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Show THE FREf H REPUBLIC. The various interests affected by the declaration of a French Republic begin to sliow themselves ; and tlie I'olitieal ferment in Europe is working wildly. The erownej heads do not dread so much a Republic in France, as they do the encouragement its success would give to the democratic element- among their own subjects. Were the leaders of this movement in that great nation true to themselves, to their country and the great cause of liberty, then the monarchies of Europe ruight indeed quake for fear, for the movement would be the handwriting on the wall foretelling their doom. But there are influences at work in France that are likely to render all such hopes abortive for the present. Some of the leaders in the present movement are old conspirators, well versed in the sinuosities of plots and accustomed to internecine troubles. Many who follow their lead are wild enthusiastsho aim at the impracticable impractica-ble ; and many more seem to "have no higher conception of liberty than that it means license to themselves. Incapable Inca-pable of governing themselves they are still more incapable of governing an enthusiastic, fiery, mercurial people like the French, whose dreams of liberty lib-erty are often intangible and wild, because be-cause of the despotic character of the governments which have so long held sway over that bright land. Already the extremists of the democratic dem-ocratic p irty and by that mu.it not be understood a party synouiinous with those bearing the same title in this country are at work to overthrow the provisional government, so, at least, the telegraph informed us a couple of days ago. The Prussians thundering at the . walls of Paris may unite opposing factions fac-tions for a time; but should tho now conquering enemy be forced to retire, the prospects are that there would be terious trouble in Paris itself. Rochcfort deserves great credit for LaviDg thrown his abilities with the government organized fur defense; but if any doubt remains as to the truth of the position here taken, it is exploded by the fact that the office of his former paper, the Marseillaise, was destroyed with forty thousand.copies of the journal, jour-nal, and that by a mob led by certain ts'.reme radical character.-. The course of some of the men who seek to lead in French politics, and who are :ho curse of the nation, judging judg-ing by the pa-t, aims at destroying destroy-ing the liberties of the people, and elves it in the sacred name of liberty. With them the wrd is but a cuckoo ?:ote. pu.-.-es-ii.: .-. .-.,. but dtvoia of the meaning Usuuiiy implied by it. 'J heir liberty" is the privilege to do .-..s they please, to exercise the wildest liceii-e unchallenged, and to disregard and deprive others :f their rights and that liberty dear and sacred to all. The French are a great people, a refined, re-fined, enlightened, advanced nation, but they are cur.sod by these uiitame-able uiitame-able spirits who seek to know no law but the gratification of 'their own passions. pas-sions. And because of this, while we would hail with gladness the establishment establish-ment of a French Republic on a permanent per-manent ba.sis, we dread tho future to that heroic people under such leaders .as are likely to .strike fur power and leadership in Franc.-. |
