Year: 1872

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must rejoice in the decay of political super
stition among the French peasants, for it is
to this class of the community that we'll
ordered government can always look for sup
port in the hour of danger. Any change that
could be made at present would be for the
worse. What France needs is profound re-
pose, and whatever is calculated to agitate the
public mind or arouse the latent passions Of
parties ought to be carefully avoided. For
this reason we emphatically approve Of Presi-
dent Theirs policy Of maintaining the status
quo. Every hour of peace and order consoli-
dates the Republic and strengthens its founda-
ton. Those rash advocates who urge the formal
proclamation of the Republic as the definite
form of government are the most dangerous
enemies to the permanence Of popular institu-
tons. They are not content to let good
enough alone, but must needs force the people
to swallow their constitutional pills whether
they will or not. They are not satisfied with
reality, but must strive to grasp the shadow.
Some Of these men are in earnest, but unfortu-
nately popular institutions have found q num-
erofunexpected, not tosay doubtful, advocates
who display all the inconsiderate zeal that dis
tnguishes new converts. It remains to be
seen whether these new-hedged defenders Of
popular rights are sincere in their professions.
We are inclined with Gafnbetta to look on
them with suspicion. Knowing how much the
party of despotism has to gain from disorder,
we would not be surprised to see them put on
the garb of republicanism the better to work
upon popular feeling and incite to anarchy,
in which lies their best hope Of restoration to
power. If they could only prove that under o
republic order was impossible it would be
easy to convince the people that their only
refuge was in royalty or imperialism


In view of the danger which must arise
from unsettling the public mind, we cannot
look with much favor on the bearing of Gam
beta towards President Theirs. We are sure
the republican lawyer is too able man not to
clearly perceive the advantage which the
enemies of the popular cause would unfail-
ingly derive from any disturbance Of the pub
lie peace. It may be that, blinded by the pas
sion Of political strife, he is not able to weigh
events so carefully as those further removed
from the scene, or that he considers the
necessity Of encouraging the republicans to
develop their growing strength as paramount
to all others. But one thing is certain, the
agitation his addresses created has reacted un-
favorably on the republican cause. Not that
he has said anything very radical, but he has
spoken some truths that would have been
as well unsaid. It is neither the desire
nor the interest Of Gambetta to SUBJ
vert the power of President Theirs, for
were the present government overthrown
by new revolution in all probability the
army would proclaim the Empire and establish
regency, with MacMahon as the principal
figure. Napoleon could scarcely be restored,
but would in reality rule during the minority
Of his son. But even this could only be &C
complished after terrific internecine struggle,
which would result in the complete prostra-
ton and ruin of the country. To avoid such
disaster France has only to accept Loyalty
the conservative Republic which President
Theirs represents until such time as
the political education of the people has been
improved so as to ft them for more extended
freedom. The experiment of France ruling
herself has been attended with such brilliant
and unexpected success that we do not think
the people will ever again consider master
necessary and the only source from which
danger is to be apprehended is the reactionary
feeling Of the army We are inclined to think,
however, that the spirit of patriotism is
sufficiently strong among the soldiers to
prevent them turning their arms against the
Assembly, unless demorallzed by disorder.
Nor is there any reason to apprehend serious
disturbances so long as the present govern
ment continues to observe the strict neutrality
between parties which has enabled it to sue
ceed SO well in the past The overthrow of
Theirs government would not alone be mis-
fortune for France, but would be severe blow
to the cause of republicanism in Europe. 1t is
ON experiment of popular rule under the most
trying circumstances, and the eyes Of the peo-
Piles of Europe ore turned anxiously to France
watching the result. Should the experiment
succeed in spite of the adverse prophecies Of
those who wished to see it fail the influence
it will exert in the spread of republican opin-
ions will be practically boundless. AS Ameri-
can freemen who enjoy ourselves all the
benefits Of freedom, we heartily wish success
to the French people in their efforts to con-
solidate the Republic, for we regard the cause
of rar,uhlicanism os the ra,1sa of 1;hartv md
humanity.


The Royal Italian Government and


the Roman Democracy.


The Prefect Of Police in Rome has forbidden
an assemblage Of the people, in the Italian
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