In my youth I ardently desired one.

I fought for one; I conspired with Mazzini, a saintly man, a believer, who was shattered by collision with the absolute.

And then, too, one had to bow to practical necessities; the most obstinate ended by submitting.

And nowadays would a republic save us?
In any case it would differ but little from our parliamentary monarchy.

Just think of what goes on in France! And so why risk a revolution which would place power in the hands of the extreme revolutionists, the anarchists?
We fear all that, and this explains our resignation.