New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-07

the disposal Of the King Not that he would
have admitted ROYALTY TO be indispensable. The
exercise Of sovereignty might be provided for in
some other way. But writing IN thc character OF
an Englishman discussing French politics, he
explained: You live in France under a despotic
authority You must either obey ii or destroy 1t
entirely" Evidently he thought it's destruction
impossible and any alternative dangerous. From
This point started every plan Of reform which he
considered. But he saw that the abs"lu'ism "f
the Crown must cease to wear q paternal aspect.
that there must be a doing away with much or
the oficialism which interviewed between King ana
subjects that there were vast numbers OF details
which even absolute authority could safely leave
to the people. Above all the King. in his view o.
the case was never TO be a spectacular parsonage
As Louis XIV was nothing if not a spectacle
d'Argenson's experience as Minister was diSIhdi
from frs, to last. i was the time OF the quarr'l
between Prussia and Austria over Silesia me
interests Of France were believed on all sues -
warrant close alliance with FREDERICK whose
genius began to be surniscd, but VINO was not
vet acknowledged to be great man Ihe future
was not certain Prussia seemed weak Auslrld
seemed powerful all the more 50 under the master
hand Of Maria Theresa But Austria in power
had from time immemorial been peril 10 France.
ONLY in n weak or dismembered Empire was SAFE
tv TO be found These We're the ideas OF the thlc.
70 this d ArgensOn added other considerations.
The people Of France needed peace ana rerehch-
ment they wanted no new territory ana their
ruler had no excuse for aggression Ills ASK
should be TO defeat the aggressions OF others.
italy united would restrain both Spain and Aus
tria little aid to Spain would limit me COM
mercial growth Of England. Such seemed the pos
3;o,. Int wa n j.
arick from, being prematurely crushed by the Aus
.rian mower If France wished to dictate the choice
% an Enneror in place Of Charles VI, she must
support the Prussans in Siesia There We're
four theatres of war. Flanders. the Main. Sua-
hia and Italv The least picturesque OF these were
| the two in Germany. But they were the ones
| IN which the fighting must be done. In Flanders
and italy France could, for one campaign at least
ac, nurelv on the defensive. II she chose 10 do
| otherwise and to make Flanders the principal
,beatra NJ her efforts then she would lose all her
allies ono hv one and her enemies would elect IN"
| new Fmperor in spite Of her. Such was the opin-
| ion Of d'Arcenson expressed in paper of whch
| the commences has been unreasonably doubted
Rut Louis would hardly have cut 50 great a
| figure in Germaly az in Flanders. He gave me
world a gallant spectacle at Fontenoy, ne I'st ms
allies he lost his opportunity 10 dlcta'o 'n' v. E
/ Df FL VI,
nothing and the blame fell on d'Argenson. HuSi
was the fate OF the Minister wherever ne IuI''
Do,htlass ne Welcomed his dismissal when II
coroa lie could least say that he had done
nothing to hasten The calamites when ne H,ust
have anticipated ON the contrary h" turner III
retirement to the study Of methods for peac"iul re-
form in France He drew up plan Tor tl' 'IN,' -.
nent which. if it had found FAVOR win ui"S' III
power would have cut off al once the pTlViirse ~
those who hv reason OF nobility or employment
eyaded taxation: would have dNldc1 al fId'' :
into cities boroughs and parishes ea.h E'NyIII'i
in matters OF finance and police bE oIHccI7 '"'' "
from the number Of its own inhabitants al pop
MAR election: and would have provided Tor dlstfl''
and provincial assemblies partially elec'Ne' mus
doing away with a mass OF ieudal usase an" q
body Of costly officials. There was to be no more
farning Of the revenue since Il was Ia be coll
Iected by the Provincial Estates. In the meet
ing Of the Estates the mobiles were To nave no Su-
perior privileges except those OF cerenohE ia. -
Is useless To rehearse the whole OF Aiken~ 'n :
| device for saving the Kingdom II never hai any
| ya1ue in the National life except ~ symptom "i
the poltcal disease which at last brought ~ OWN
| cure. For the twofold evil from when France
| was suffering his scheme provided doupi" ier en-
| DIV The people had no power 30 demand good gov,
! ernment: the Crown, burdened by the privileged
! orders had scarcely the power TO afford IL. Ar
genson would have given the people the necessary
| power: he would have given the Crown the heCrs-
| sarv freedom: and he would have left 1t 10 the
natriotism OF the nation and the good sense OF ''
| King to restore prosperity to their common ccun-
try DArgenson's constitution dled WIN MN
| and he who will may call II dream roI al
on the Government OF France, admired by Vol
taire is probably read by few. HIS claim on
nosteri;y is enforced by his Immortal Journal
| in which is reflected the "many-featured me I'
| ume in hand has made an acute study OF the man
| and OF his works For the portrait-that OF &C.
| rious handsome mamie expresses hiS ihueoteu
ness to the present Marquis dArsensoh'