THE FUTURE IN FRANCE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The writer of the admirable article on this question in the Spectator of June 10th understands France. The French always have looked for a leader, and, at almost every really critical time, have found one,—e.g., Joan of Arc, Louis XI., Henry IV., Richelieu, Napoleon—and, may I not add, the late Emperor, who certainly made France prosperous and power- ful. However well one may wish the present Republic, France does not thrive under the rule of commonplace men ; nay, her very worst time was when men of fifth-rate ability swayed her destinies,—such as Robespierre, Collot d'Herbois, Couthon, &e. Neither the Girondists nor the Jacobins pro- duced a great man—except, possibly, Danton, who does seem to have had some elements of greatness—or one fitted to rule a great nation. It is to be hoped that the future saviour of France will not be a soldier, but that she may produce a statesman worthy to be ranked with " the great Cardinal " ; but will her population recognise any man without the halo of military success ?
The present condition of France should make Englishmen reflect. With such an Empire as ours, the democracy must be educated into understanding great issues. One clings so naturally to the belief that English common-sense can never go far wrong, that perhaps one undervalues the terrible risks of the future. May the day never come when men, who can- not even understand a question like the importance of vaccination to our national health, may have to govern an Empire sound of whose drum-beat and, may I add, the peal of whose church bells echo round the world.—I am,
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