Year: 1872




was once Toby Phillpots' as thirsty soul as
e'er cracked bottle or fathomed bowl"
| Tho Prosperity or France-The French


Republic and Republican Prospects


In Europe.


Our news from France day after day fur
nishes convincing proof that the nation is


rapidly recovering from her late misfortunes,
and that at no distant day she will resume her
proud position among the nations of Europe.
| Not in modern times, at least, has any nation
been SO completely crushed and SO apparently
brought to ruin. After Sedan, but particu-
larly after the heroic though wasteful efforts of
the Government of September, it was the uni
versal belief that recovery, if at all possible,
could only be brought about after many years
Of toll, endurance and patient perseverance.
The total cost of the war, all things consid-
cred, seems likely to amount to eighteen hun
dred millions of dollars Add to this that the
spirit of the people for time seemed crushed,
that the whole machinery of government was
wrecked, that the army was demoralized,
that fixed and permanent form of govern
ment has as yet been found impossible, and it
will not be deemed wonderful that in the gene
raj opinion of mankind the power of France
was broken for many generations.


1t is now scarcely year and half since the
war ended, and, although the nation has not
yet decided on the form of government which
is to be permanent, France has so far recuper-
ated that her ultimate and final recovery is by
universal consent admitted to be question of
only few brief years. OF the war expenses
six hundred and forty-ive millions of dollars
have been raised by permanent loans, two hun
dred end sixty-fye tpillilQns have been bor-
ro1wed from the Bank of France and two hun
dred and forty millions are chargeable in va
rious ways to the budgets Of the next few years.
The permanent burden upon the nation which
oil this implies, and the consequent tax it will
entail upon all kinds Of industry, it is impos-
sible to over-estimate; but the nation which,
in such circumstances, can make SO herculean
an effort, and with SO much success is not to
be lightly esteemed or likely long to be held in
allegiance. France, in fact, is rising from the
Dust and it is not at all unreasonable to con-
clude that taught in the school of experience,
she will come forth from all her trouble and
take her place among the nations, greater,
more united, more self-reliant, more powerful
than ever. It was not without good rea-
son that President Theirs, in the speech
which he delivered in the Chamber before the
Easter holidays, could review the general
situation with pride, and among other things
expatiate with manifest delight on 'the new
birth Of our glorious army, always faithful to
its duty, always faithful to the law" 1t is
admitted by oil competent judges that the
new army is in splendid condition. 1t is
known that the peasantry who for twenty years
were taught to believe that their prosperity
was due to the empire, and particularly to the
wisdom of the Emperor are beginning to feel
and admit that the empire was perhaps less
necessity to them than they were necessity
to the empire. 1t is undeniable that Paris is
rising again beautiful from its ruins that the
shop-keeping classes are doing splendid
and profitable trade and that all ranks and
classes of the people, in all parts Of the country
are beginning again to enjoy the fruits of pros
perity If it be true, as President Theirs has
asserted, that France "wants peace and does
not think ofawar," and if this continues to be
her fixed purpose, the most sceptical will be
without reason to doubt that the French peo-
pie will at no distant day take their place
among the proudest of the peoples of Europe.


1t would be foolish to say that this compara-
lively rapid recovery is due solely to the supe-
...l. o.
aged since the close Of the war. The resources
of France are as great as the spirit Of her peo-
pie is indomitable. Recovery might not have
been hindered by the restoration of the empire
or retarded by the re-establishment of the
monarchy; but we must take things as we find
them, and it is impossible for us to refuse to
admit that under the present provisional gov
ernment-which if not republican, is certainly
more republican than monarchical or imperial
the recovery of France has been at once certain
and rapid 1t is by no means certain what is
to be the form of government which must at
no distant day succeed the present. A pro-
visional government cannot last forever. In
spite of the prosperity which is shared by all
ranks and classes signs are not wanting that
the people are already impatient of delay and
anxious about the future. The great bulk of
Frenohmen are probably Indifferent about the
particular form Of government if only it Sc
cures to them peace and guarantees to them
prosperity. 1t is undeniable, however, that
the republic is growing in favor. In its pres
ent imperfect form it has worked well and
Performed w55n ww5i;;a.ers. In more perfect shape,
with proper men at its head, it wonld undoubt-
edly do better. All the elections which have
taken place for the purpose of filling up vacan-
cies in the ranks of the Assembly have revealed
growing republican sentiment on the part of
the people. The members of the Left, alive to
this fact, are making most vigorous exertions
for the reconstruction of the Assembly by a