Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-16
THE FRENCH CRISIS.

The situation in France seems to be
quite critical, and far too grave for per-
sifage. President Carnot has hitherto
escaped the breath of scandal, and has
occupied position at once conservative
and digni6ed, and such aa won him the
respect of the world. 1t now appears
that he also must be swept into the
filthy purview of the Panama canal
infamy. In his case, as in that OF
Grevy, he is compromised by relatives.
Carnot's predecessor was man of con-
spicuous worth, but his son-in-law,
been concerned in the sale of decora-
tions; and the aged president of the
republic. overwhelmed with shame,
resigned. MacMahon, also, found his
position untenable, and was glad to
escape to private life by resignation.
Should Carnot, in like manner, resign
the presidency, as he talks OF doing,
there will adhere to this exalted office
remarkable number of unlucky tradi-
tions. 1t is true that. in the case
MscMahon, there were no imputations
resting upon his honor, but he found
the atmosphere of the French capital as
trying as that OF Sedan.
There is something exceedingly dra-
matte and sensational in the history OF
France during the past hundred years.
After sweeping away the monarchy and
guillotining the unfortunate Louis XVI.
and his queen, the Dantons. Marats,
Barreres and Robespierres gave place to
the directory, that in turn to the con-
sulate, to be followed by the first en-
pire. Then came the restoration on old
Bourbon lines, to be succeeded by the
short-lived regime of Charles X. Then
came the citizen king, followed by the
republic, to be again succeeded by the
garish empire Of Napoleon III. There
geucy, the committee of public safety
and the republic followed in rapid order.
The retrospect is quite bewildering. In
this single century in this single coun-
try we have enumerated more startling
changes, embodying more striking epi-
sodes, than are embodied in any 800
years of the worlds history. The
changes are almost lightning in their
suddenness, while the gravity of the is
sues involved have not been surpassed
in human affairs.
1. is impossible to disguise the fact
that the morals of French public men
have deteriorated greatly, even during
the present generation. While the ma
ton itself has shown a patriotism OF the
most exalted type, sublimated often to
the point of fanaticism, and always
characterized by q genuine love OF
country, the statesmen evolved during
the past thirty or forty years have ex-
emplifed the bad effects of the moral
atmosphere OF Paris. The people of the
United States did we'll to take the cap
ital of their country from the compro-
missing surroundings OF New York and
Philadelphia and select for the site OF
the government little corner of land
between Virginia and Maryland. Had
the seat of the government OF France
been located in some small city OF the
interior, the statesmen Of France would
not have been subjected to the democrat
izing splendors of the gayest metropolis
of the world. This appears to be the
only real explanation of series of
scandals, one succeeding another, that
have scarcely a parallel in any govern
ment any where.
Meanwhile the Lowe affair shows that
Germany has not altogether escaped
scandal. The system of washing official
dirty linen in private has protected that
empire measurably from disclosures
which would be very mortifying to the
pride of Emperor William.