Year: 1871

and the Message of President Thiers.


The National Assembly Of France resumed
its sittings yesterday at Versailles The
President, who has no longer the right to ap-
pear in the Assembly in person and plead his
own cause, sent his message, which was read
to the assembled delegates. The message re-
ferred to the treaty concluded between France
and Germany, to the negotiations which had
taken place regarding the Commercial Conven-
ton between France and England, to the
new military law, and to the general reorgani-
cation of the administration. 1t avoids, how
ever, all purely political subjects Of immedi-
ate moment, and offers no suggestions as to
prospective constitutional chan es. Such is
the telegraphic outline of the message.


We are not told how the message was re-
ceived. When we take into account the
actual condition of France-a condition which,
to use no stronger language, is the reverse of
satisfactory-and when we recall to memory
the recent statement of the President to
HERALD correspondent, to the effect that
when the Assembly met he should have
something definite to say regarding the
estab shment of the republic on solid and
permanent basis, we must pronounce the mes
sage a failure, or, rather, blunder. Iii only
couple of days since Rossel and two of his
associates were shot. Since then Cremieux,
one of the most prominent leaders of the Com
mune, has shared similar fate The execu-
tions have been conducted in manner which
recalls the worst days of the first revolution
ary republic and the cruelty of the first empire.
These men have been stealthily led out in the
early morning and executed by blind and
brutal soldiery, the public learning the result
only hours after the horrid work bad been
done. This day commentaries the famous
I'd of December and the coup dttat;; but, un-
less we mistake, and mistake greatly, history
will have to confess that the government of
President Theirs was quite as much, and more
! Enthusiastically, i stained With blood thsaa We're
the first days of the s6-called usurpation. The
absence of any reference to these military exc
cutions must be regarded as bad omen. 1t
does not argue we'll for the continued exist
ence Of the present government. The absence
of all reference to the future policy of the
gqsernment in regard to the empire, the mon
archy or the republic is quite as discourag-
ing. At the same time we are willing to ad-
nit that the President showed his usual
amount Of caution and cunning in skill
fully avoiding offensive and dangerous
topics. 1t was his special business to
hand in message which should not unneces-
xho IN H. Lcc
succeeded he will, we suppose, be satisfied
1t is another proof of M. Theirs skill as an
astue statesman but that is all. 1t is possi-
BILE to admire the skill and yet despise the
man and his policy.


1t is our privilege to suspend Judgment as to
the effect of this message on the French
people. 1t is now before the Assembly and
the world. So far as we know it from the
mere telegraphic outlines, we cannot say that
it is at all equal to the requirements of the
situation. 1t is not what thinking men who
have been watching France and French affairs
expected. 1t does not assure the French mind
and give them confidence in the immediate
future. The members of the National Assem-
bly, and the press Of France will soon reveal
the national sentiment; and we shall not be
surprised if President Thiers finds that the
greatest trouble of his life has come. 1t is more
likely than not that in a few days Marshal
MacMahon, with the French army at his back
will be master Of the situation, and that the
French people will be asked by plt6iscite to
decide under what form of government they
wish to live. We cannot doubt that a plfbiscite
would restore the empire.