in the middle of the circle. The largest
| Of the lions-the present republic, mod
crate, reassuring, but yet uneasy-eX-
tends her two immense paws over the
body OF France. This lion has its head
erect, its eyes wide open and anxious; 1t
dareS not lower its head to deVour Its
prey for fear of seeing the others rush
upon it to dispute its booty. On the left,
its right paw almost touching France, Is
the radical lion. The aspect Of this lion
is less assuring. 1t has already drawn
near enough to touch the body OF France,
but has not yet ventured to place its paw
on the coveted prey. 1t prevents the re-
| publican lion from setting its teeth into
the flesh. 1t is waiting and watching.
At the first sleep of the republican lion 1t
will, with a bound, seize on the booty,
readyto show its teeth and to drive ot
| the present republic. The lion OF anarchy
OF all shades, from radicaiiSm to social
ism, to permanent revolution, to coniis-
cation, to political murder, TO SpoLation,
to the complete ruin of the country, is
watching behind the radical lion for a
moment Of weakness in order to seize on
France and inilict on it a mortal wound.
| 4
of monarchy looks on from a distance,
watching without ardor or conviction.
| lying in ambush without hope. Hungrier
and yet further Off is the lion of the en-
pire, lean and furnished, awaiting the
moment when France, abandoned and
unresisting, viii roll towards it, having
no longer the strength to snatch herself
from its grasp, the inert prey of whoever
IS ready 10 seize on 1t. ct in reality
despite the metaphor of the five lions,
there are, besides the moderate Republi-
can party IN power, only two parties as
piring to Ot1ice-the monarchy and the
empire. The radical party would main
tam the etiigy Of the republic, but would
compromise its existence by disturbing
security, alarming interests, provoking
and strengthening the reaction, and Civ
ing the leVeling socialist party, the an
archlst party, and the permanent revolu-
tonary party a force and an audacity
which would throw the immense ma
Jorlty OF the nation into the arms of re-
action. The republic cannot last and
take root except by remaining for some
generations reassuring as well as pro-
gressist. Any violent policy would de-
stroy 1t, and thus, under the radical min
lstry OF NJ. tlOquet, the Boulangists, COM
posed Of all the scum of other parties
having no programme but the satisfac-
tiOn OF iamished appetites, all but seized
upon France, with charlatans pdnache
as flag, and with 100000 francs as an
army OF conquest. When the Boulangist
party fell to pieces its staff became ANAL
gamated with the dregs of the anarchists
and Bonapartists. Those monarchists
who had joined it have returned to mon
archy, though too dIscredited to cut any
hgure, despite their efforts to eiface the
recollection of the bad company with
which they have miXed.-Harper's Mag
aZine.