Year: 1871




empire Is consolidated. Too much as yet
depends on the life Of one man. Russia and
Great Britain, strong as they are, peaceful
and prosperous as they are, have much to
dread from internal dangers and from foreign
Toes. Germany has become kind Of terror
to them both. Englshmen are already dream
ing dreams, and in Imagination seeing the
spiked helmet of the terrible Prussian on Eng
iish soil. From the North Sea to the Medi-
terranean-from the Atlantic to the confines
OF Asia-there are everywhere signs OF
change-political and religious unrest. Mems
minds are filed with wonder and alarm as
they study passing events and peer into the
future.


What Is to be the resultp Is the Pope once
again to be restored to his position as tenn
poral prince? Is the Hyacinthe and Dollinger
movement to die as SO many such movements
have died-a natural death? Is France
once more to fall under the heel Of
despotism? Or is the past to be entirely
swept away and the departure made en-
tirely newp To these questions we can
NV oay ei0nSi yea VI nay. Aue PoSSi-
bilties are numerous-the probabilities
few. Much depends on France. If
NJ. Theirs can give to France solid, strong,
yet popular government, the revolutionary
tide may be partially checked and a general
European convulsion avoided. The fall of
the Commune has given NJ. Theirs his oppor-
tunity. We do not say that he should recall
the Emperor or restore the empire in any form,
or that he should restore the Bourbons, younger
| or elder, or that he should insist upon the
republic. His duty clearly is to consult the
wishes of the French people, and, in con-
formity with these Wishes to set about the
establishment of q government strong and
likely to endure. This can only be done by
calling upon the people to elect new
| Assembly. Let President Theirs do this with
out delay; let it be distinctly understood that
the new Assembly shall have the power to
decide upon the future form of government,
and whatever be the voice of the people
whether it calls for the Bonapartes, for the
Bourbons or for republic-let that voice be
obeyed. Delay is dangerous. If the Presi-
dent does not show some vigorous
activity in this direction Gambetta may
leap into power, rally France around
him and repeat the r6le of the First
Napoleon. M. Theirs has behaved with so
much firmness hitherto that he has q claim on
our confidence; and the presumption Is that
with the fall Of the Commune France will find
peace. 1t is not, however, permitted US to
think that the restoration Of order in France
will undo what has been done during the
last nine months. There Is but small
chance that it will restore the temporal
power Of the Papacy. 1t will not check the
progress Of liberalism In Italy and Spain. 1t
will not stay the course of events in Austria.
Most certainly it will not prevent Germany
from reaping the full fruit of her glorious vic
tories. If oil our good hopes and good wishes
should fail-if the end should yet be found to
be afar off-we see for France and Europe a
dark, dreary and desolate future. Let us re-
joice that our lines have been cast in more
pleasant places; and, while we sorrow for
those who suffer, let us find comfort in
the thought that out Of all this chaos may
come better and wiser France-a nobler
Europe.