The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-28 00:00:00

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your confidence," and it is fitting therefore that
in receiving the result of the vote he should ex-
press his gratitude to the nation, which for the
fourth time within 22 years has given him "a
striking proof of its confidence." The Empe-
ror had appealed directly to the people, instead
of to the Senate and the Legislative Body. His
object in doing this was to obtain the popular
ratification of a constitutional reform ; but it
soon became evident that broader and deeper
questions wore agitating society. To the pro-
position as placed before the people wag added
the support of an opposition to the Emperor
personally, and the enemies of constitutional
government and civil order made the plebiscite a
struggle between law and order on the one hand,
and ultra liberalism and even revolution on the
other. The Emperor may now therefore well
congratulate himself and the country that the
People have by an ovsrwhelming majority not
only decided that the reforms carried out within
the lust few years have been wise and beneficial,
but that in upholding the Emperor and imperial
institutions against political faction and the
schemes of conspirators the general welfare of
France has been promoted. Now that the Em-
peror of the French is more powerful than ever
it is important to nate what is the line of policy
' which he recommends. This policy does not
concern France alone, but the world. It is sat-
isfactory to observe that throughout his speech
there is not a word which is inimical to the main-
tenance of peace. True the Emperor considers
it the duty of those whom he addressed, as well
as his own, to seek out the means of increasing
the greatness and prosperity of France; but it
would be is very forced construction indeed to
put upon this to make it refer to the trenching
on the rights and liberties of any other coun-
try. Everything in the imperial oration indeed
tends to show that Napoleon desires to concen-
trate his own energies upon and direct those of
the Legislature to the internal affairs of the
country. Tersely and powerfully he puts the
principal objects that should now be aimed at.
"To spread instruction everywhere." This is
just what England as well as France needs, and
what both countries are aiming at by different
methods. "To simplify the administrative ma
chinery," we, too, are striving after the same
good, and every session we achieve something
, towards it. "To lead activity from the centre
where it superabounds to the extremities which
it deserts.- This is rather Quixotic, and as far
as the vague phrase conveys any meaning MC-
rates a policy which had better be left alone.
The development of " activity " may safely be
left to the people themselves and is governed
by laws which Legislatures do not make, and
with which they are not called upon to interfere.
"To multiply the general agents of production
and wealth" is equally vague, but if the Empe-
ror means by it the development of the resources
of France and freeing her commerce and trade
from any unwholesome restrictions, no possible
objection can be raised to such a policy. "To
favour agriculture and the development of public
works" is a good object, and the latter point has
always been a strong one with the Emperor;
but it involves many difficulties, not the least of
which is the heavy taxation imposed chiefly on
the middle classes for the benefit of the work-
men. it is a question, however, whether we
might not in this country do a little more in the
smile way in which the Emperor ha a done so
much. The final feature of the imperial pro-
gramme is, perhaps, the most important of all,
" the best distribution of the burdens which
weigh upon the taxpayer." We can all sympa-
thise with that aspiration. The Emperor speaks
of this sea problem which is "always solved and
always re-appearing." With us it is never solved,
but always being solved: or, at least, its solution
'is always being attempted. There is, indeed,
much iu the imperial speech and in the pro-
-1 gramme which he recommends that telltales i
ourselves. We feel that two great nations,
differing widely in constitution, in sovereignty,
and in modes and forms of government, have
much in common; that the people have the
same wants; that in both countries they are the
source of real power, and that it is to them-
selves chiefly, and to rulers and legislators sub-
ordinately, that they must look for national
prosperity and advancement.