The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-24

The present situation in France contains
one element calculated to fill the English
and American mind with amazement.
From the Paris dispatches it seems that
the French themselves frankly admit that
they entertained grave fears of riot at
the funeral of President Faure. 1t was
apprehended that the opponents of the
government might take that occasion TO
make a violent disturbance, and that an
organized attempt to overthrow existing
institutions in France might begin on that
day The government issued the most
stringent orders to the police, and all pos
sibIe precautions were taken to keep
things quiet.
This information, with the impression
which it gives of the French character, is
calculated to make the thoughtful Anglo
Saxon lay down his newspaper and Won
der if his mind is giving way. Such pro-
ceeding as a political fight around the
corpse of a dead ruler is so utterly foreign
to our ideas of propriety that it seems al
most incredible. 1t appears from the
statements of prominent Frenchmen that
this funeral-not the election of President
Loubet or his official actions. but thu
bearing of the former Presidents dead
body through the streets-would. by the
political party opposed to the administra
ton, be considered the fitting occasion for
melting revolution. NJ. Deroulede made
dark and gloomy threats of what would
happen when he and the adherents of the
government met at that funeral. Hence
the order which excluded representatives
of the League of Patriots from the funeral
cortege. II almost seems as if people
among whom such a catastrophe could oc-
cur, and who regard 1t, apparently, as a
matter of course, natural outcome of ex-
listing conditions-must be somehow
warped in their minds.
At the time of Lineoln's assassination
the intensity of political feeling and the
confusion in public affairs in America were
greater than at any other time in the his
tory of the country. The nation had been
rent in twain by the Civil War, and a ! the
influences which led to that war were still
active. Lincoln had gradually become the
central figure around whom the country
rallied; and no one knew whether his
sination of other men upon whose strength
the maintenance of the Federal Govern
ment depended. Andrew Johnson was
known to be weak and vaciilating, and was
not trusted by his own party. II there
was ever in our national history time
when there was cause for riot and disturb
ance, it was then. But even in the midst of
that tumult of apprehension, bitterness,
doubt and clashing factions. nobody
thought of interfering with the funeral OF
Abraham Lincoln. That any traitor. from
any section of the country, could take that
occasion for raising mob and starting
a fight would not have entered the head
of the most timid calamity bowler of the
period There have been times in our his
tory when We had grave reason to appre-
bend some sort of a revolution. but it has
always been understood that a funeral was
not the place for warlike demonstrations
No matter how just his cause or how
crazy his reasoning. no leader of n dis
contented faction would attempt to make
dead statesman.
We have reached a time in the history
of the world when the relative illness of
various races and nations for ruling them
selves and others is about TO be weighed
in the balance. Considering the matter
dispassionately. and without shadow of
interest outside that OF chronological and
political science. one may seriously doubt
whether the French are fit for seH-govern-
ment at all.