The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-01 00:00:00

t 7,44.7 e
,e-40 41)
111.1,:f1S. " I
) -
-

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1, 1869.

IT may seem a paradox to say that the value of the
concessions announced by NAPOLEON 111. is in
inverse proportion to their spontaneity ; yet this is
very nearly the truth. When a man grants that
which he does not like to grant, we may be sure that
there is a superior influence compelling him to do so.
On former occasions when the French EMPEROR has
promised reforms, the pledge has been very partially
fulfilled, for he was able then to keep the word
of promise to the ear while breaking it to the
hope. He went so far as to declare that the edifice
had been crowned, and that nothing more remained to
complete the building, at the very time his subjects
were complaining that even the foundation stone had
not been laid. Since then everything has changed in
France except the reigning dynasty, and that has had
the very narrowest escape. The old policy of divert-
ing the attention of the people from domestic
politics by engaging them in foreign wars has failed
signally and disastrously. MAXIMILIAN murdered at
Queretaro, Prussia dictator at Sadowa, put an end
to imperial ambition, and NAPOLEON was then
compelled to face those demands which he thought
would have been answered by the establishment
of a Latin Empire under French auspices in Central
America, and by the revindication of the Rhine pro-
vinces. He attempted at first to cheat the people
with illusory concessions. The two laws respecting
the press and public meetings, were concessions in
little more than name. He soon found that the
people would not be satisfied with these, and that if
he ventured to enforce the penalties contained in
his new measures he would imperil his throne. So
the press became more and more violent, and organs,
openly advocating a Republic, were started on every
side, and obtained an enormous circulation. Avowed
Republicans came forward as candidates for the
Legislative Body, and proclaimed their intention to
use their position for the purpose of overthrowing the
Empire. In spite of wholesale official interference, in-
timidation, and corruption, there was returned such
a phalanx of Opposition members as has not been seen
since the Empire was founded. It then became a
question whether the Empire would not fall. Two
circumstances have prevented that catastrophe—the
dread of the middle classes that, in escaping the ills
they have, they might fly to others that they know
not of ; and the consciousness that they have now
sufficient power to make the EMPEROR do what they
please. It is :for these reasons that we are inclined
to view the Imperial Speech on Monday with less dis-
satisfaction than some of our contemporaries exhibit.
The changes announced are by no means adequate
to the demands of the people ; that we grant at once.
They merely indicate how far the EMPEROR feels
himself bound to yield. But there is nothing to
shew that he will not yield more when he is con-
vinced of the necessity for so doing. The fact that
the present concessions are extorted from him against
his will, is a pretty clear proof that he is, and will
be, amenable to pressure.
But while we expect that the French people will
resolutely refuse to accept the present instalment 01
liberty as payment in full, there is no need to under-
rate the value of the present payment on account.
One great subject of grievance has been the inter-
ference of the Government with the parliamentary
elections. This the EarpEnort proposes in some
measure to restrain by choosing the mayors from the
members of the Municipal Councils, It would have
been much better if he had allowed the electors to
choose their own mayors directly, instead of in this
indirect fashion. Moreover, it must be borne in mind
that the mayors are not the only persons who LAY.:.