sixty officers are to come for some days to Paris.
It would be easy, however, to make too little of this a Russian alliance can be of no real service to her. But in singular demonstration. It is well to remember that wars another direction it might be of inestimable service. It are likely in the future to be the wars of nations rather than might, under certain conceivable, if improbable, conditions, of Sovereigns. It is quite true, indeed, that the Czar is bring the recovery of her lost provinces within her reach ; an autocrat, and that in all Continental Monarchies foreign and it is because it might do this that Frenchmen have affairs are in a special sense the business of the Emperor for the time lost their heads over the visible sign of it or the King. But the risks of war have grown so tre- afforded by the visit of the Russian Fleet. mendous that Sovereigns, who know better than other The oddest thing about the enthusiasm which is for the people what they mean, are not likely to provoke them time almost universal in France is the attitude of a section unadvisedly. For nearly twenty years a European war has of the Socialist Party. It might have been thought that been prophesied ; and time after time nothing has stood in if there be a Government between which and the Socialist the way of one but the reluctance of each Sovereign to take Democracy there is an impassable gulf fixed, it is the the responsibility of striking the first blow. But a sudden Government of Russia. M. Floquet may have been wave of national passion might overcome that reluctance. injudicious in his choice of time, place, and phrase for The Sovereign might himself be affected by it, and even if the expression of his sympathy with the Poles ; but if he were not, he might shrink from the unpopularity, the there be any meaning in Democratic watchwords, the positive contempt, which he would incur by holding out treatment of Poland by Russia should be an insuperable against it. Though these considerations have no imme- obstacle to any such alliance as that to which half the diate bearing upon the visit of the Russian Fleet, they may French Socialists are now looking forward. Nihilism have a remote bearing on it. Excitements of this kind again, though it differs from Western Socialism, has may be infectious. The Russian people is no more proof something in common with it, and the Government against them than the French ; and the enthusiasm with which has been the object of every Nihilist plot, seems a which their sailors are received in France may awake in strange object for M. Millerand's devotion. The Paris them a real affection for, and sympathy with, the people Municipality would be gravely hurt at any denial of who have welcomed them so warmly. There may never their claim to be the advance-guard of human pro- be any opportunity for giving evidence of this affection ; gress ; but somehow progress as in Russia, is an incon- but it is at least conceivable that one may present itself, gruous legend to be inscribed on their banner. After all, and that the action of the Russian Government at a critical it seems, the ties of country and kinship are closer than the moment may be more or less influenced by the knowledge brotherhood of humanity. Freedom, no doubt, would be that in Russia the French cause is the popular cause. The preferable to despotism if it equally ministered to the glory change of feeling which is only possible in Russia seems of France; but as from this point of view despotism happens in France to have been already brought about. Ever since to be useful, freedom must be laid on the shelf until that 1870, the one prevailing sentiment among Frenchmen has convenient season when it will again be found a useful cry been the desire for peace. The memories of that terrible for French purposes. We do not quarrel with this sub- year have been too vivid, the fiscal burdens imposed upon ordination of democratic principles to French interests. them have been too heavy, to allow of their entertaining any Before the brotherhood of man can be unreservedly thought of provoking a similar calamity. But apart from war, welcomed, we feel that we should like a little more light and the alliances necessary for a successful war, the enthu- as to what manner of men are to be our brothers ; and siasm evoked in France by the Russian Fleet is unintelli- in the absence of this, we are content to see French gible. Their own Navy can show finer ships and more of them, Democrats welcoming the servants of the Autocrat who and a French naval review off Toulon would be better worth holds the key of Siberia in his hand. But it is permissible going to see than the entry of five second-class Russian to find some amusement in this amazing exhibition of ships. The whole value of the Russian visit is the hope it inconsistency. enjoyment in the bystanders when a cabman " lets out " holds out of a Russian alliance. Of course, that hope may at his fare—but it might be annoyed if its elected repro- never be realised. The Czar has ends to work for over and sentatives were bespattered in that style. And after all, above those in which France -is interested, and these may it is only abuse which is expected to destroy the House of be of more importance to him than any which the two Lords. Powers can have in common. But the French people do not think of this. It is enough for them that there is a THE RUSSIANS AT TOULON. chance that some day they may show that the Double THE reception of the Russian Fleet at Toulon, and of Alliance is more than a match for the Triple Alliance, the Russian officers at Paris, promises to be an ex- and so intoxicating is this hope that they act as though traordinary spectacle. All that a highly ingenious nation it were already realised, and boast themselves before gifted with great histrionic capacity can compass to make they have begun to put on their armour, as though they it a success, will be done with a lavish hand. For once, were already taking it off. party and class feelings have, to a great extent, been put on The attitude of France at this moment shows how pro- one side. The Paris Municipal Council, the most Radical found has been the national depression for the last twenty Corporation in the world, has actually invited Marshal years, and how mistaken they were who took this depres- MacM.ahon and Marshal Canrobert—a. Royalist and an sion as evidence of either relaxation of purpose or change Imperialist—to the banquet they are to give ; and a of character. It is the prisoner who least looks for release section, at least, of the Socialists are quite ready to take that is most excited by the prospect of a pardon, and only part in the welcome. The Russian Fleet will be neither an extraordinary despondency could have made the mere large nor powerful. Only five ships will come, and not thought of a Russian alliance the cause of wild. delight it one of them will be of the first class. The Russian is to the French people. To no nation, perhaps, could Ambassador, acting on the orders of the Czar, has the reverse of 1870 have meant so much, because no nation done his best to deprive the occasion of anything has appreciated national greatness in quite the same way. approaching to political. importance. As he puts it, it Frenchmen value the solid realities of power much as is simply a return of civilities—a visit of courtesy paid other people do, but they set more store by the external in acknowledgment of the visit of the French Fleet to accompaniments of power. The modern tradition of France Cronstadt. It has no special international significance, and is mainly made up of the two Napoleonic legends, and the Czar will look with displeasure on every attempt to the one stood for the conquest of Europe, the other give it any other character. So far, however, as the French for supremacy in Europe. Both were valued so long as people are concerned, the Czar might have spared himself they were unquestioned ; and it was to a people brought up the trouble of saying this. No one in France pays the upon this diet that the defeat and the indemnity came. It slightest heed to him. The Russian officers may deprecate is no wonder that they were crushed by such disasters ; the extraordinary attentions paid to them, but their French but it was soon evident to all who chose to see that they hosts are masters in their own house, and however their were not crushed beyond recovery. The steady determina- attentions are received, it is impossible to prevent their tion with which they have built up their Army was suffi- being offered. What the Czar can do to make little of the cient proof of this ; but this, standing alone, might not visit may weigh with politicians ; but it will go for nothing have meant more than a resolution never to be again taken with the people. The whole French nation is beside itself unawares. The excitement about a Russian alliance implies with joy at the thought that five Russian men-of-war are to more than this. France is already secure against attack. lie at anchor in Toulon harbour, and that the Admiral and Except as an element in a scheme of defensive warfare, no Power would now dream of invading her. In this respect It would be easy, however, to make too little of this a Russian alliance can be of no real service to her. But in singular demonstration. It is well to remember that wars another direction it might be of inestimable service. It are likely in the future to be the wars of nations rather than might, under certain conceivable, if improbable, conditions, of Sovereigns. It is quite true, indeed, that the Czar is bring the recovery of her lost provinces within her reach ; an autocrat, and that in all Continental Monarchies foreign and it is because it might do this that Frenchmen have affairs are in a special sense the business of the Emperor for the time lost their heads over the visible sign of it or the King. But the risks of war have grown so tre- afforded by the visit of the Russian Fleet.
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