The record-union., 1892-06-01
MODERN REVOLUTIONS
Some of the yicissitudes of the French
Republic


The neglected intellectual condition of
the peasant population had been main
cause of the destruction of the French
Republic IN l648. Another cause was the
1mpractlcable communistic theory which
had gained hold on numerically small
but ardently active group of Democrats.
whose propaganda eliminated ut Paris in
the terrible street battles OF June, 1S4S
1t IS now well-established historical
fact that Bonapartst and Royalist agents
mad helped TO fan the flame of this insur-
rectlon for purposes of their own. Victor
Schoelcher, the veteran French Senator,
proved this years ago; and Louis Blanc,
too, socialist as he was, ackno wiedged it.
Add to this that, unhappily.
the Republican party, in great many of
lts members, was tainted then with the
poncy OF conquest in the direction of the
hhlne. From such policy to C9sarism
Is but a step. Republicans and Bonapart-
lists had often been mixed up in com
mon conspiracy, both under the Bourbon
restoration and under Louis Philippe.
10 tear up the treaty of lSl5''-by which
Germany, after all, had simply reacuuired
portion OF her own, and the y Netherlands
had been restored to her independence
was q common expression OF French
Democrats and Imperialists for many
years. | have had bitter personal expe-
rlence of this state of feeling among my
4 -SAiSAi iIiOiiuSs w llllSJ uDuOlUlnG Ulelr
republican cause III public | had many a
private encounter with them on this
hankering after the Rhine frontier all
along the river With frequent entreaty
L urged the better-minded among them,
shortly before the war OF 1870, to do all in
their power toward preventing an out
break Ofhostilties, las it could only en-
tail a signal defeat, and a well-merited
one, upon their country" None of them
believed III this latter possibility,
The German victories practically gave
France the Republic. Much has been
done within the last few years to found a
thorough system Of popular instruction;
and that is one of the most promising
features OF the present commonwealth
let priestlings rage as much as they like
against a Goddess Republic" In the
interest Of European freedom in general
we must hope that that which has been
regalned through defeat on the battlefield
Will not be jeopardiZed anew through
senseless military adventures. A French
YICtory-the most unlikely thing in such
case-would saddle France with the
rule OF a successful General, when once
more the Republic would go down. A
renewed overthrow Of French arms
which may be predicted with safety
would be the overthrow also Of the sys-
tenn Of government under " hich the de-
feat had taken place. Napoleon l., when
beaten, was followed bya Bourbon resto-
ration. Napoleon Ill, when beaten, was
followed by the Republic. The Republic.
il beaten, would have to make way for
royaiist regime. All sensible well-wish-
ers Of progress anXiously desire. there
fore, the maintenance OF peace, rejoicing
meanwhile i'll the continued existence OF
the third Republic, which has already
outIived the usual span OF life of the va
riOus forms of government in France
since her great revolutiOn.-Karl Blind,
in North American Review.