The French Royalists are showing symptoms of being as fissiparous
as the Irish Nationalists. This week there has been a very pretty quarrel between the Duke of Orleans and his cousin Prince Henry, who now apparently aspires to fill the traditional role of his family,—that of usurper of the pretensions of the head of his house. The origin of the quarrel is curious, and shows that in the best Royalist circles you must not if you have the taint of Semitism even presume to blacken other Semites M. Meyer, the editor of the Gaulois, though alleged to be of Jewish descent, is a most zealous and strident Anti-Semite. For this he has been strongly attacked by the Figaro, which has distinguished itself by its sane and plucky attitude in regard to the Dreyfus case. In order to help this Royalist and Anti-Semite editor, the Due de Lnynes—a Royalist of importance—wrote a letter of sympathy to M. Meyer. One would have imagined that the Duke of Orleans would have left such an incident alone, especially considering his own views. Instead he has written a vulgar and foolish letter in which, according to the Times, M. Meyer is referred to as "an unclean Jew," and his attitude towards the affaire is described as a mere matter of business, "worthy of his race." But the matter does not end here. Prince Henry thought he might get something out of so promising a row, and has accordingly intervened on the side of M. Meyer, with the result that the Royalist party is more than ever dis- considered, confused, and discredited,—and, what is more, is made supremely ridiculous. The Duke of Orleans has apparently to learn that good manners, dignity, and restraint of language, though desirable in all men, are imperative in those who claim and hope to mount a throne. A bad- mannered Royalty is quite unendurable, and in effect will not be endured.
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