Year: 1870

The Mission to WashinetOn-.I. Provost Par.


adoi-Ilis Journalistic and Literary Career


His Discourse France in Edinburg-Or.


Ieanism and British Iuterests-B0naparte's


Consiiiu;ionalism = Diplomacy Towards


spain.


You are to have a new French Minister
at washington very shortly in place of M.
Berthemy, who has long been anxious to
give up his place. rhe gentleman who will succeed
him is NJ. Provost Paradol, VINO up TO this time
has enjoyed rather local than national repu-
taton. He has Tor some years been one OF the most
brilliant writers on the Journal des De6atS, which
ranks point OF respectabty as the first journal in
Paris Nj. Provost Paradol is undoubtedly political
writer Of the first Class and some OF his British ad


mirers invited him last autumn TO deliver discourse
at Edlnburg french AFFAIRS lie spoke IN the Eng


sh language rare feat for Frenchman,


who rarely speaks any language but his
own-and though this address was admitted


to be able 1t was criticised rather q


partisan than philosophical comment


French politics. The truth is through his whole
career the sympathes OF M. Paradol have, in COM
mon with tne journal TO which he was at
tached been entirely devoted to the fallen cause Of
the Orleans family as the true representatives OF the
Parliamentary regime M. Paradol Is fanatica
admlrer Of the English constitution which means the
preponderance of the legislative over the executive
power It is very natural the men OF intellect OF
France should desire share in the government OF
their country, and they have hltnert0 opposed the
empire because they were excluded from their just
claims But what does this prove other than that they
are not competent to defend them2 If Napoleon LII.
exercises more power than any Executive ought it
Is simply a proof that he il better politician than
those who, in the press or the legislature, would
seek to diminish it. The English politicians who in
1888 drove James H. into exile and tied the hands of
William III. were able and resolute men, and evil
denty more than match for their royal antagonists


else we should have never heard of the famous
British constitution as 1t exists up to the present


day. Let NJ Paradol and his school Of French Par
liamentarians take these undenable facts into
sderatlOn and rest assured that Parliamentary
government. pure and simple, is only possible IN
France when the political skill Of the Legislature ex


ceeds that OF the executive. This not the case


even the time of Louis Philippe, although NJ Para


dol has always upheld his reign as the real ex-


preston OF Parliamentary government in France. If
the Legislature of tat day had bee in the ascend


ant the absurd Revolution OF 1913 would never have


occurred However, l am glad that political


writer of 50 much distinction as M. Parado is going
TO the United States where he Will see the working
OF government OF different character altogether


from those he Is so familiar with lie will ail
remark thar in our federal organization the EXecu
tive power does not predominate as In France, nor
the legislative power all controlling as IN England;
but that each revOlves regularly lis separate
orbit. cooperating, but rarely anagonizlng.
III M Paradol could introduce this system
into France he would do a far better thing for his
country than by initiating the English system,
which her school think perfect model The first


Is possible III France, but the last is not for II
qulres Englishmen 10 work 1t. They say the same
thing OF our Institutions; for doubt II any but
Americans could have carried them on Tor hall the
time we have enjoyed them. The French are very
different people In temperament from either the
English OF Americans. They are far more impetuOus
and susceptible than the latler, and hence govern
ment that would succeed III England or the United
States would surely fail In France But let M.
ParadOl while In Washington ''mark, read, learn
and digest for himself. HIS great intelligence and
previous studies will enable hlm TO gather up vast
deal OF useful information that am sure ne will
have abundant opportunities Of applying on his re-
turn to his native land.


should explain what may seem strange enough
that 80 prominent an Orednist as M. Paradoi has
always been should be selected by the Emperor as
his representative at Washington. The fact Is SIM


ply that the Emperor has voluntarily divested
himself OF his prer0gatives, and endeavored by
change OF the constitution to organize form OF
government better balanced and more nearly resem-
Ding our own 1t has led to many conspicuous pub
lie men of parliamentary bias and known as Orlean-
lists coming over TO the empire and showing ready


and cheerful disposition TO support in its new con-
stitutlOna career. NJ Paradol Is one or these, and
the Emperor displays his pr0verbhal sagacity In
promptly extending his hand TO such valuable