ich rests the creed of Legitimists than that of Louis
Napoleon? After all, what is there in the loyalty of you Bourbonites
that has in it the solid worth of an argument which can appeal to the
comprehension of mankind, except it be the principle of a hereditary
monarchy? Nobody nowadays can maintain the right divine of a single
regal family to impose itself upon a nation. That dogma has ceased to be
a living principle; it is only a dead reminiscence. But the institution
of monarchy is a principle strong and vital, and appealing to the
practical interests of vast sections of society. Would you sacrifice
the principle which concerns the welfare of millions, because you
cannot embody it in the person of an individual utterly insignificant
in himself? In a word, if you prefer monarchy to the hazard of
republicanism for such a country as France, accept the monarchy you
find, since it is quite clear you cannot rebuild the monarchy you would
prefer. Does it not embrace all the great objects for which you call
yourself Legitimist? Under it religion is honoured, a national Church
secured, in reality if not in name; under it you have united the
votes of millions to the establishment of the throne; under it all
the material interests of the country, commercial, agricultural, have
advanced with an unequalled rapidity of progress; under it Paris has
become the wonder of the world for riches, for splendour, for grace and
beauty; under it the old traditional enemies of France have been humbled
and rendered impotent. The policy of Richelieu has been achieved in the
abasement of Austria; the policy of Napoleon I. has been consummated
in the salvation of Europe from the semi-barbarous ambition of Russia.
England no longer casts her trident in the opposition scale of the
balance of European power. Satisfied with the honour of our alliance,
she has lost every other ally; and her forces neglected, her spirit
enervated, her statesmen dreaming believers in the safety of their
island, provided they withdraw from the affairs of Europe, may sometimes
scold us, but will certainly not dare to fight. With France she is but
an inferior satellite; without France she is--nothing. Add to all this
a court more brilliant than that of Louis XIV., a sovereign not
indeed without faults and errors, but singularly mild in his nature,
warm-hearted to friends, forgiving to foes, whom personally no one could
familiarly know and not be charmed with a bonte of chara