The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-13 00:00:00

FRANCE.

follows_ on the coming elec-
tions and other Councils
tioTnsheof
throughout the country
" The Government is anxious to carry into
. execution
without delay the law relative tod the
_reorganization of the
departmental and municipal
_aminiatrations. Scarcely
has the law been promulgated than it fixes the period at
to take
. place. Thus for the third
which the elections are
time since the 21st December, is the whole
. nation called on
to sanction by the free exercise of its vote the consti-
tution which it has given itself. For the third time the
Paysthe remarks
Councils
Government makes an appeal.to the people and places in
its hands the right of organizing the great public
powers.
In a few days this universal suffrage, the terror of old
parliamentarianism, but which has twice saved the
country and society, will again be at work. After having
handed over the direction of its destinies to him who
bears the powerful name of Napoleon; after having
elected representatives who were to make laws and • vote
the taxes, France, even to her emallest communes, is
about to consecrate the popular right in the choice of
her magistrates; and the example of the past authorizes
us to affirm beforehand that this manifestation of the na-
tional will be as calm, as solemn, and as intelligent as
those which preceded it. It must be admitted that the
Councils-General and the Municipalities are called on now
to give the Government less of a political co-operation than
of a community of practical ideas. Last year these
councils constituted a great political force. Their sittings
were become an echo of the Parliamentary storms, and
political discussions had invaded their usually tranquil
sittings. Now this situation is materially changed. More
or less sympathy may be felt towards the present Govern-
ment, but tho striking merit cannot be denied to it of hav-
ing snatched France from the torments of revolution, and
replaced society in a condition of regular development,
and public and private fortune in a state of calm and
peaceful progress. It is, therefore, in the midst of public
tranquillity that the local administrations are about
to resume their labours. It is not for a crusade
against a social enemy that they are now called
together; Catiline is no longer at the gates, and
honest men may sleep without fear. They have no
longer to enter on the burning ground of political
questions. The moral and material interests of their
localities are what must now be the objects of their atten-
tion. Who, therefore, are the men most capable of ac-
complishing this pacific mandate? In our opinion the
choice of the electors should fall on men of upright hearts,
strangers to party struggles, men of sound practical expe-
rience, who only bring into the exercise of their useful
ministry a firm love for the public weal and an unshake-
able determination to promote the interests of the country.
it is necessary to have capable and honest men, and poli-
ti▪
cal opinions or the colour of the standard under
which they may have formerly ranged themselves
should only be regarded as of secondary conse-
quence. There is, therefore, one consideration which
must not be neglected. Tho members of the general
municipal councils, before entering on their func-
ti▪
ons, will have to take the oath of fidelity to the
Constitution and to the President of the Republic.
The sittings of these councils ought not to be again
made the theatre of scenes in which insulting refusals to
take the oath shall occur. All those who will accept
the oath ought to be chosen if they unite in themselves
the conditions of morality and capacity which the repre-
sentation of the department and of the commune de -
m a nd ."