The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-19
SATURDAY. AUGUST 10, 1899.
TEN PAGES.
Unhappy France.

- RANCE is par excellence the
land of revolution. The Dtey-
fus case is merely coinciient
with the crisis and not its cause Had
there been no Dreyfus case some other
excuse would have been discovered and
the agitators would not have had far to
search. France has plenty of comrus-
tible political matter always ready at
hand and it takes but a bon mot to
launch revolution.
To an American observer F,eoc,,
politics appear as humorous combi-
nation of farce come II and comic opera
win now and then touch of melo-
drama and a suggestion of tragedy
But it is so frothy, so full of ludicrous
posing and attempts at stage effects
mat 1t is Impossible to take it seriously.
1t may be put down as an axiom that
the Frenchman who is not nursing a
pet revolution is either in the govern
ment or an asylum. He certainly is not
normal. For the last hundred years
France has either been in the throes of
revolution or recovering from the ey
haustion of the last one. Beginning
with the horrors of the reign of terror
IN the closing days of the last century.
the history of France has been one of
political storm and stress to the pres
ent day. Under the first Napoleon she
tasted the Intoxicating glories of VIC
tory and conquest and in the dark DAVIS
of the seventies, France drained to the
dregs the bitter cup of humiliating de-
feat.
She has played many parts in the last
hundred years-republic, empire, king
dom, constitutional monarchy. ranrb-
lie, empire and republic again. Napo-
leon snatched his imperial crown from
the smouldering ashes of the first re-
public to lose it after years of war,
when his sun set on the bloody held of
Waterloo.
The return of the Bourbons was but
preparation for another revolution.
Adversely taught Louis XViII. no les
son and Charles X. no wisdom, and IN
1880 revolution forced the latter to
abdicate. Louis Philippe succeeded him
and granted a constitution.
1t was not until 1S4S that an another
revolution was developed. 1t bap-
tized with blood the second republic,
whose short life gave way to the am
bilious schemes of Napoleon III. in 1852.
The war with Germany the crushing
defeat at Sedan, after which Napoleon
disappeared as a factor in Europea n
politics, the siege and captulation of
Paris. the frightful excuses of the
commune, furnished the conditions
from which the present republic sprang
into existence.
Its path has been no easy one. OPP
posed from its inception by a powerful
minority, it has retained its existence
mainly by keeping that minority di-
vided against Itself into warning fac
lions. Now its opponents are getting
together, monarchist, Bonapartist, OPP
portunist Orleanist, anti-Semite and
host of others are uniting to over
throw the hated republic, which after
all is but a republic in name. Their
success depends upon the army, which
is disaffected towards the government
and wounded by the aspersions cast
upon its generals. If prevailing rumors
have substance, the army may soon
decide that France will have it's periodi-
cal revolution. 1t is surely due
Years ago Chateaubriand said of his
countrymen: THE French have esprit
but no common sense"