The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-09-05
FoREIGN coRREsPoNDRNCE.

steamer Of the 4th ut, by some accident failed to
reach us before to-day. The views presented in il
will not be found, on that account the less inter-
esting or important, We lay it before our readers
without alteration, containing the reflections of a.
most intelligent observer, without undertaking to
endorse all the opinions which brings out with SO
much distinctness and force. A
...l PARIs, August 2, 1886.
DEAR SIR; To-day the elections are being held
throughout France, and although returns cannot be
received from every part Of the realm before the 80
OF ith, hazard but lits in stating that the result
when aseertaned, will be favorable 70 the continu-
anee Of the present ministry in power The canvass
has been conducted, except with an occasional allu-
sion TO the Prtehard affair by the opposition, exelu
slyely with reference to domestic questions. Mr.
Ciuizot, IN his election speech at Liseux, last Sun.
day, said that he had no longer any concern about
foreign questions; that he was only ambitious about
home affairs, by which the greatness of France was
TO be developed 10 the rest Of the world. MIR. Gui-
got although less Of statesman probably than any
individual who was elevated TO premiership
- an exceedingly willy politician. He has not the
capacity either TO conceive or execute great
ures bat he has the adrotness 10 conduct an cleo
ton with consummate ability. He unscrupulously
takes every advantage of his opponents by which
a vote may be secured-neyer hesitatiug 10 "make
the end justify the means" The following melan-
choly picture Of the manner in which the ministry
suslans itself is copied from recent number Of the
| France" The coloring seems 10 be high-the
language strong but nevertheless, / fear that the
political morals OF this country all in a somewhat
debased conditions
ain England the electoral franchise is much less
limited than in France Almost universal suffrage
prevails among our neighbors, and therefore there
| ought TO be more room for corruption; and vet as
We have advanced, there is much less. Hence
there is no governmental conuption-it is useless.
II there be corruption, Il be only individual cor
rupuOn. This confines the sphere Of this moral
seourge, reducing TO exceptional and isolated pro-
portions, and is far from resembling our own cor
| rupuon, which flows from the administration Of the
country. In England the candidate addresses him
self 10 the gross instincts Of the Masses exercising
over them the influence Of his money. He gorges
the electors with beef and ale and wins from their
drunkenness vote which they would not have
given If they had remained in the full enjoyment OF
their reason In this there is only momentary
corruption, not Of the conscience, but only Of the
excited instincts. How many electors have we not
seen in England yociferating in their drunkenness
acclamations in favor Of the candidate opposed TO
him who had paid for their drink! Then il was
that the voice OF conviction, pure and entire made
itself heard amidst all the disgusting disorder of
\ the material man. This corruption, there.
fore, Of the coarse and ignorant elector in Eng
/ land Is nothing more than a corruption sur
prised from drunkenness, and stolen from debauch
|
norant and gross DO ly OF electors. Those who, by
their social position, correspond with the electors Of
France, proof against this scourge. In general
being better informed than in France, they better
comprehend the political interests Of their country
Endowed proverbally with pride full of respect for
themselves, they reject with Indignation and anger
every offer tending to induce them to compromise
their consciences, Moreover temptations are more
rare than with us Snecures bring no returns
places IN the provinces are without any remunera-
ton; the administration is simple and easy; the
| magistracy Is unpaid; there neither projects
sub-prefects, procureurs du ro saared justices Of
the peace, royal engineers, receivers general nor
such like profitable appointments. Thus, there are
very few places to Offer those which are beneficial
| being always filled with special men, who rare
among the electors. Ii ensues that, corruption
cannot be exercised only in the name of a single
individual II Is impossible for this individual, what
ever may be his fortune, to purchase q sufficient
| number OF consciences TO form majority Cor
rupton, therefore, in England is rather the excep-
| ton than the rule What do we find in France'
| Here corruption comes down in foods from the
depositaries of power to whom it is necessary for
| supporting the antnational policy. The immense
| network Of the administration under which France
feels herself to be captive, carries it with dstend
ed veins from the heart 10 the extremites like the
| fevered blood Of dying Corruption in France
is not confined TO the gross instincts of the Masses
butspreads into the most sacred branches Of soce
ty; TO the honor of the magistrate, to the liberty Of
the functionary, to paternal ambition, TO nepotism,
and every other connection II applies itself to the
most abec moral instincts; to the vanity of igno-
rance and the vanity of the wise; to the embarrass-
ed finances of the speculator to the obbing instincts
Of the man on the stock exchange. In fine, it traf
hcks with and buys all that is most pure in mans
nature; 1t is the conscience, the conviction the prin
cpes of whole life. Ii tempts a man, till then
just and honest, to take the first step in the path of
dishonor; famiarzes him with violation of his word
and launches him on the high road of infamy."
As far as relates to the welfare of the United
States, it is of but little moment whether the gov
eminent OF France is administered by Mr.. Guizot or
Mr.. Theirs. The idea of an interference in our
affairs by European governments has utterly ex-
ploded Mr. Guizot, by whom il was so inconsd-
erately mooted last winter, has been utterly tongue
tied upon the subject since Congress authorized the
| raising of $4,000 men against Mexico Nor has
the "Debats." or any other of his presses ventured
solitary paragraph, making the slightest reference
to it within the last thirty days. He and they have
VIGOROUSLY resided from their position, and shield
ed themselves by the Paris Notifications, Or rather,
by catching at the pocket flaps of the king. In the
speech of the "balance of power" regulator, alluded
to, he remarked: |
"Gen,lemen, what passed only few days ago in
the envrons of Paris The king rode out to visit
the Notifications that have been finished. Though |
unexpected, he was surrounded by the entire popu-
lation of the adjacent country, and hailed with ac-
elamations of joy and welcome wherever he went.
Inc King OF peace, tne king VINO mas maintained
peace in France and in Europe, coming to visit the
Notifications of Paris, this king, who wiIled
and founded peace, coming to see the accomplish
ment of that other great work of his own concep- |
ton, and which will be nfalliby the bulwark of
France. There it was that all he had done for the
security of France and the stability of peace spoke
to the hearts of the men who had worked upon it, |
and the simple but intelligent people, and they
crowded round their king, utterng CALCULATIONS and
applause Upon those ramparts, the king surround
ed by the people seemed to address Europe, as
Leonidas replied to Xerxes, Come and take them
But such words Of pride would not in his mouth
have been defiance inimoa expression, for
they, too, are works Of peace which the conserva-
tive policy has accomplished under tho sceptre Of
the king and in concert with him.
Now the utility of the Notifications Of Paris re-
mains to be realized. They certainly furnish no
evidence Of an improvement in the moral or intel
ectual condition OF the French. On the contrary
when many of the small states Of Europe have
evelled their walls to the earth, and upon their sites