The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-07 00:00:00

M. OLLIVIER AND THE PLEBISCITE.

The French Premier hag addressed a second letter
to his n nstituents, in which he says: -
" Sty dear countrymen,—Let us continue our conversation.
I could not have Imagined that any but revolutionists devoted
to the Democratic and Social Republic would have counselled
you to vote against the Liberal l'Phiscite. I was mistaken.
There are men of consideration who recommend you to act in
that manner irs the name of 'them and order. Let lune° what
are their mesons for doing no. In respect of order they give
none Ic in readily understand that. Is it not evident that
If the' Node 'were to grovel on May two should be, whether
we wish it or tot, driven to a revolution or to a react ,n,
whtch Is the s ,me thing, and consequently to disorder. They
are more explicit in reapec, of liberty. This is what they
say the Vide of the Pl.,bi4cite the nation would bestow
noon the chief of the State carte bla,che upon all questions
political or socini order.' Is this really true ? To give carte
blanche to any one means giving him the right to do what he
pirates. Now. Is that a right which you will confer upon the
Eutper.u.bv the Ile./ Constitution ? Not at all. It is, on the
contrary, that right which you will withhold from him, since
in future he will not be able to change anything with-
out your consent. Therefore it is the contrary to a carte
Wench., that you will vote for. Dow is It tint lawyers can
have been so mistaken 1 Why? Well, at the risk of pro-
ticking their ire, I will tell you. Benetton they look upon
you a. an immense stupid flunk, which knows not what it
mints nor what it says, and which is always ready to say
' Yes 'to everything that is asked of it However, one of
those who have signed this floe declaration ought to have re-
membered that when as a Minister of General eavaignac
he wished you to ray 'Yes 'foe his general. you replied unsold-
ntounly, 'Yen, butts is for Napoleon.' Upon the present occa-
sion, my friends. you will again say with one accord, ' Yes '
for Napoleon, who does no. despise you, who loves you, who
values your opinion, slid No' to those who regard you as
mere voting machines, and who think that an Emperor who
can do nothing without consulting you can carry out any-
thing that enters into his f aocy. And then just consider their
I logic. If your denudes when you elect are conaulted, then
there are guarantees; but when you are consulted, you who
! appoint these deputies, it is as though no one were con-
stilted. Let them settle that point as they best can. In
the meantime, nip dear countrymen, receive my warmest
salutations. "EMILE OLLIVIER."

M. GCIZOT AND THE PLEBISCITE.

The following letter has been published in the
Journal des Debuts, being a reply to various in•
quince as to M. Guizot'e opinion of the present
"1 am very sensible of the flattering opinion you have
been so MIA as to express, and I reply, not without some
regret, but without hesitation, to the letter which you did
me the honour to write, and to the question it conveyed.
I shall vote ' Yes ' at the Pl,bincitA proposed for the ac-
ceptance of France. I deeply regret that the liberal reforms
proposed by the Emperor should not have been previously
discussed and deliberated upon by the Corps Li.4iniatif, as
well as by the Senate. I also regret that the Pa biBcite in-
stead of asking from the country merely Its sanction for
these reforms, should also require an express ratification of
the entire Constitution and its bases as they have existed
since 1352 This has caused uncertainty and doubt in the i
minds of many ex,ellent citizens, who have been willing to I
accept accomplished facts, even though they may have
disapproved and opposed them, but who are anxious to pre-
error their sincerity and personal diguity when for the in-
terest of their countrythey make a sacrifice of their cherished
opinions. A risk has been incurred very needlessly of
losing many votes as honourable as they woul.i be useiul,
and of ronsing a 'titter feeling in the nonds of men who are
!slimed to act with moderation and equity Governments ,
perceive% hut imperfectly their own interests when, after :
long political ag t stion, they incessantly revert to the Is
revive feelings whirls were formerly providied by certain of
their acts, a 4 egain expose themselves to the criticism of
a public which is most desirous of c.inaiderlng the present
and the future. Repeated ratifications produce excitement
rather than tranquility. and weaken the istalnished powers
snore than they strengthen them. In the days when a ,
religious sanction was especially desired for new Govern-
ments repetition was carefully avoided, and whatever changes
might be introduced or accepted in the internal slalom of
affairs, no sovereign in France or elsewhere in Europe was
ever crowned a second time. But while unreservedly
pointing out what in the pl,',4scile of the 23rd of April I
regard as very lamentable mistakes, I cannot and do not
fail to recognize the value of the reforms which it affects in
our institutions, and the important improvement which
they will produce in the general position of the countiy.
liy their means we are making A great step in the direc-
tion of free government—of government by the conntry
itself. 'Dem reforms are favourable to the regular
advance of public libert,es, and to a proper adminis-
tration of public affairs. They Insure to the country the
legal existence of its influence over the designs and the
etc of its Government by means of responsible advisers.
They are at the same time for the ruling pester a principle of
strength and a pledge of the national sympathy. They place
France in a posit'oti to geard against fresh revolutions, to
which her real wishes, as well as her material and moral in-
terests, are opposed. Those are, in my opinion, paramount
and decisive reasons in respect of the question now submitted
to the country, which most be taken to outweigh the objec-
tions to which I have referred. I. am convinced, therefore,
that we may and that we ought to vote with gratitude and
hope for the I'Vbiscite which comprises those reforms, and
that in acting thus we shall give to our country a great im-
pulse towards the end of all national allll enlightened Govern-
ment. the strengthening of order, and the extension of
liberty by the effectual action of the salon in its own affairs
and upon its own destinies. "Receive, skc.,
“GIII3OT."