The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-06 00:00:00

_

LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1851.

Our announcement last evening as to the restora-
tion of tranquillity in Paris has been fully verified
—as likewise in reference to the satisfactory accounts
received from the departments. How now, about
the Alarmists ? If we were to credit their statements,
the French capital would at this moment be resounding
with the terrible sounds of civil warfare, if it bad not
already been delivered up to those wretched factions
whose watchwords are Massacre and Spoliation.
According to these most sagacious persons, Louis
NAPOLEON was to be hurled from authority by the
might of an outraged and infuriated population.
Their description of the state of things was really
something quite overpowering. Hostile forces
were advancing from various quarters towards
the metropolis. General NEUPIAYER had declared
himself against the Government. General MAGNAN
was wavering as to his sentiments in regard to the
PRESIDENT. General BEDEAU was dead in conse-
quence of the wounds received by him on the occasion
of his arrest. General LAMORICIERE had escaped in
company with the soldier sent to take him prisoner,
LEDRU ROLLIN was already in Paris, having arrived
there to organize an ultra-democratic insurrection.
LOUIS NAPOLEON himself had been formally outlawed
by the High Court of Justice—a decree being actu-
ally given containing his impeachment. The regi-
ments generally were revolting against the supreme
authorities. Barricades were being constructed in
all directions, and the people were resolved to
wreak a summary and dreadful punishment
on the leaders of the recent movement. Such were
the confident assurances of those whose wishes in-
spired them with a conviction that Louis NAPOLEON
could not long continue the supreme head of the
Republican Government. Now what is actually
proved to be the case in each and all of these parti-
culars ? Why, that every statement above given is
a lie—monstrous, wilful, and transparent. No armies
were marching on Paris. Lyons, Nantes, Arras,
Rouen, and Lille were not in a state of open insubor-
dination. General NEUMAYER had not declared
against the ruling Administration. General MAGNAN
had not hesitated in his loyalty. General BEDEAU
was not dead in consequence of his wounds—never
having been wounded at all, but remaining up to this
instant in perfect health. General LAMORICIERE had
not escaped from the hands of his captor, being all
the while comfortably ensconced in the Chateau at
Ham, with the rest of the political detenus. LEDRU
ROLLIN had not arrived in the capital, orders on the
contrary having been issued for the purpose of pre-
venting his even landing on the coast of France. The
PRESIDENT himself had not been impeached by the
High Court of Justice, no sentence having been
pronounced, much less published, by order of that
council against Louis NAPOLEON or against any
member of his Government. The troops had not re-
volted in any single instance, being unanimous in their
devotion to the distinguished personage presiding over
the Administration. Barricades were not being
erected in all quarters, having only been raised in a
very few instances and forthwith demolished by the
soldiers. While the people had not displayed any
enmity towards LOUIS NAPOLEON, having, on the
contrary, evinced by every conceivable act and ward
their enthusiasm for the elected of six millions of Re-
publicans. So much for the impudent fabrications
of those parties who, in opposing the present ruler of
France, would seem to be' openly advocating the cause
of anarchy.
As we observed yesterday, it is difficult to
conjecture what the real wishes of the friends
of liberty are in reprobating the course pursued by
the PRESIDENT, seeing that that course has led to the
formal establishment of the systems of secret voting
and of universal suffrage. Having obtained both
those inestimable boons from Louis NAPOLEON, the
nation has nothing further to expect or even to desire
by way of security to the freedom of the population.
Li crushing his numerous antagonists with the strong
arm of ministerial authority and with the might of
the military power at his command, Louis NAPOLEON
has been compelled, by the principles of self-
protection, to act with the most rigorous
determination. Hence the rigorous conduct
of the Minister of War in putting an end to the
very first outbreak of rebellion among the disaffected
—the proclamation issued under his signature, hold-
ing out the punishment inflicted by the laws of war
against all parties either found in arms er in the
construction of barricades. It would have been
wiser, however, to have eschewed in every instance
the adoption of such measures as must inevitably
produce reprisal at the very earliest opportunity.
The shooting of a batch of prisoners in cold blood on
Thursday night in the Champ de Mars was not merely
a crime on the part of those in authority, but
a blunder of a very grievous character. Had we
the power to address to them directly or indirectly
our sentiments in reference to this very lamentable
transaction, we would, as the admirers of their policy
in every other particular, urge them with all possible
earnestness to avoid any repetition of these proceed-
ings. They cannot but be detrimental to their in-
fluence throughout the community—an influence
which must otherwise remain unrivalled and un-
shaken. Let us consider the occurrence referred to,
therefore, as a blunder—merely as a blunder—and as
a blunder that runs no risk of a repetition.
Reason has assured the French people, that in
upholding Louis NAPOLEON they are best consulting
the interests and the liberties of the community. We
must hope that reflection will only confirm them in
this opinion, and that under the shield of the ballot,
and with the trenchant sword of universal suffrage,
they will be able to stand henceforth securely as a
race of freemen in defence of the national sove-
reignty.
Louis NAPOLEON has acted in this tremendous
emergency in a manner worthy of his august posi-
tion. He has revealed a sagacity that has set at
defiance the wiles of a gigantic conspiracy, of
a conspiracy conducted by the cleverest political
partisans in the whole of France. He has revealed a
courage, moreover, amounting to the extreme of
temerity, and of an almost extravagant hardihood—
and by this means, by his dauntlese bearing and im-
perturbable audacity, has awed the anarchists into
quietude, and disarmed even the advocates of his as-
sassination. For, inasmuch as he has crushed conspi-
racy, and conquered terrorism, and maintained order,
and protected property, and revived the ballot, and
re-established universal suffrage, Louis NAPOLEON has
earned a right to the admiration of his contemporaries.
He has shown himself capable of outwitting the craft
of statesmen, and of outgeneralling generals who are
among the most illustrious Captains of the Age. He
has done more than this—he has shown by a thou-
at
itzd actsof
' great
that he is worthy of being the representa-
reatpeophlee
isi that
Prince.he is the Champion of a
Republic, though the heir of an Emperor, that he is
a Patriot,- though

Few events of recent years have created greater
excitement in the sporting world than the trial in the
Court of Queen's Bench of three
persons, who
autpie leastd rather
i badd
formerly held commissions
in her M
and who since their retirement had occupied
service,
prominent positions on the turf', nrce
attained considerable notoriety from the magnitude
of their betting transactions. The individganalt:.e
question (who were denominated captains by courn
tesy, and who were certainly better entitled to the
distinction than the majority of those assuming it,
having actually attained that rank at one time,) were
indicted for having obtained the sum of 7,300/. ster-
ling from the prosecutor (formerly a brother officer),
and also for a conspiracy to defraud the unfortuate
victim. The disclosures made
during
the progress of
t he trial were of the most startling description, show-
i> >g how the modern
Sir MULUERRY HAWKS manage
tl ieir ;1
pull-s, and how the VERISOPHT3 of the present
ds \y are stripped of their fortunes
by pretended