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Show i TWENTY VBAltS KEl'l III.IC AN. It was shortly after the fatal day of Sedan that tho republio of France was pronounced. Few people at that time believed the form of government would endure twenty years, but regarded it rather as a temporary makeshift until peace with Gormany was declared, and when in quick succession came the rise of the commune in Paris, tho fall of Thiers, MacMahon, tho death of Gam-botta, Gam-botta, the numerous crises and changes in the cabinets, the resignation of President Presi-dent Grovy and tho scandal of his scapegrace scape-grace son-in-law, tho enemies of the republic re-public were satislied tho end was near. But tho end didn't como, and if it wore not true of France more than of any other country that the unexpected is the thing most likely to happen, the world would bo justilied in accepting the republio re-publio of France as tho permanent form of government. In tho past it was claimed that tho one dilliculty in the way of re-establishing the French monarchy was the great number of pretendants to the throne, but since the death of the prince imperial im-perial in tho wastes of Abyssinia and the retirement of the Bourbons, the way was practically cleared for the Or-loans Or-loans family, yet no movement of any magnitude for thoir restoration res-toration is perceptible. On the other hand, the disclosures In tho Boulangorlconspiracy, fathered and feathered by the Orleanist, just coming to light, show conclusively that tho sober sontlment of tho country is opposod to the old regime and in favor of the now. And why, lndeod7 should it not be? It was under the republio that France redeemed herself from the follies and crimes of the empire, and with the exception ex-ception of tho errors of Ferry in Ton-quin, Ton-quin, pursued a peaceful and dignified policy that makes her, notwithstanding tho secret machinations of tho triple alliance, a power of the first class in the councils of Europe, and a power, it may bo added, for good. It required an extraordinary ex-traordinary exertion and no mean do-greo do-greo of patriotism to raise the country from tho disaster of 1870-1 to the height of influence, prosperity and socurity, notwithstanding tho reckless ambition of individuals and the foul plots of conspirators. con-spirators. Within just twenty years the republio has accomplished all' that and thereby earned the right to confidence confi-dence and perpetuity. |
