Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-25
Tne rrenoh UomplIcations.

/ III Paris passes through the Christmas
holidays without witnessing riot and
bloodshed IL will be more than great
many who have watched the drift OF
events in France expect. There is hardly
a doubt that the nation IL on the verge OF
an upheaval "a great ms that which pre-
coded the establishment of the first re-
pubic: but, after all, IL may be that the
very diversity of the forces at work to pro-
duce disorder may save the country from
anarchy and q radical change in the form
of government.
Were there only two factions in France.
Republican and Monarchist. or Republi-
can and Imperialist, it would not DO over
hazardous TO assert that the days OF the
republic were numbered. Never was
government so honeycombed with rotten
ness and venality as the present one In
France In whatever direction the Pana-
ma canal searob-light IL turned 1t reveals
fresh evidence of the fact that the people
have been the prey of stupendous system
of organized robbery. To say that pro-
vInciaI France is disguised with the bleed
ing process to which the nation has been
subjected in order to gorge deputies, min
listers. newspaper proprietors, and others
does not express the feeling outside OF
Paris. There is no question that the situa-
ton would afford the opportunity OF the
man on Observation-Disclosures he were In
periallst or Monarchist-were he con-
fronted only by the adberents of the re-
public.
But in the jealousy existing between the
Monarchists and the Imperialists-the for
mer represented by tho Duke Of Orleans
or the Count of Paris, and the latter by
Prince VICTOR BoNAPARTE-is the hope that
tho republic will weather the storm. IL Is
not probable that either of the elements
opposed to the republic could cope singly
with the government If 1t be true, as
stated, that President CAENoT can de-
pend upon the majority of the army.
Nevertheless, should the Royalists and
Imperialists reconcile their differences
subordinate their jealousies 10 the one OBJ
ject of Oyerthrowing the republic and
agree upon q leader-the loyalty of the
army would become q very uncertain fac
tor in the calculations of the powers that
be. The masses in France, with oil their
good qualities. are still at heart hero-wor-
shippers. This was demonstrated no later
than during the BoULASGEB movement
They do not forget that it was not under
the flag of the republic that the great
est glory OF France was achieved. His
tory might repeat itself so far as
the military spirit of the people is
concerned were n masterful hand ac-
ceptabe to all factions in favor of strong
government to show itself in the crisis.
However, as yet there are no signs of an
Imperialist and Nonsrchlst treaty and con-
centration upon a leader. and there is still
a beacon Of promise for CABNoT N the fact
that French political excitement frequent
" subsidies as rapidly as it rises. The
principal fear. therefore, is that the gov
eminent may mako some mistake that will
encourage the Paris mob TO rise, throw 70
the surface the Communlstic and Anarch-
ist factions and inagrrate another reign OF
incendiarism and pillage. Certainly all
true friends of france would breathe freer
if they were satisfied that the army could
be depended upon in that event. Should
the army fail to cooperate heartily IN
efforts 10 restore order the effect would DO
to stimulate immensely the designs of the
enemies Of the republic in the future. On
the other hand, a summary repression of
any outbreak would be a staggering blow
to the hopes Of both the Monarchists and
the Imperialists.