The Washington herald., 1915-05-16
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sardcd republic as an absolute inn
possibility in France.
The empire of Napoleon III having
cola psed under the blows of the Ger
mans at Sedan in 1870. a new govern
ment had to be organized at once to
make terms with the victorious invad-
ers. But no one of the ambitious fac
tions and none of the prctenders to
the throne cared to seize the dangling
reins just then and become RESPONSE
bic for the iEnominious surrender that
WAS unavoidab bic. 1t would be time
enough for them to step in after that
was out of the way. The unpleasant
task OF settling with the Gcrma ms
was by general agreement left to the
people, therefore, and popular cleo
ton was called for the choice of a
national assembly.
Many of the principal men in public
life wished to restore the Bourbon
monarchy as soon as IA" country
should be rid of the dIsa greeab BILE Ger
mans. Others wished to revive the Or
lcauist dynasty. and a few even dared
to propose that the Napoleonic throne
he glued together for the li-year- old
Prince Imperial.
But all those factions agreed on one
subject. They were unanimous in the
conviction that Il republic was un-
thinkable and only another word for
anarchy. They were equally sure there
could be no peace or security in
France except under the crown of a
legitimate sovereign.
The republican cause had a brilliant
champion in Gambetta. He was not
only for republic, hut he was also
for continuing the war and resisting
to the death. And the election turned
more on the immediate question of
the war than on the ultimate question
of the form of government.
The nnOnle of France had been
ring for 1000 years. when at last and
for the first time they had an oppor
the election really was a popular rei-
erendum on peace or war. And the
people voted for peace. rejecting
Gambetta's bellicose counsels by de-
feating his republican candidates.
How the Republic Was Saved.
When the national assembly met at
Bordeaux. on February L.. 1871. the
monarchists were in a majority. They
were divided however, into Lesiti
mists. as the advocates of the Bour
hons called themselves, into Orlean-
lists and into Bonapartists. and couIG
not agree on the choice OF SOW
deferred. 10 constitution whatever
being adopted. and no form of gov
eminent being defined
S-R
The head of the government was de-
scribed merely as chief of the executive
department. and Theirs. who was Il mon
arChiSt at the time, was chosen for that
post After a few months the Assembly
did designate him as President of the
French republic but II omitted tho Of
fensive term from its laws and the po-
lice repressed republican agitation.
Whom. at last. the government chosen
by the people had crushed the Commune.
raised 81 600 OC0,0O0 indemnity for the Ger
mans redeemed the land from the mort
gage of the invader. rcoreaniZed the
army and reformed the civil q. .. "rnment.
the monarChistS thought the was
ripe for their picking. President Ia. res.
who meanwhile had become attached to
the republic. was forced out of office, in
lS'3, and Marshal Macmahon. as more
loyal monarChiSt, was elected President
by the Assembly for the purpose of paw
ing the way for n king.
After a few months the Eourbons and
the Orleanists were able to combine in
childless Count of Chamhord. because
the Bourbon line would end at his death
and the Count OF Paris the head of
the Orleanist branch of the family would
then inherit the crown Thus the road
back to tho throne was cleared. The
King to be slipped into the Kingdom that
had been made ready for him. and he
awaited the call in the lowered and tur-
reted chateau of Chambord. 0,
The trade was all made and the fate
of the republic as good as sealed when
something was said to the effect that. of
course, the tri-color of the revolution
would be retained. Tho count amazed
his supporters by stubbornIy objeCting.
In vain the negotiators implored him to
relent Macmahon declaring that all the
guns in the army would 20 off by them
selves at the sight of the old Bourbon
banner. Tho pretender insisted none the
less that he never would abandon tho
white flag of Joan Of Arc
And, like a true scion of the royal race
which forgot nothing and learned moth
ing" the last OF the Bourbons declined
to become King Henry V. throwing away