The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-05
AmeIic Opinion or the French Prcsiden'
tiul Election.


The election of LOUIS Napoleon as the first
President OF the French republic, is causing a
great deal of discussion in The American 10 FINALS
of all shades OF poliucal opinion. The English
journals in Londo n, and the British correspondents
writing from Paris, appear TO be unanimous IN the
opinion that the election OF Napoleon a repudia-
ton of the republic, aud the first movement to-
wards the restoration of the empire, or of the
monarchy. MANY at the American correspon.
dents, writing from Paris TO the newspapers pub
iished - this 'urtry. apIear to be OF the SAME
opinion; and several of journals have EXPRESSED
their concurrence IN the Judgment passed on that
remarkable event by th- En- g,sh press.
of our contemporaries IN thus city. the Co'1rier
AND E~g,4usr firm the beiii that the result Of
that electios is a decision against the republic
That paper rays:-" The republic has thus voted
upon The basis of unvrs Suffrage, IN favor ct the
hereditary pr,nc, lr Neither England nor any other
hereditary monarchy, can bolst OF so clear and
emphatic popular sanction as this " The Express
says :-.s Reaction, 10 be sure, has nov taken the
place Of progress. Monarchy is virtually restored
in France" Several other journals attached to
differ ut paries have expressed qualii ed opinions
of the same kind but none of them, we believe,
are emphatic in asserting that the election of LOUIS
Napoleon can lead to the permanent establ shment
of republlcanism or democratic government in
France.
This coincidence If opinion between the Eng
lIsh and such portion Of the American press As have
had time To give their ate ntoo To the SUBJECT, Is
very remark able feature, and appears to be anon
aloue, when we take inro consideration the mon
archIcal disposition of the British press, and the
PROGRESSED democratic tendency OF the American
journals.
In this coun Try, have just elected a new
President, mo has in measure succeeded
In reaching the Presidency by an accidental
uDIen OF the various parties, together with his
own popularity, aud in a mann-r somewhat re-
eemblins that in which the result OF the recent
election 10 France was brought about 1t is true,
that General Taylor had no consangunity with
the great founder OF our republic, the general of
our revolutionary armirs-the man who fought
through the Years war with the British
troops, and succeeded IN establishing the iad--
pendence of bis country, as well as 10 founding a
republic. General Taylor has no consa n guny
with the fanny of Washington but one of the
principal elements which led TO his nomination
as a cand date for the P.-sldency, and produced
his subsequent success, was the moral and intel
iectusl resemblance which his character bore Z,
that OF the venerared Washington This was the
most d isnDct and prominent feature throughout
the canvass that ended ia the election of the
American President Now, WHEN we turn to
France, and Examine the historical associations
and recoiecnoos that are calculated to ope rate on
the public mind there and the crisis ia which
that country was placed nj the time OF the recent
election, we will fod, We think, that the same
general traits OF human nature have exercised a
prePondersi,Dg iuhnrDce on the eve nts connected
with the recent elections both republics.
The first revolution in France WAS a terrible
convslsion and struggle of all the pa sslons of hu.
msn nature, and sl the atrocities of a barbaric
age. la the midst OF this CONFUSION the elder
Napoleon arose, and by his energy, genius, aud
military ski, gave diguity and empire to the
French peope. The history OF that man,
even Win all his errors, presents chap
ter in the history Of the French pesfl-,
which has been unrlvalled from the bega.
pDe to the present tune. He establ shed a new
government, the principles of which were differ
ent from those of any taat preceded II bu, II vas
not full Iepubcanism, OF what Is demanded bv
the present age. After a series oi changes and
mutations, covering = space OF nearly h if a cen
tpry, the French people come back to the same
point from which they STATED At the tune OF the
fret revolution, but With clearer ideas, better pre-
psraticDs, and more distinct purposes 10 view Ia
this crisis Ct AFFAIR.", s-ues ei provision 4 gov
eunsnents, sisce the revolution of February last,
had faed to give the dignity or the impulse 10 the