The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-23 00:00:00

WEEMS CIMPReI
FRENCH PRESS ON DO'BIESTIC
AFFAIRS.

The report presented by M. Troplong in the Senate is
spoken of in unusually eulogistic terms by several of the
!Paris journals, and some of them seize on the opportunity
Ito
pass a high encomium on the policy and acts of the Se-
cond Empire. The Patrie commences with the following
iobservationa :—" This document, in which are explained
~the principles of authority and liberty which are the basis
oo
our
ro udre
liinbsetriatutitl I:
gon s,
assemblies,i is not on lybautr eap olretamrnaedde
atno
dthce firsteot
ef
commentary on the memorable acts of the 14th of Nov.
In reading with the serious attention they deserve these
kpages in which the fire, magistrate of France expresses the
rtinost elevated ideas of po.lity, one feels that the great tradi-
tions of the French magis..`racy, which has never ceased to.
. take interest in the grave pt oblems that affect the destinies
of our country, are revived. .The eminent reporter has first
indicated the real character of the measure, the object of
which is to render public contrei 1 efficacious in financial
matters. Going back on the past,• he has, by giving details
remarkable fur Parliamentary eruditt:on, endeavoured to as-
certain what were in this respect the
4., ondit ions of the for-
mer power in the State, and has retrae
NO the long conflict
between the Chambers and the Crown, a conflict which
ended in displacing the sovereignty, in lowering the throne
by compromising the representation, and int which preten-
sions were too often taken for rights, and enettiachments on
power for guarantees of liberty."
Referring to the charge of excessive expenditure brought
against the empire, the writer arks what person there is
that would wish to efface from the page of histo,7 the
names of Sebastopol, Magenta, and Solferino ? Tranquillity
extremere-e Asiastablishe rodtahthwon open, the
influence restored abrosA,
the Bospherus made free, Italy'
delivered, and in the midst of such great achievement:Ft,
France advancing steadily in new paths of progress by the'
''power of manufactures and free trade—such, the Patric
.., declares, are the results which may be pointed to in return
-,for the money expended. The article then proceeds in
these terms :—" The Emperor, inspired by the services
his reign has rendered to the country, now desires to
7 endow France with institutions which shall associate
the nation more intimately with the government of pub-
Pc affairs. He abandons in prerogatives which aro
`..., henceforth useless what he acquires in historical popu--
larity. It cannot, however, be denied that this liberal and
4 generous consequence of a reign which counts so many
: memorable events disquiets several persons. By a singular
accord, men whose devotedness is not suspected, and par-
•:ties systematically hostile, unite in the same sentiment.
:,' Liberty,' say they, 'is incompatible with the empire. It
presents in the actual state of France immense perils, and
II wll inevitably produce a catastrophe.' That sentiment,
which is to be perceived in the fears of some and in the
~. hopes of others, is at times expressed even in official docu-
ments."
The water declares that he sees no ground for such ap-
prehensions, for this reason especially—that the govern-
" went of the empire is essentially different from those which
preceded it. The article says—" Is the empire, which has
:i. been elected by the free suffrage of the nation, and is sur-
• rounded by parties who have exhausted their cha-aces of
• " governing, and each of whose defeats was a revolution—is
the empire placed in conditions similar to those of the poli-
tical establishments which preceded it ? It is combated as
.i.
the Reston tion was, both by reminiscences of glory and
the aspirations of liberty ? Is it condemned as the Orleans
monarchy was, to take one by one from insurrection all the
• attributes of the sovereign powor ? No; nothing in its
origin or its past career, nor in the social elements which
form the basis and guarantee of the empire, permits such a
:',comparison. Ten years after its double accession, in 1825
'as in 1840, the monarchy of the charter was obliged to ells-
, ' pute with parties and factions the remnant of power; and
, . we ask of every impartial man if the case is the same at

!present ?"
The language of the Pays is even perhaps more compli-
mentary to M. Troplong than that of the journal just
iquoted. It says :—" Under the form of a report M. Trop-
long has presented to the country a complete treatise, in.
which we admire at once the impartiality of the historian,
the learning of the jurisconsult, the profound and accurate
views of the statesman. Party spirit has neglected no means
of attacking the Government of the Emperor. Even those
'who waged a deadly war against liberal ideas, under pre.
ceding Governments, have been foremost in reproaching
the empire with a want of liberality. Liberty with them
is like a corsair's flag, and changed according to circum-
stances. We are indebted to M. Troplong for having once
!more asserted the great truth that it is liberty in political
life which alone produces liberty in the institutions of a
country; and that, after all, that liberty, which some par-
ties seem so much to lament, still really exists in France,
though it is no longer comprosrised by dramatic scenes and
tumultuous cries. All the historical part of this admirable
report is treated with the utmost clearness and elegance.
M. Troplong gives a graphic,description of the hereditary
struggle perpetuated from 1816 to 1830, and from
1830 to 1848, between the elective assemblies and
the Crown. He shows us the action of the chambers ex-
ceeding the limits of control, and gradually encroaching
upon the whole administration. What were the results of
this usurpation of a new kind ? What did the Chamber of
'Deputies gain by this extension of its power? The con-
trollers controlled nothing, and caused a great expenditure;
,to such an extent, indeed, that the finances presented a de-
ficit in time of peace. In the one session of 1847 there were
amendments proposing reductions of 600,000 fr,, while those
'for additions to the expenditure amounted to 4,000,000;:r.
`The floating debt now amounts to 800 millions; it was above
'6OO millions in 1818, and the Government of July was then
about to negotiate a loan of 350 millions. Had it stood a.
few menths longer, it would have bequeathed as a floating
debt the 1,000 millions which have eo often appeared, like
the Ghost in Hamlet, in the columns of certain journals.
Yes, the empire has borrowed 2,000 millions for war
These 2,000 millions paid for the siege of Sebastopol, Ma-
genta, and Solferino. Yes; the empire has borrowed 500
millions for peace ; but it has executed works of public
utility to the value of 900 millions ; it has also lent its sup-
port and credit to railways, and has thus led to an outlay
of 3,000 millions in improvements."

COUN2BY II~IRKI.I S.

.v. -
YORK- DEC. 21.

The supply of wheat at this market to-day was short,
and a limited business was transacted, at about the same
prices as last week. Barley a limited show, and in better
request. Oats in small supply, but a steady inquiry, at
late rates. Beans supported previous quotations.
Wheat, red 60s to 64s 1 oats.... 2os to 26s
White do .64s to 68s Beans 48- to 52s
I
Barley .30s to 38s Peas .• • • ^-8 to ...--EI
Malt, 68s to 70s per qr. ; rye, 36s per qr. ; flour, 468
,to 48s per sack.