Morning journal and courier., 1893-03-24
France and the Rest of Europe.
president Andrews OF Brown University in I
Bcstor watchmAnl

lfEcsA-Chb VI DEONu
Boston watchman.l
Notwithstanding all the difficulties of the
hour, there is no possibility of an over
throw of the French republic. Tho French
thoroughly believe in their form of govern
ment, as, indeed, g majority of them have
done ever since the frst revolution. The
French nation contains virtue enough, IL II
can only be brought to the plane of power.
There seems to be in French civil life Just
now q singular lack of men possessing high
character combined with ability. To gov
ern France we'll, a new generation of men
will have 10 grow mp. The army, on the
other hand, is In splendid condition. No
one wants war, at least at present ''oa-
ly," they say, 'ff Germany begins 1t we
shall be ready" The cole thing that could
lead France to stir up a war with any nat
ion would now be an aggrayation of the
difficulties In her home politics, compelling
government to divert attention from its
own state to affairs abroad This con-
tipgency Is what Germany fesrr. and IL is
the reason for the maintenance of her strong
military forcn. When war arises between
these nations, ss all sgres must eome 10
pass sooner or later, Russia will side with
France, while the triple alliance will force
Austria and Italy TO go with Germany. 1t
will be struggle such as the world has
not seen since Napoleon The expectation
of war affects every movement in European
politics at the present moment For In
stance, France, angry at seeing Italy in
alliance with Germany, clings to the 300,-
000, 900 francs of italian silver which has
come into her bank. By the Latin Union
agreement this must be redeemed i In gold
| In one year after demand, and the French
are preparing to make such demand when
ever Italy threatens to draw sword on Ger
mauy's behalf. Again, France desires 6
commercial treaty with Switzerland, per
mitting freer Importation Of certain Swiss
commodities. According, however, to the
treaty of Frankfort, between France and
Germany, the "most favored nation"
clause, the proposed treaty with Sxi;ztr-
land would confer upon Germany the same
privileges which 1t would give Switzerland
| itself. The treaty would, in fact, be a
| greater boon to Germany than to Switzer-
| land. German bankers are said to have
| paid thousands of marks to secure the en-
/ astmentment of this Swiss treaty, SO as to
put France at the mercy of the empire.
But the French legislature hss become
aware of the plot, and the treaty will not
90 through.
There are two sets of people in France
| who would be glad to overthrow the re-
/ public, the royslists and the anarchists.
| The royalists are weak and they have no
leader, the Comte de Paris being so irres.
olute and spsthetic that few, even of his
own party, would support him were he tc
attempt q revolution. The anarchists are
dangerous, and are really making serious
demonstrations, which are the less unwel
come as a good outlet for the populA,
sbomination of the government now In
power. But General Saussier commands
Paris garrison of about 100, 600 trained
soldiers, and the "reds" will rage in vain
The one man In France who could suppress
the republic Is General Saussier himself
but, as he proved when Boulsnger was II
power, he Is the irmest and most loyal o
believers in the republican government
Saussier is not, however, the general OIL
whom France relies to lead her forces T.
victory In case of foreign war. That
Negrier, hero of Algeria and Tonquin
called, like Ney, the bravest of the brave
He commands upon the German frontie
by Belfort; and the French love to believ
that at the first note of war he will com
with his forces and sweep reeistlessl
northwsrd to Berlin