Year: 1875

Mchlsts there were three republican Ministers, and
that all the Others convinced Of the necessity or the
Republic, worked together with perfect unity Of nten
lons and ideasa unity which must desire and OBJ
TAIN from the present Ministry l understand there
are people who maintain that the conservatives ought
oe 70 power admit il; for have always been con-
sMeryyahye y But there must be some understanding as
~ sle meaning Of the word. Care should be taken as
W rne Interpretation which II is sought 10 give H.
me elections, however, approaching. France
% hpress upon the government the unity OF views
@ - ~ sotloh winch she absolutely needs Let France,
PIoSeeulhg with dlscemnent and guarding against
h prn OF exelnsion-ior all exclusion governments arc
aha lcl france, say. welcome all men who have
shown now 70 conduct themselves and let her guard
against those who, republicans the election day will
nusteh on the morrow TO explain their professions of
ialth by the clause which permits revision When ap
poachng the electoral not France forget that
she has her financial system 10 cotnpete her military
laws to revise. Those which have been
made are not all good She has her treaties
OF commerce to renew and her public edu
cation 10 develop on the basis Of modern society Let
not France forget that If TO these difficulties resulting
from tho diversity OF systems which render solutions
so laborious should be added difficulties arising from
the divisions or partes-parties who have made all
things difficult in the present Assembly-et France
forget repeat that she can only come to that chaos
OF which spoke just now, and that she would waste
her time IN the eyes OF Europe, which does
not itself loso time, for nowadays there is
not nation which is not occupied in max
ing itself stronger and better organized.
While speaking of Europe hear voices saying TO me,
never will the Republic nd allies in the world Permit
me TO say few words on the subject-woTds which will
not, perhaps, be out of place from my mouth. Europe
is to-day perfectly rational because it Is perfectly



government which is rational also Europe has not
always been what is at present; but II longer
with the Europe OF 1875 nor even Of 1880 that we have
TO do Then all Cabinets had IN their midst princes
Ministers who had fought for forty years with the
French Revolution, and when all OF sudden, in
1880 they the French Revolution leaving
the tomb where they thought II for
buried, they profoundly disturbed and troubled.


saw these times; they have never left my mind Then
IT seemed TO all imaglnatons that the awful Robes
pierre, the great and terrible Napoleon about to
reappear and overthrow all the thrones. These vain
terrors were dssipated but the distrust and
natreu renamed. Europe Kept itself armed, and Co
aesced against France. Europe did not cease meeting
every year in congress watch over events and in
case OF necessity TO march France and revou
tion ask you II anything similar exists to-day2
Doubtless, grave events arc occurring among
US which Europe Is looking at for France
has ceased to be the object of its great attention
But the thought OF every government is TO scrupu
lously respect the independence Of France and to
leave it tho sole care OF managing its own affairs
Hence, forty years ago. the principle Of European
policy was intervention: now on the contrary the
principle OF non-intervention is adopted by ali the
Cabinets. Look In kurope for prince who Is not
occupied with reforming his Stale. All nations are
engaged with these reforms save England, which by
giving itself first OF all liberty, obtained the germ Of ali
Imaginable reforms


Such is Europe in 1875, SO different from the one Of
1875 and even of 1880 She was, forty years ago. in
league against reform; at present she Is entirely in
favor of reform. beg, then, Of those who think they
approaching her by resisting the spirit OF the age
understand that they arc, the contrary, removing
further from her, perhaps, and drawing upon them
selves instead OF sympathy apprehension and perhaps





those wise princes may be reformers, but they
cannot be republicans, hasten to admit
be republicans on the thrones OF Russia
Germany Austria Italy, England But do
you think these soveregns have their eyes shut when
you have yours openP You do not like the republic
and several OF you voted IL from and patriotism
Well do you suppose that Europe does not know all
you know-that the reasons which decided you not
known to her2 No, no; she knows there was nothing
possible but what you did and she approves you for
having done IT.


As for France Europe esteems her; takes an inter-
est in her wishes for her for she feels
that France is indispensable TO the balance OF Europe
unknown cause trouble took possession of the public
mind, the fear Of war haunted every Imagination and
did Europe then show herself hostile Indifferent
FranceS Far from It, cry for peace went
forth from all Cabinets and peace was
maintained by the power Of the universal
feeling Alliances arc spoken Of Is not
that the true, the solid alliance, the only
possible In the present state of things? No doubt
If by alliance is the OF two or three
Powers united to attain particular special interested
end, France has none; and, If | must admit
it, do not know any Power in Europe that has the
present day. In that hight no one at present Is the
ally OF any one; but every is the ally of every
else for the maintenance Of the repose Of nations
that alliance truly holy one, comprises and protects
all lnterests ana lot long une TO come is tue
only to be desred-the only one possible
To up, gentlemen, these reflections perhaps too
long but which your presence and the memories you
bring back TO my mind have caused TO spring from my
head and heart say to you, destiny that is TO say a
long chain of events in which faults 10 be found
that must not be recalled-destiny has spoken. No
one during i've years has been able to re eestabsh
monarchy and the National Assembly though mo-
narchicaL has voted tho republic Let US be consist
ent and try to make OF that republic q
regular, wise fruitful government and TO that
end let ask France for the coming elections gve
government the unity which 1t indispensaby needs
Let especially beg of this dear and noble Franco
not to allow any to revile and insult the immortal
Revolution of 1889, against which many efforts are
now directed, and which is purcst and most popu
lar glory among the nations for Il IS that which has
peoples. Certainly we had reached tho height
of military glory, and that glory, a moment
eclipsed, will not perish. But II military glory
is sun which is sometimes yelled with Clouds the
glory of civilization is sun which never ceases 10
shine. II is tnat-and have il among foreign
natons-it is that SUM- still brilliant the midst
of our worst reverses. which revived in favor tho
sympathy of all nations even of those east disposed
In favor Let unite then to that noble
part of the national patrimony, and for my part shall
always have to defend IL the last efforts OF life which
is drawing TO its close but which to the last day will
remain faithful TO all the great interests of and
humanity. o