The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-15 00:00:00

,',4)l3r,eltlill 'il _TWIIIL

LONDON, FRIDAY, DE-6ESI BER 15, 1848.

One of the wiliest sophisms promulgated by the
reactionary party, in reference to the triumph of the
imperial candidate for the Presidency is this—that
the success of the Prince LOUIS NAPOLEON is tanta-
mount to a:declaration against Republicanism, and to
a demonstration in favour of Legitimacy ! The fallacy
of this is something monstrous. And to demonstrate
the inaccuracy of the assertion, it is only necessary to
reflect for a moment upon the principles identified
with the cause of Bonapartism.
NAPOLEON was the incarnate spirit of the Revo-
lution. He was the crowned champion of democracy.
He was the direct emanation from the people whose
symbols were Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. He was
the sword wielded by the free millions of France for
the punishment of their assailants, for the subju-
gation of kingcraft, for the dissolution of many suc-
cesive coalitions. In his Code were digested the sub-
lime truths contained in the crudefpandects of the
philosopher and the demagogue—in the Contrat Social
of ROUSSEAU, and in the Droits des Hommes of Ro-
nan-mune. The glory of NAPOLEON belonged- to
the people, because he himself was the hero raised up
on the buckler of the Republic and crowned with
the golden circlet like the ancient kings of Attica.
When NAPOLEON was anointed an Emperor by the
hands of the Sovereign PONTIFF, the people felt that
in that ceremony they themselves were exalted into
the nominees of royalty. When NAPOLEON placed
on his head the iron crown of Italy, the people knew
that in his person they themselves were adorned
with the heroic decorations of CHARLEMAGNE. When
he flung a diadem to MURAT, they exulted at the de-
basement of the tyrant of the two Sicilies. When he
robed JOSEPH with the purple of Navarre and Cas-
tile, they saw only the ignominies inflicted upon an
emasculated and licentious dynasty. When he took
upon himself the Protectorate of Switzerland, they
recognised his identification with the cause of federal
liberty. When he assumed the Government of the
Germanic Confederation, they found themselves in:the
person of their Sovereign invested with the authority
of the Northern exults. When he elevated Louis
to the throne of Holland, and entrusted JEROME
with the sceptre of trans-
formed Westphalia—when electorates into when he
kingdoms and granted
new dignity to the princedom of Etruria—when he
espoused a daughter of the Rouse of Hapsburg, and
named their offspring
even in his cradle the successor
of TARQUINIUS SUPERIES th
Democracy and the
e saw in all
An
this only the glorification of e
degradation of hereditary Despotism, d
they saw
rightly—the dictatorship of NAPOLEON wathg
a
cessity of the nineteenth century. -without etnht
e-
dictatorship the revolution must have been trodden
into ashes. With it the cause of the multitude
acquired the prestige of glory, the awe of power, the
vitality of strength, and the elevation of intellect.
Monarchs were taught to respect the grandeur of the
revolution if they continued to abhor its principles.
And they were taught this through the medium of
their own tremendous vicissitudes ; they were taught
it by the victorious legions of a Conqueror, whose
triumphs extended " from Memphis to Vienna, and
from Cadiz to Moscow." That such is the only
rational estimate of the cause of which the supre-
macy of NAPOLEON was the embodiment, is attested
by the coincidence in that estimate of the most stern
and uncompromising of all the advocates of Demo-
cracy. It was the sense of this great fact—that the
imperial diadem of NAPOLEON was the helmet of the
Revolution—which induced WILLIAM HAZLITT, the
radical philosopher of London, to become the pane-
gyrist of the King and Emperor. Others failed to
anticipate the judgment of posterity upon the
victor of Austerlitz ; but before the conclusion
of his reign of fifteen years, even they re-
cognised the error of their opposition. " Would
that I had understood him sooner !" was the
exclamation of CARNOT in 1815. And with

CAamoilthroughout the Hundred Days, was united
icEWSTlnkil74port of the EMPEROR, the inflexible Repub-
Viisiamur CONSTANT. They perceived at last
rOAPOLEON was bound up the success of
er the Sovereigns of Christendom. The

truth had been hitherto enigmatical ; it was under-
stood at that period, even by the democratic and
cynical LUCIEN BONAPARTE. With the EMPEROR,
fell for thirty-three years—from 1815 to 1848—the
hopes inspired by the Revolution. At length Repub-
licanism has revived ; and now—while NAPOLEON
reposes " on the banks of the Seine, in the midst of
the French people whom he loved so well"—that
people are offering the most noble act of homage to
his memory by electing the representative of his
once powerful dynasty to the office of their first
President.
Prince Louis •IsTaroLsort has an opportunity such
as was seldom,! if ever, before granted to mortal.
Without exertion he is lifted from the quietude of
domestic life to the summit of a great Government.
Educated in misfortune, his mind cultivated in child-
hood under the care of the beautiful and accomplished
HORTENSE, his ideas enlarged by the prolonged con-
templation of the genius of the wonderful founder of
his family—he is now, in the ripeness of his man-
hood, raised to the direction of the destinies of
country. The prisoner of Ham in 1845—in 1648 he
is the President of the French Republic ! It is im
possible but that the mind of the Prince, at
this solemn moment of his existence, must
be impressed with an awful and almost
overwhelming sense of the responsibility of his posi-
tion. Finding himself already installed in the chair
of Presidency-1,100,000 votes out of 1,500,000
having been counted, even now, out of , the urns of
election—he must take courage from the imminence
of affairs, and, by a judicious selection of subordi-
nates, consolidate his administration. One circum-
stance has transpired within the last few hours which
augurs well for the prudence of the successful candi-
date. This very day, December the 15th, being the
anniversary of the entombment of the remains of the
Emperor NAPOLEON in the Church of the Invalides,
would have been commemorated as usual by a funeral
service, attended
,in great state by the veterans of
the Imperial army, clothed in their ancient
uniforms—but that the PRINCE has issued an order of
prohibition ; and the anniversary which might have
led to incalculable disasters will pass off in profound
tranquillity. Another act, emanating, according to
report, from the mind of the future President, may
be viewed as the omen of a felicitous circumspection
on the part of his Government—we mean the ru-
moured promotion of General CAVAIGNAC to the
rank of Marshal, with either the command of the
army of the Alps or the Governorship of Algeria.
By such measures the sway of the Prince-President
might be inaugurated with conciliation ; and by a
disinterested selection of Ministers from all "parties,"
without prejudice, the Republic might be perma-
nently consolidated under the direction of a 80,
NAPARTE.

The Liverpool Currency Reform Association
have assumed a prominent position in the great con-
test that has already commenced. Their manifesto—
a copy of which will be found in another column—is
a document of peculiar value, to which we invite the
attention of all unprejudiced and impartial persons:
The propositions therein contained are of a plain and
simple character, and, if carried out in their integrity,
will afford an 'easy and satisfactory solution to the
great problem by which the public mind has so long
been agitated, and supply the great desideratum, a
circulating medium based on valuable property,
which cannot be depreciated in value, and which
will be adequate to the wants and exigencies of
the nation. We have long insisted upon the
adoption of a national bank, and the issue of
national notes, secured upon the resources of the
country, and which shall alone be received in pay-
ment of taxes and of every description of impost.
The Liverpool Association have adopted the principal
features of our plan, and, although there may be
some minor differences as to details, they are of a
trivial and unimportant character. Their sugges-
tions will, we trust, obtain the support of all persons
anxious to obtain a comprehensive alteration in our
monetary code, and will unite the various sections of
currency reformers.
The association calls for " the establishment by
Act of Parliament of a national bank, authorised to
issue bank-notes on the receipt of consols, such notes
varying in amount from one to a thousand pounds, to
suit the convenience of the receiver," these notes to
be the aid" .tgat tender thrni,Blo.6 ctie Unitcd
dom, and to be convertible into value, that is to say
into consols on demand at the Natiogal Bank. The
consols to bear a fixed rate of interest, which will
cease during the time they are in the bank."
Such are the suggestions that have excited an
extraordinary sensation in the camp of the
bullionists, and which have called forth the
strongest animadversions of one of the leading
organs of the party. It was easily conceiv-
able that any proposition to dethrone the
golden image that has been set up, and be-
fore ,which the nation has been prostrated for
nearly thirty years, should provoke the anger of those
who desire to maintain the present unjust and impo-
litic system in all its stringency. We would, how-
ever, scarcely have supposed that their ire could have
blaeed forth so strongly, that English consols should
be compared with French assignats, the ordinary
bugbear by which parties showing symptoms of re-
bellion against the potent sway of gold are to be
frightened into submission. We are, however, told
" that the proposed currency would be even less
substantial than French assignats." Thus
then, the funded property of the nation, that
stock in which so many thousands of our fellow-
subjects have invested the savings of their industry,
by the possession of which they have confidently
anticipated the enjoyment of the otium cum dignitate
when retired from active pursuits, and relied upon
leaving their wives and children in easy and inde-
pendent circumstances when deprived of their
natural protectors,—all these, according to the
bullionist theory, are perfectly visionary, affording
no real security, of no actual value. We
are told " tbat the assignats had a basis,
a real, physical, subsisting capital, upon which
they were issued"—that the national domains and
lands which they professed to represent had an
existence in reruns natura, though being unrealisable
at the time, they possessed no present value. But the
800 millions of capital are in nubibus, the contem-
plated paper-money would represent a nonentity, and
the projected National Bank is an institution worthy
of " Utopia." And again, the case is compared
to that of a landowner, who, with a rental
of ten thousand a year, has borrowed 100,000/. and
spent it, and has mortgaged his estate for half its
value, and it is asked triumphantly, " Can the debtor
establish a bank, and issue notes upon that founds.
tion ?"

It is easy to expose the fallacies of these arguments.
If they possess any real weight or authority, what
becomes of the boasted securities for the convertibility
of Bank of England paper, afforded by the Act of
1844 ? Are not notes to the amount of 14,000,000/,
sterling issued by the Bank upon no better substratum ?
Away with the flimsy pretext. Let the palpable
swindle be exposed forthwith in all its barefaced
udacity. Sir ROBERT PEEL, Sir CHARLEI WOOD,
of the Sterling
and Mr. Jorms LOYD have been gulling thepeople,
and inducing them to •
ennaanacodicepttyviltehactousnhtoerufleditealionnpelabcee
Consols have no real tolerated,l
bank-notes 11:114 ute ;
sanctioned or
It is now proclaimed that
and if the parties are con-
sistent,
cirembe entirely withdrawn, and
or at least there must be an amount.
eanted from hand to hand ;
nothing but gold
of gold deposited
Pqruestevatlent to the entire
in the coffers of the
parties
a for all beyond
axrteenctonsistent,
amount issued, as it is at
14,000,0001. sterling. If the
the argument must be carried to that e
can be no halting between two opinions. Thitheree r
Consols are a sufficient security for the entire circu-
lation, or they are not for any portion thereof, however
trifling. Which side of the question will the
bullionists advocate ? Whatever side they may
adopt they must throw overboard the Act of 1844,
and join the agitation for its abrogation.

MISS JULIA BLEADEN'S CONCERT.—The first con-
cert of Miss Julia Bleaden (one of the most promising
of the pupils of Mr. Howard Glover) takes place at the
London Tavern, on Tuesday next. The talen'ed
debutante will be supported by Miss Rainforth, Miss
Poole, Mr. Allen, and several other of our first vocalists
and Gerhard Taylor, the most wonderful harpist of the
day, will perform a grand fantasia, with brilliant
MS. variations. Mr. Howard Glover is the conductor;
and from the arrangements made we anticipate that
Miss Julia Bleaden's concert will be one of the most
crowded of the season.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

W have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
It is evlculated from the election returns, already
received that Prince Louis NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
will be found to have received 66 per cent. of all the
votes polled; General CAVAIGNAC, 21 per cent.;
L 6 per cent. ; RASPAIL, 4 per cent.;
anEdDEL RBIATrioN' E, 3 per cent. The Committee of the
Assembly appointed to inspect and cast up the votes
have chosen M. AEMAND MARRAST for President,
ant M. Ducos for Secretary. They will not have
completed their labours until Monday, and on Wed-
nesday the new President will probably be pro-
claimed.

The official returns for Paris, published yesterday
at the Hotel de Ville, are as follows :

►
Louis Napoleon ... 198,484
Cavaignae ... 95,567
Ledfu ... 26,6111
East ail ... 15,871
larnartine •.• 3,838
Prince Lot-Is NAPOLEON has experienced, it is
said, much difficulty in restraining his too-injudi-
cious friends, who, intoxicated by his unparalleled
and unexampled triumph, already begin to talk of
proclaiming the Empire. The Prince himself appears
to be acting with great prudence and judgment. It
has hitherto been the custom, on the anniversary of
the funeral of the EMPEROR, for the remnants of the
grand army to parade in their imperial uniforms, and
to march to the tomb of the EMPEZOR. The Prince
has appealed to them to abstain from any celebration
this year, as it might bo made a pretext for disorders ;
and, consequently, no celebration of the anniversary
will this year take place.
It is said that General CAVAIGNAC will be created
a Marshal of France.

Several of the members of the Assembly have
called on Prince Louis, to congratulate him on his

success.
Marshal BUQEAUD has arrived in Paris.
M. DUFAURE, it is said, resigned office yesterday.
The Journal des Debate has the following on the
question of the new Ministry :
" The majority in favour of M. Louis Napoleon Bo-
naparte leaving now no doubt in the minds of any one
as to his election, lists of his probable Ministry were
yesterday in circulation at the Chamber, and which will
be published immediately after his proclamation as Pre-
sident of the Republic. In these combinations, none of
which we, however, give as exact or definitive, M.
Odilon Barrot is mentioned as Minister of Justice; M.
Drouhyn de L'Huys, Foreign Affairs; M. de Malle-
vile, Interior; M. A. Fould, Finance; M. Leon Faucher,
Public Works. These five gentlemen have, it is said,
accepted their several portfolios. That of Finance, had, it
is said, been first offered to M. d'Audeffret and M. Hy-
polite Passy, who refused it. General Oudinot is men-
tioned as Minister of War, but he has not yet defi-
nitively accepted it. In the event of his refusal, General
Rulbieres will be appointed, and General Oudinot sent
as Ambassador to St. Petersburgh. The portfolio of
the Marine has not yet been disposed of. M. Fr.
Arno, Admiral Dupetit Thouars, and even M. J. de
Laeteyrie, are severally spoken of. The department of
Public Instruction has caused some unforeseen difficul-
ties. M. Barthelemy St. Hilaire was at first thought of,
but now M. de Sete, the representative for Bordeaux,
and M. de Fallonx are mentioned as likely to be se-
lectee. MM. de Tracy, Pagnerre, or Bineau, are the
names suggested as Minister of Commerce. General
Chanearnier will retain the command of the National
Guards of the Seine and the troops in the garrison in
Paris."
With regard to numbers, the Debate says—
" Oa Tuesday the Advantage of Louis Napoleon over
Cavaignac was as 2 to 3, cr even as 3to 4. Yesterday
(Wednesday) it might have been considered as 4 to 5, or
even G to 7."
The SW& says—" France has willed that M.
Lours BONAPARTE should be President of the Re-
public, and he will be so; and that with such an
immense number of votes as must smooth away many
difficulties, and give force to his government. But
how will he employ that force ? Will it be to con-
solidate or weaken the Republican constitution ? If
to affirm it—we shall aid him. But how can we
persuade ourselves that such has been the intention
of those who elected him, when we see that the
greater number, and the most ardent, have used
his name as a protest against the Government of the
Republic ?"
This paper dwells on the impossibility of Louis
BONAPARTB to hold together the mass of his sup-
porters, asking—
" Partisans of the empire, do you believe that you
alone are entitled to proclaim an Emperor? Conser-
vatives of the last reign, are you sure that your majo-
rity has returned, and that you can restore the consti-
tutional monarchy with a Prince or a Regent? Legi-
timists, do you think you can bi ing about a third resto-
ration? Certainty all these desires cannot be satisfied
at once. The triumph of one of the three monarchies
must be the humiliation of the rest. Your common
interest, then, would be to sustain the institutions that
exist on the basis of civilization and a fusion of all
classes."

On the morning of the election a deputation of
Socialists and Red Republicans waited on M. LEDRU
Romarl, and announced to him the intention of the
Socialists and Red Republicans generally to vote for
Louis NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, for the purpose of
securing for him an absolute majority, and thus en-
suring the defeat of General CAVAIGNAC.
The Illoniteur contains the following :
" It is false that General Cavaignac has had, as stated
by the Evenement, an interview with M. Ledru Rollin."
M. ARMAND MARRAST was yesterday re-elected
President of the National Assembly for the ensuing
month.
It is said that M. PAssr has accepted the Ministry
of Finances, and M. DE FALLOUX, a Legitimatist, that
of Public Instruction.
RETURNS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
SEINE.
Lotus NAPOLEON. CAVAIGNAC.
Paris ... 139,165 ..• 72,754
The rural districts 42,400 ... 15,991

Total...

... 191,565
LEDRIT ROLLIN.
Paris ... . 22,595
The rural districts 2,717 ,

88,565
RA SPAIL.
13,005
2,415

Total..