on whose family he had heaped scurrilous abuse. He has been successively a Democrat, Republican, Imperial Prince, with the features of a Bonaparte and the heart of a Robespierre.
Caught in the midst of prosperity undreamed of, the Napoleonic Dynasty fell of its own accord into an abyss of blood and shame, dragging France down with it. That wonderful military star which arose at Areola and Rivoli and shone on the fields of Marengo and Austerlitz to set at Sedan; that great nation, as the French dearly loved to be called, defeated, disgraced, disarmed in six months; that French army, oft victorious, even when hampered by the carelessness and incapacity of its Officers; that army that took Sebastopol, unconscious how the feat was achieved, and fought its way into Pekin and Mexico with its eyes shut; this same army was laid not long ago low, and decimated without truce or mercy. Surely all this cannot be called the natural order of political events. It is the sign of Providential times. More fearful changes and the most awful of lessons are in store still for younger people. L'heure est a Dieu!
In this Paper, we purpose inquiring into the causes of this long series of calamities succeeding each other during the last thirty years of French History. Their cause once ascertained, we must then discover a remedy for a disease fast becoming chronic, and threatening the very life of Monarchical nations. We write for the great phalanx of thinkers and enlightened readers. And in addressing men of feeling and understanding, one feels certain of being heard with attention. But should we, in studying the political situation, allow some words of blame to fall from our pen, we do not, however, wish to use any other language than that of respect and conciliation. "Amidst the ruins of the past and the uncertainty of the future I have always followed the leading of one compass: moderation. Instinct, nature, education had revealed it to me before my reason taught it to me. There is no more mighty power in the State than the energy of moderation." This is the truly judicious remark made by a public character, Vicomte de la Guéronnière, a daily wrestler, a searcher for ideas, the builder of his own fame, the ardent defender of truth and justice, one of the few writers of modern France whose pen is ever frank, clear, and brilliant.
