The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-28 00:00:00

tht etVreoo*

TO CORRIYI PON
A oenadi /Milos of " tame." yonwfator as now 'nosh*,
"harm." pelliding miry Tofmky sal Mal gm
12 P.
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mow ho at the newt. 111. lloosorlooarva, y Two 'Naomi to tat
day el psillistisa.

111011 WILTSR AT LONDON BRIDOI
Tun Da—]lllstel. Ok.
Tebroaarr—Sonlag. II Sta. Alterases ill. lee.

LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 28.

IT has some to be trettywell understood that the
protestations of the French PnestneNT--especially
when they 'remade with any considerable degree of
vehemence—ere to be interpreted by the rule of con-
traries. Accordingly, ever since he declared that
nothing would tempt him to alter anything in his
present tenure of office—unless compelled by foreign
conspiracy or domestic treason—no reasonable being
has entertained a doubt that he would lose no time
in clutching at the imperial crown.
The correcteess of this interpretation of his self-
denying language is manifest from what is now
going on in France. He and his partisans are in
full cry after the Empire, like s pack of fox-hounds
with the object of their cheer in view.
With great difficulty the legal number of electors
were induced, sonic little time ago, to take part in
the fan* of electing General Councils. And now
that the General Councils have been got together, the
first use to which they are turned, is to induce as
many of them as poreable to petition, in phrase more or
less explicit, for the re-establishment of the Empire.
Meanwhile, the parsaitical spirit of the Pitraitur-Nr's
retainers outruns the tardy movements of the coun-
cils. 'ChM' language respecting him has been rapidly
rising to a climax of adulation. They began by de-
signating hint " eon allesse," they have
: already got
the length of speaking of " his reign."
in anticipation of the coming dynastic institutions,
the Moniteur has just commenced a vindication
of them from the malevolence of English journals.
The Monitettr, with the tact of a wary advocate who
knows he has got a weak case, says as little as possi-
ble of the future constitution of France, but is large
and lavish of its condemnation of other constitutions,
(If course the English constitution could not escape.
" Far from us," says the Moniteur," be the ter
of recriminating against English institutions." This
is the old story with controversialists who have lost
their temper. "I have no wish to deal in personali-
ties: but if 1 chose"—anti therewith the floodgates
of scandal are opened. The Moniteur's "no thought
of recriminating against English institutions is
merely the preface to a most disparaging compari-
son between them and the coming Empire.
We certainly feel no call to take up the cudgels
in defence of the abuses which have crept into our
English constitution
i upon which the sharp-scented
Noniteur pounces. There s but too much foundation
for its assertion, that "the seats in Parliament be-
long to the most wealthy;" and far be it from us to
deny that there exists a widely spread dread of " open
voting," and a " demand for secret voting." But the
very existence of these abuses proves the existence
of popular rights and powers which they in part
neutralise and counteract. The French eloetive sys-
tem may be free from such drawbacks, hut apparently
it is so simply in virtue of its being no real elective
system at all. The English electoral system is sick,
but the French one is dead. Now it may imply a
want of heroism in the English people, but they cer-
tainly do prefer being political invalids to being
politically defunct.
If we may believe the Moniteur, the French
nation is perfectly satisfied, quite delighted, with its
present, or more properly its impending, constitu-
tion. If so, we believe there is not a single English-
man who will not sincerely and heartily wish the
French people joy of it. All Englishmen whose
opinion is worth a farthing, are agreed that it is the
business of the French people only what form of
government they choose to hvc under. So long as
they leave their neighbours in peace, they may
arrange matters at home as they plesse. But
there is an irresistible tendency in hums
nature to form judgments, and express opinions, TR-
specting objects submitted to their senses. Men can-
not keep from criticising pictures, steam-boats,
wrestlers, and so forth. They do not on this acre et
expect that what they censure is to be re-modelled
according to their notions. They merely seek to est
their minds at ease by speaking them freely. And
so with national institutions. Englishmen have no
wish to interfere with those of France • but if
French institutions appear deficient in wsdom to
Joint lieu., he cannot for his life keep from saying
so. He is quite willing that Frenchmen
return the compliment; be will take their NMI En•
precatory criticism in perfect good part.
in this spirit we must say, with all debamm
the feelings of the writers in the Mondale, that as
dynastic government in the progress of elaboration
in France, appears to us as bad a one as can well be
conceived; and that we shall be much surprised if it
is long tolerated by the French people.
The Monsieur speaks of the universality of the
seance in France. We will not deny that it the
vote by whit* the PRESIDENT was invested with
the powers he hes been exercising since January was
truly eeportad. be may say that ho was chosen by
naimma maw But since that time the energise
of the mange is Frame has been practically ene-
ponied. Mame me net allowed to womb as to
w eandideens shall be pat forward i cosaides
didlited by t are deterred from oaring
themselves. when elected find amoebae
Moped llama power, legislative or administentim.
Vie whole Wok is such a palpable bre., that
an bemeneo integrity of the sinters, embracing
woo" their member the prependoresee of French
mtelligsaue medi almost all Fiona respectability
stand abet hem it. beide' on in sold and silent sew
tempt. The hummer weed that the national
vote 'lda *OM MR where he is ahriald Imply a
seereeder if the ammebe of the wasp ever -after.
at d be hes used ipso the
Franco is pnellealygiverneutiTC:tiespotiern—by
the will of am men en( those cesmalers who have
influence with him. The only caution yet unsettled
is, whether hie teem et despotic power shall be for
ten years, or for lib. sr whether it shad be made
hereditary in his boils. Bat at this moment Frame
is se compietely unheated to his wayward will, as
emir Pommy wen le that of Hr. Fmiccia.
The co immense el this state of affairs is already
appoint The press is silenced. The national
flannens have Wen involved in mystery. The mili-
tary power is emoted by lavish donations and dis-
tributions of hemeen. Every effort is made to in-
duce the prima's.' to attribute a sacred character
to the ruler sod his family. Sovereign power in
France is prepped up by two influences—the same
that bear away in the Kingdom of Dahomi—that
of the sword, and that of the Fetish, or Mambo-
Jumbo. The nation which at one time claimed to
be regarded as the enlightener and liberator of the
rest of Europe—and which had this claim allowed
by many—has voluntarily stooped the level of the
savage and benighted African.
France has a right to do this within her own
territories. No other people has a right to bold her
hands. Yet more than a speculative interest, even
for foreigners, attaches to the contemplation of the
strange drama that is at present being enacted in
France. Every other civilised nation has extensive
pecuniary or mercantile connexions with France.
Every other civilised nation has citizens who have
invested property, or even trusted their persons in
France. It is the duty of the countrymen of all such
f;
to warn them if they see danger approach. 1
ow, no sane person can imagine that the NAPOLEON
Government, which has risen like an exhalation in
France, can be permanent. It has no hold on the i
faith of the nation which has outgrown the priestly'
mummery to which LOUIS NAPOLEON has recourse.
The active and intelligent spirits of France are im-
patient of the attempt to concentrate all political !
action in the hands of the PRESIDENT and his crea-
tures. The growing Empire is weaker than the
Restoration, weaker than the Monarchy of the Three
Days. It is not the termination of the intestine con-
tests of France. only a momentary lull of the storm
which is sure to break out with redoubled • iolence after
the pause. Frenchmen we do not presume to advise;
but all Englishmen who may have commercial deal-
ings with France, who may have sunk money in its
public works, or who may have selected it es their
place of abode, we would earnestly advisee to be on
the wuteh fur the coming tempest, and to hold them-
selves in readiness to decamp with bag and baggage
as soon as its first low matterinp are heard.