The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-20 00:00:00

41Ik
ult
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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1848.

We await with some curiosity the result of the
coming Paris election. That election might indeed
be regarded as an event of great political importance,
if we could consider it as an evidence of public
feeling, if we could regard it as one of those straws
which show which way the wind blows. But under
present circumstances it would be to exaggerate the
importance of the election to view it in such a light.
Still, as an evidence of the feeling, for the time
being, of the majority of the Parisians, the names of
the new representatives of Paris will be looked for
with interest and curiosity. LOUIS NAPOLEON is
naturally the most conspicuous of the can-
didates, and it is probable, although by
no means certain, that he may be the
favoured one. To forget is a most difficult and an
almost impossible task, and this it is which renders
the position of Prince Louis so peculiarly hazardous
and arduous. It is impossible for him to forget his
parentage and his once legitimate expectations. It is
impossible for him to forget that he is the nephew of
NAPOLEON. It is impossible for him to forget that
he might have been Emperor of France I On the
other hand, it is impossible for the French Govern-
ment to forget that Prince Lours is a pretender—it
is impossible for French citizens to forget that
he has been a disturber of the peace. All these
reminiscences stand in his ;way, and seem to
interdict his passage to the National Assembly. It
has been said, that in order to prevent any repetition
of the demonstrations which took place some time
since in favour of Prince Louis, the Government
-will effectually pronounce his ostracism, without
seeming to make him individually the object of any
invidious interference, by passing a law to banish
from France all members of all families who have ever
reigned in France. We cannot think it likely that
any such harsh measure will be ever introduced, and
much less that it will be ever put in practice. Such a
law would virtually recognise the legality of the very
claims it would be intended to discountenance. A
temporary banishment of any individual family
whose presence might be productive of ge-
neral disturbance, as is the case at present with
the family of Louis PIIILIPPE, is an act fully justi-
fied by the necessity which elicits it, but a general
law not called forth by an emergency, but (appa-
rently) based on principle, which should banish every
Bourbon and Bonaparte from France, solely be-
cause the sceptre of France had once been wielded
by members of those families, would be a direct vio-
lation of the principles of social justice and the rights
of citizenship. It is, however, quite unnecessary for
us at present to inveigh against such a law, because
we cannot believe it possible that such a law will be
introduced into the National Assembly. As regards
Prince Louis individually, if he be elected we can see
no reason why he should not be permitted to take his
seat. If General CAYAIGNAC and the other members of
the French Executive be resolved to maintain those prin-
ciples which led to the Revolution of February—if
they be resolved not only to preserve order in the
state, but to promote liberty among the people,
they will have little cause to fear the presence of
Prince Lours—their popularity will be their surest
safeguard. But should it be otherwise, should they
entertain any hopes of establishing a new dictator-
ship, should they be solicitous of repeating such acts
as their recent infringement of the liberties of the
press, then they will do well to pronounce
the exile of Prince Louis—they will do well to take
every possible precaution that they will only, ac-
cording to the vulgar idiom, have their trouble for
their pains, for such precaution will avail them little,
Their domination will not be endangered by the
helpless members of once royal families, the danger
will in that case be nearer home. If the French
Government, therefore, be instigated by righteous
impulses they may safely endure the presence of all
the Bourbons and all the Bonapartes, even in-
cluding
Prince Louis NAPOLEON himself. As for
the
alatter, if he be :chosen representative of Paris,
And
admitted
i in that character into the National As-
sembly, we would fain hope that he will, by an heroic
effort, forget all those visionary dreams which dazzled
h
his youth and deluded
manhood, and remember
only his one recent declaration (inspired, perhaps, by
very different sentiments)—
duties upon me, If th© people impose
I shall know how to fulfil them."m
Let him remember this—let whi remember that by
electing him as a Member of the National , Assemblywhwhich
h
the people will have imposed duties
upon im o
duties will be incompatible with personal ambition
and antagonistic to any attempt to disturb the
national peace.

Among the subjects to which Parliament should
devote its earliest attention immediately on its
re.
assembling, is the present state of the law for the
trial of election petitions. The country is put to an
immense expense for the revision of the registry of
Parliamentary voters, voters themselves are put to
great inconvenience, and all, as it would appear, if
we are to judge from the results of the last Dublin
election, without any avail, inasmuch as every voter,
albeit' his name appears' upon the registry, may
before a Parliamentary Committee, and called upon
be dragged to prove, at a distance of OW miles