Year: 1870




The popular voice in favor of the French
republic, as demonstrated in an enthusiastic
mass meeting in Hyde Park and an equally
earnest assembly in st. James Hall, speaks in
behalf of policy with regard to France and
Prussia which the government of England
do not seem disposed to adopt. The people
of England evidently demand something more
manly than the present course of her Majes-
TVS government In short, they want the
imm mediate recognition of the French repub-
lican government, without any regard to per-
sonal interests, predictions or prejudices
which may exist in the bosom of the royal
family or any tender sensibilties on the part
of the aristocracy. Let us look at the aspect
which this great demonstration assumed. It
was openly charged by the speakers that the
Queen was in alliance with the King of Prussia
in his design to crush out the republican gov
ernment established by the French people,
The principal speaker, Professor Beesley,
said =" What the freemen of America
recognize and applaud the aristocracy
of England support queen who deserts
her post in aiding to stife and suppress"
The name of the Queen, for the first time, we
believe, at any great public assembly, was ''re-
ceived with tempest of hisses" An ausion
to the Prince of Wales produced an express
sion of hostility-a series of groans, in fact
which was universal and passionate" The
general feeling in London, we are told, is ex-
tremely bitter against the government and the
royal family.


In this agitation, which Is but the straw that
shows how the wind blows throughout the
whole of England, how is the cabinet to ex-
plain its position so as to soothe the popular
indignation? Gladstone must not daily with
the question Of the hour. He must place
England plainly either for or against the new
life which the French people have created out
OF the decay of the Napoleon dynasty. The
ministry are expected to be prompt, straight
forward and honest in this matter, regarding
the will of the English people as paramount
to the whim of the English sovereign. This
is evidently the light in which the masses
read the condition of things. There is not an
Interest among the English people ia common
with the cause of Prussia and King William.
Whatever sympathy exists in England appears
to be confined to the royal family alone If
the Ministry should be weak enough to yield
to that influence, in defiance of the popular
will, it cannot hope to hold power very long.
The Ministry may find that it made blunder
by hesitating to acknowledge republic in
France when it was duly proclaimed and
accepted by the people. But it is traditional
with English cabinets always to blunder in the
incipiency of great questions, but in such cases
the popular remedy is always promptly applied
The people throw the ministry overheard.
That is the remedy And this will probably
be the case with the Gladstone Ministry if
they do not speedily retrieve themselves by
adopting more liberal policy toward France.
Neither the influence Of the Queen nor Earl
Granville, who are alleged to have controlled
Gladstone, can save them from the torrent of
popular indignation which seems to be surging
through and upheaving the minds of the Eng
lish masses


The state of affairs in England just now is
critical both for the people, the Ministry and
the crown.