The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-01
TRANSLATED FOR THE REPuDLc.l
French Affairs.


PARIS, November 8, 1919.
The government of France is at this moment a
charade, of which it is difficult 10 decipher the
word II one of the syllables of this charade is
white, the other is black, and together they are
blue, or they are nothing at all. Thus, the mes
sage OF the President of the Republic has at the out
set had the effect Of thunderbolt, announcing a
new era At the first soiree of the Elysee, which
followed this glittering manifestation, the leaders
OF former parties scho ieated 10 raise their flag again,
did not dare to show their dismayed countenances,
whilst their adversaries were radiant with smilcs
LOUIS BoNAPARTE having asked "a statesman what
was said in public-"They say" answered the in
clligent courtier, ''that Sextus Quintus has lust
thrown away his crutch, and is about TO become a
great Pope" 81 have acted according to nv CON
science" modestly replied the President; ''France
shall judge me-" Miss Burdett Coutts, the ccle-
brated English heiress, who was formerly betrothcd
by the London press TO Louis Napoleon Bonaparte,
and who, according to the story, contributed some
what to his escape from the prison Of Ham, was
present at this soirec, and seemed to have come ex
pressly, on the arm of Lord Normandy, to salute
with her presence the new deverance of the pri-
soner Of the Elysec.
But the terrors of some and the hopes of others
were singularly Gained on the following day by the
tenor of the programme of the new ministry, which
M p'HAuTpoUL read at the tribune. In this mani
fcsto, the cabinet declared that it was not formed
against the majority of the Assembly son the
contrary Ia naive expression,) it will develope
with energy its acknowledged principles; the AS
sembly has not, cannot haze any others" Except
ing this shaft aimed at the egitimists the conserva
tive party was authorized to expect more from the
new cabinet than the old one; for M D'HAUrPouL
promised to awaken everywhere in the minds of
ofilce-hol an imperious sentiment of duty
which was equivalent TO saying that this sentiment
had been permitted TO sumber n little, and to an
nouncing changes claimed in vain of M. DuFAURE
Almost Immediately two sub-prefects of rose tint
those OF Avalon and Neufchatel-wcrc invited to
make chasses- croisez. The latter would not sub
init to this invitation, and resigned his office
more considerable holocaust (for it embraces from
twenty to twenty five prefects) is preparing they
say, in the bureaus of the Ministry of the Interior
The language of General D'HAUTpoUL, as timid
and colorlcss that of the President was clear and
decided-these advances to the majority, which
succeed to sort of mstrust-havc been regarded
generally as new falling back; and the most in
innate friends of Louis Bonaparte have shown
themselves very discontented thercat. The people,
with their native good sense, which goes directly
W tH' pot'oiii VI nave asked themselves
what the President desired by dsmissing his
ministers, if their successors are to follow ex-
actly the track. If the play is to be the same,
it would be better to let it be gone through by
the first performers than by substitutes So the
epigrams arc raining the poor ministry which
had its birth the Jour deS Mots Gan Souls Day)
sad omen-and which is called the wind screen
ministry, the tin band, &C.
According to the quibblers, there is at the bottom
of this political revolution only question ofvanty-
question OF orgination-on the part of the Presi-
dent, jealous of his coadjutors. The question is,
think, more comprehensive Certain principles,
once evoked like the seed which fall into fur
row, which fructfy of themselves without concern as
to the hand that has sown them. The message If
the President has reused into action principles
OF government, by unveiling the possibility of GER
tain conflicts. Struck with this danger, which it
has despised until now, public opinion is employed
in seeking remedy for it, The Constitution of the
United States has seemed to offer this remedy and
the journal La Presse has demanded that, con-
FORMALLY to American usages, the ministers should
tender their resignation representatives in order
that they may employ themselves only with ad-
and finally suit " the action to tile
word" An American citizen, Mr. Nathan Har-
rlngton, OF Cincinnati, has asked permission of the
Constitutional to say his word on our constitution
This word, which occupies three long columns, is
neither short nor fattering; but he corrects with
propriety some errors into which those had fallen
who represented the executive power in the United
states as simple instrument of the Legislative
power. From all these discussions there will come
forth some propitious light. When public thought
Is pregnant with social question, il always termi.
hKr -, :.
be aborious in proportion as France is destitute of
doctors yerscd in the practice Of republican govern
ment There has been yet in the world but one
school where this government has been taught and
practscd with success that school is the American
Union So, 1T is there, and not in their cabinets
or, what is worse, in the street-that our members
Of assembly should have gone to get their nstruc-
ton.
However this may be, there is already a talk, be.
hind the parliamentary scenes, of differences of
opinion between the President and certain men,
bers of his cabinet-among others, of NJ. FouLp, who
has declared himself publicly in favor of continuing
the tax on liquors, while LOUIS BoSAPARTE wishes
the abolition Of this tax agrecaby to the vote of the
Constituent Assembly. On the occasion of unfa.
vorable, and without any doubt calumnous, reports
circulating about stock speculations undertaken by
the house Of NJ. FoULD, ON the eve of his advent 20
the ministry, a certain passage Of the complete
Works Of LOUIS NAPOLEON has been republished.
enough, in which he lays il down, as
political axiom, that minister cannot be- a banker
nor gamble at the Bouus. "What If the banker be
a Jew" newspaper has added. Certain fire.
qucnters of the Eysee say, in speaking Of the pres
ent ministry, hatit is still trial that the President
has been willing to make with tho member of the
Right; that important bills being elaborated in
the bureaus of the Presidency that they will be
proposed TO the minister's and that if the latter re-
fuse 10 sustain them boldly, then LOUIS BoSAPARTE
will be determineda to the help that he can expect
from the present majority. He would break openly
with them; and, handing in his resignation, he
would make the nation the judge Of his intentions
and Of the obstacles which they have encountered
That the President has entertained this idea of re-
sgnaton, appears positive. II is asserted that
he wished, without waiting longer, to submit him
sef at once 10 this proof but the cntrcates Of his
friends caused him TO renounce this heroic rcsou-
ton, which could only have import and logical JUS