The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-06-30

permanent, and every Presidential election, SO
far regards the man, will be more or less acci'
dental. 1t is impossible to organize party 10 DC
controlled by one man, among mass OF Tour CT
FIVE millions of voters.
am persuaded that Louis Philippe has drawn
his political knowledge from the United otates'
and only adapted it TO the purposes OF an eiective
monarchy in France for as yet, the monarchy Is
| only elective-not permanent Inc actlon OF
the nolitcal institutions in England is altogether
different from that of France or the United
| states The separate houses Of the nobility or
panize the elections-corrupt the elections--in-
auence the elections-and then combine the
mower into two or three large factions in Parlia-
ment. There is no central system, as in France.
The queen is nominal, and the government is an
aristocracy.
WE'LL then, how did Louis Philippe manage
affairs, on his election to the throne of France,
or the Presidency of the French people? ] will
explain.
The population of all France consists of about
thirty-six millions Of people Of this number,
there are nearly nine millions Of males, all good
dancers, over twenty-one years of age, or of the
same class who would be voters or rifle shooters,
in the United States. Yet, it is an absolute fact,
twenty-ons years of age, there are only 100000
entitled to vote for the members OF the Chamber
ofDeputies, which is the principal organ ofthe 60
vernment now existing. The Chamber of Peers
is appointed by the king for life, and is only an
appendage Of the crown, sort Of a towel tackled
to the royal breeches, but possesses no popular
influence.
The manner in which the electoral body is re-
stricted is curious. No Frenchmap enjoys the
privilege of being an elector, who does not pay
direct tax of 200 francs year to the treasury;
and none can be member of the Chamber under
paying direct tax of 500 francs year. Both
these taxes are laid by the government, and they
refuse when they choose. Now it happens that
the division of property in France is so great that
the proportion of them rich enough to pay such a
tax. is reduced to the small number indicated
200, 900 out of 9 or 100000, over twenty-one
years of age The number of families in France,
who only occupy as freehold, about an average
of eight acres of land, is nearly 100000, repre-
senting population of nearly 30,00O,000. The
number of families who have an income, either
by land, trade, or commerce, in the towns, of
ST 900 to $4,000 year, are about 100000; and
the number who have an income over $4,000,
either by land, or trade, is only 10000, or
thereabouts. This throws the electoral power in
France, principally into the towns, and among
the merchants, manufacturers, bankers, and very
few large landed proprietors The great bulk of
the nation, comprising nearly 3O,O0O,oO0, and
consisting mostly of the small farmers, and very
small traders, have no voice in the elections at
all, and are entirely DISTINGUISHED.
Now these are the naked.. facts of the electoral
system on which Louis Philippe has to act and to
organize his government How does he accom-
plish this! What materials has he to work with?
Many and powerful are his materials; and if
heidi not manage France as easily as he does, he
would not be very able man. will explain.
The king, or the government, has a civil list,
or a batch of patronage, amounting to 93l ,977
places and pensions of all kinds, yielding an in
come to the recipients of nearly 100000 900 of
francs, or $3.50, Oo0, OOOa year. All this astounding
mass of patronage is entirely in the hands of the
king, and is managed by the several depart
ments. Of this number alone, the Minister Of
the Interior, Duchatel, has nearly 10000 well
paid and fat officials. Here are already nearly
five places in the gift of the government to every
single elector, or his friends. But this is not ALL
The regular army and gems d'drmes amount to
Yearly 4OO, 900 men, and the national marine to
60 900 more. Here is another half million of
men, with all their connexions, entirely paid and
in the hands of the government-making in the
aggregate nearly 100000 Of men, representing
population of neary.sIx or eight millions, in
the pay or service of the government, and living
out of the labor of the rest of the nation, who
have no vote, no control, no influence, in the
progress of these things, and are many white
| slaves to the government.
With such materials in his hands, Louis Phi
| lippe must indeed have been great bungler not
to have organised strong and permanent 60
| yernment; and it is sad commentary on the
folly and ignorance of the elder branch Of the
Bourbons, that, in such position, they made
themselves so unpopular. At this moment
it is alleged that nearly two hundred members of
the Chamber of Deputies are paid officials, and
receive places directly from the executive. The
whole body of electors, and all their connexions,
are more or less in the pay of the government.
Yet, with such tremendous means of influence
in the hands of the government, the opposition,
in house of 1869, or thereabouts, counts l69,
and the conservatives, as the ministerial party is
called, counts 300, of which so, called the young
ton of their own, opposed to Guizot, the organ
of which is the Presse, one Of the ablest papers
in Paris. And now, with all the power and infu-
ence of the government, it is an astonishing fact
that almost every journal in Paris, except the
Debats and one or two others, is opposed to the
present government, although not all are oppos-
ed to the dynasty. In the various departments
and provincial towns, the press is more under
the control of the government, or rather of the
Minister of the Interior. There are between
four and five hundred journals Of all kinds pub
lished in France, the greater portion Of which
are POLITICAL and in favor of the present dynasty
But in Paris and in the large towns there is
strong opposition to the government and the dy-
nasty, although it is kept in subordnation by
the September laws, the police, and the vast
masses of military The immense agricultural
population do not manifest any strong political