The National tribune., 1892-11-17

will again give scope for the decorative genius
| of the Frenchman. These little sketches will
serve to show with what lavishness the Paris
| ians have spent money in identifying their
city. 1t has not been constructed by Apollo
| simply playing his flute, as we read in mythol-
| ogy, but everything represents hard and per-
| sistent labor.
The best view of city and surrounding coun-
try is obtained from the top of the Eiffel Tower
| that browning monument to the genius Of the
French. After one has been taken up the 900
| feet to the top platform be begins to feel the
magnitude of the structure capable of holding
10000 people on the different platforms The
city looks just like panoramic view. People
walking along look like midgets moving about.
"Republique Francois" These are the words
which seem to strike a sympathetic chord in
the heart of the American. He Immediately
feels at home. At last he is in a country
where Kings and their courts are no more.
Then the next thing noticed is the words
"Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite" These magic
words assail his sight from every public build
ing, above the portals of all churches, and in
prominent place on all official proclamations.
Liberty, that is something; but equality, that is
adecided transatlantic idea. It's not European,
yet to find that here especially pleases the
Americans. He retraces the foundation of
that doctrine back to our own Revolution.
frances tribute of the Bartholdi Statue to
America is grateful acknowledgment OF the
real origin of their republican ideas
Yes, there is liberty; that is, freedom from
royal and imperial arrogance and imposition.
There is equality; every one can aspire to the
highest Offices. Birth is no longer the magic
key 10 fame as it once was. That was las we
hope finally settled at the establishment of the
present Republic. English newspapers, that
dislike to grant anything to republican insti-
f,,fs hot, i,,t hah i.tpr IF
has there been such uniform prosperity dur
ing the past 20 years. This is praise from
unwilling source and is all the more valuable
The Republic is becoming more and more
firmly settled. The monarchsts no longer
make a bold face, as they are losing the support
of the people. None of them have proved
themselves worthy the position they aspire to-
Yet, in one sense, there is not liberty accord
ing to the full American Interpretation. There
is a military yoke which bears heavily on the
people. Everything is bent to a military
standard. Soldiers are omnipresent. Barracks
and stations are located in all convenient places
Every male citizen must undergo military
training of four years. The whole is ruled
with as strong hand as ever an Emperor at
tempted. All barracks, magazines, military
schools, etc, are surrounded by an impossible
corridor of ofiicialism. Woe be to the too-cu-
Tious newspaper correspondent. lie is liable
to be packed off to the border some fine day
and told not to return, just as the Military
Attache of the u. s. Legation in Paris was re-
called at the request Of the French Government
for knowing too much about the army.
At another time, when have collected more
data, / will tell just what is the effective
strength of the French army, and what it
could probably do In the event OF the bursting
of the war cloud ever lowering over Europe.
The history of Paris has been a very event
ful one. No city of modern times has wit
messed such scenes of mob violence as this
metropolis. There is no need to 20 back as far
even as the St. Bartholomew massacre to find
tragic events. The history of the past century
:.ione has furnished the scenes Of some terrible
dramas In that time, besides foreign wars,
there has been two revolutions and one com.