Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-09-22

When the combined monarchies de-
stroyed Napoleon in 1915, the re-
vulsion to autocratic government was
|discouraging to every lover of liberty
France, the rulers of Austria and
Russia were again undisputed auto
Gratis. and the petty rulers and
princelings of the various German
states were quick to assume the
pomp and circumstance" of kings
having absolute control over the lives
and property of their subjects.
But the spirit of democracy did
not die. The French revolution had
not been in vain. The people Of
France, Of Italy. and of all the states
of the Rhine confederation learned,
during the years of reaction following
Waterloo, what a stupendous blunder
they had made in overthrowing and
destroying the Napoleonic empire.
They had bitter occasion To remember
the rights and liberties they en-
joyed under the mild rule of the great
emperor. and appreciated when il
was too late the benefiCent laws he
had given them in the Code Napoleon.
The leaven of that democracy which
had been brought forth by the French
revolution and only modified under
the Napoleonic empire. began to work,
as stupid kings became tyrants. The
spirit of revolution was often sup
pressed. but never destroyed. France
rose a second time against the R,ur-
bons. and substituted the second re-
public Napoleon the Little" sue
'ceeded in overthrowing the second re
public, but did not dare reign As an
absolute monarch: and his miserable
defeat at Sedan ushered in the third
republic And republican government
may again suffer temporary defeat in
France, but if that happens there will
be no more monarchy until socialism
inevitable man on horseback and
eventually the people will rule per-
manently and sensibly in France as
they will everywhere. Belgium and
Holland are at last republics in all
but name. The revolution Of 1S4S
in Prussia did not displace the mon
!archy. but it put an end to absolut-
ism. and today constitutional gov
eminent has gained such n foothold
in the German empire that Prussia
and all the rest Of the German states
enjoy such a large measure Of self
government that il is republican in
comparison with the absolutism which
followed the battle Of Waterloo. In
Austria the monarch is no longer an
autocrat. but is compelled to rule
according to the dictates of a parlia
ment elected by the people. and his
death in all probability will be fol-
lowed by the partition Of the Austro
Hungarian empire and the erection Of
la republic in Hungary. The Italian
king is only too glad to be permitted
to reign as a constitutional monarch.
In Russia the autocraCy is still
enabled to survive only by a relent-
less oppression of the people which
merely assures a greater flame when
the fires Of revolution shall burst
forth Portugal is a republic. The
people Of Sweden and Of Norway have
so completely won a triumph for the
principles of popular government that
the kings Of those countries have far
less power than an American presi
dent. In Spain the last representa-
tive Of the house Of Bourbon on n
European throne has been forced to
make concession after concession to
the demands Of his subjects, until the
government is in the cortes and not
from the throne, and Alfonso is fac
ing the possibility Of losing his throne
altogether.
If Napoleon could return to earth
ne would find such widespread evil
dences of the rapid growth Of re-
publicanism that his prophecy Of a
possible republican Europe would
seem to him already fulfilled.