Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-20

Political conditions in France were
such fifty years ago that a crisis was
looked for. though it
Napoleon III was not expected IN
the form that it took
ot OiiSlS. only few months
later when Prussia declared war and
caused the downfall of the second en-
pire. In The Star of July IS. 1859. is
the following dispatch from London
relative to the situation at Paris:
LAS predicted would be the case in
previous dispatches. the emperor
yields his assent to the demands OF
the legislative body. No change in
the ministry has yet been announced.
but the reorganization of the cabi-
net within short time is certain.
Throughout the whole of this crisis
the emperor has exhibited his peculiar
tact and Shrewdness. This week he
invited nearly all the deputies to
dinner and soiree at st. Cloud. He
chatted playfully with many of them.
of all the different shades of opinion,
giving expression to many of those
piquant sayings so attractive to
Frenchmen. For instance. to one who
had taken him by the buttonhole. he
said, Ah. NJ Buffet, you mean to take
| hold of my coat for fear l may pull
| back" To group of several with
whom he was converSing on the situa-
ton. he said: You begin to treat me
| like the old lion in the fable. by trying
to shut my nails and take out my
teeth. and leave me nothing but my
name. which is considered harmless.
J To others he said: The elections prove
| clearly that l must choose between
empire and revolution To others he
said I will give full satisfaction to
| the liberal aspirations of all parties,
but l have decided to cease conces-
| SONS at the boundaries prescribed in
| the constitution While the emper-
or's conduct for the past few days is
regarded as adroit, it is not considered
likely to stop the agitation for further
| concessions and reforms
|
This is an age of wonders" says
The Star. in it's issue of July IA. 1869,
apropos of the laying of
New French the new Atlantic cable,
| n-I,. which. it noted, had hard
iy created ripple of ex-
citement. There were wonders in those
days. however commonplace they may
seem now. The airplane. the N-ray,
the wireless, the automobile and the
submarine were still to come. But the
cable had become discounted by use.
Still The Star devotes considera BILE
space to the new line, saying:
| The Great Eastern, with her pre-
cious freight, arrived off the banks
of Newfoundland last Friday, hav-
ing sailed 1855 knots and paid out
nf col 10
pect to hear at any moment of the
successful landing of the shore end of
the new line at the Island of ST.
Pierre. at which place the services of
the Great Eastern will terminate, as
small steamers will be employed to
| lay the cable thence to the coast
OF Massachusetts,. 1t will not take
long to lay this section, when the
United States will be practically in
direct Geographic communication with
La Belle France Whether the line
will at once be made available is
Questionable, as the French Gable
Company had not acquired the N7er
from Congress previous to it's adjourn
| ment to lay and maintain a cable on
the shores of the United States, when.
in order not to retard the progress g.
this great work, charter was grant
ed by the legislature of MAJ achusetts
Ito the Ocean Telegraph" Company,
whose line meets the cable outside
the jurisdiction of the United States.
The cable company is exclu-
sively French in it's control, and it is
stated that one provision in it's char
ter requires a wire to pass into the
Tuiflerfes. Congress will probabl
insist upon reciprocity in the use of
the cable between the United States
and France"
An editorial in The Star of July Is.
! 1869, explains the French situation,
which. as indicated by a
Revolution prev ously published
| p.,,;L1. dispatch from London,
| was growing acute:
The crisis through which France
is now passing is full of interest and
instruction. not only to students of
history. but to the friends of liberty
| throughout the world. Napoleon III,
| who cunningly reared on the ruins of
| the republic which he demolished an
| empire which he fondIy hoped was to
| continue through ages. suddenly finds
| the edifice constructed with so much
! labor and skill tottering to it's fall
| in spite of his efforts to arrest the
| process of disintegration. But he is as
! strong. determined and remorseless as
| he ia subtle and the friends of a lin