The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-21 00:00:00

Etc stotirryibge ((Igniter.

SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1870.

THE RULING FAMILIES.

It is said that all the Sovereigns of Europe
have com.ratulated the Emperor of the French
on the result of the pb.bixe;te. That can be
readily believed. And it can as readily be be-
lieved that all the Sovereigns of Europe, and
the aristocracy in every European country, and
probably the miodle and trading classes, are now
virtually congratulating the Emperor—and
themselves—that order reigns " in Paris.
There is not ft throne in Europe that would not
have been tottering at the present time, had the
national voting in France had a totally different
result, because then the signal would have been
given for insurrection. But Napoleon the Third
has in round numbers seven millions and a half
of voters in his favour to one million and a half
against him ; Europe is tranquil; and Sove-
reigns indulge in mutual congratulations. Eu-
rope, indeed, has ample cause for congratulation
that the attempts at insurrection, as well as the
wicked conspiracy against the Emperor's life,
have both been frustrated. A hundred persons
who were arrested during the recent riots in
Paris, have just been sentenced to terms of
imprisonment varying from six months to one
year. Thus ends this new attempt to revolu-
tionize Franco. We are without details of all
the circumstances connected with the individual
eases of these persons, and indeed few would
care to read them could they be given. It would
seem, however, that the arrests were more nu-
merous than has generally been supposed, and
that they amount to nearly 600. But not one
of these was arrested till three ftonmettionft—ap-
peals, or warnings—had been given, and they,
therefore, cannot complain of unfair rigour on
the part of the Government. The persons ap-
prehended were taken in the act of rebellion,
inasmuch as they had unlawfully assembled
after due legal warning. That they are more
guilty than others is by no means certain. It is
probable enough that some of those now in pri-
son are rather dupes than leaders. Many of
them are young, and have been led away by the
rhapsodies of the ultra-Liberal, revolutionary,
and irreconcilable party; and in this respect are
to be pitied. But even an erneSt, in Paris is a
very serious matter. As a stone thrown into a
Ipol spreads a wideding circle on the surface, so
riot in Paris spreads a widening influence
around it; and many times, even within the
memory of men now living, disorders in the
French capital have rapidly extended to other
countries. The Continent, therefore, has rea-
son to rejoice that the vigour of the Imperial
government has been displayed in at once boldly
suppressing an incipient insurrection, and in
bringing the rioters to justice. This sorry re-
sult of the emeutes which have affrighted Paris
ought moreover to convey a lessen to the ex-
treme party in France. They ought to see that
the days of street revolutions in Paris have ,
gone by. M. lioussmann, the reconstructor of
the capital, it is well known, was directed by the
Emperor for a purpose and that purpose has
been accomplished. It would be well therefore
for the would-be regenerators of France to mo.
di!), their plans. Let them try the moral force
of a free press, devoted not to revolution, but to
national advancement by legitimate weans. The
very fact that France now has a press as free as
that of any country in Europe should in itself
prove to irreconcilables that there are better
ways of advancing their peculiar opinions than
by goading on excitable dupes to upset onini- ,
buses and fancy they are barricades.