The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-06
The French Election.

Ill.
ton After many contortions and parturient throes,
which might have led us to expect the advent Of
somebody" into the Presidential chair the French
ballobox has been delivered of what strikes US a.
something very like the muscipular abortion men,
toned a. having been produced by the mountain
in labor. Prince Louis Napoleon, or the citizen
Bonaparte, il, the telegraph informs US, President
of France. This result has for some time been ex.
pected, and therefore astonishes none, yet we must
confess that we are somewhat grieved by it. We
had hoped that France in the first exercise of her
newly acquired freedom, would have proved her.
self worthy of it, and would not bow idolatrously
to the shadow of that greatness which once before
subverted her liberties. She has not even the ex-
cuse of being blinded by the meridian splendor of
the sun, but confesses herself unable to Withstand
its refracted rays. There was some palliation for
the devotion of the French people to the great
Napoleon, the glory of whose arms and the bril-
iancy of whose victories raised the renown of his
country to the highest pinnacle of earthly gran
deur; but it is somewhat disgusting to see nation
falling on its knees before the grey coat and cooked
hat of dead man. Prince Louis Napoleon must
now be forty years of age and is distinguished
for nothing except foolish and hair-braned expedi
tons and his skill in training eagles. He is cox
comb in manners and charlatan in politics; his
dandyism having been aggravated by his sojoun
among the habitues of Drury Lane, and his politi-
cal nonsntty made evident by his attempts at ora
tory in the French Assembly. How such man
could be elevated to the office of President of
France, we can scarcely imagine. There must
have been other causes than merely the remem-
brance of his name-causes which the intricacies
of French politics prevent from approaching in
their full force. Expediency, which has SO much
influence in politics. may have aided his election.
1t is possible that many of the Red Republicans and
Socialists voted for Napoleon in order to defeat
Cavaignac, whose course during the June insur-
rection, and afterwards his coalition with the Mo-
derates and Conservatives, have made him very I'M
popular with all sections of the Progressives Being
divided between Raspail, Lamartine and Rollin,
making the success of either impossible, the Radi-
Gals may have allowed their hatred for Cavaignac
to overcome their contempt for Napoleon.
1t is probable that this was the case, and that
the President elect owes his election to the votes of
the Socialists and the Red Republicans. 1t re-
mains now to be seen whether the administration
will promote the welfare OF the misery of his coun
try. Of himself and by his own energies he can
do nothing and the future course of French politics
will depend entirely upon which of the many hos
tile INTERESTS that have sustained him, shall gain
the ascendency in his counsels. The radicals, be-
ing the most energetic, will perhaps succeed best,
though they will have difficult game to play
against the tact and ability ofstheir opponents.
Should the Conservatives, headed by such men as
Theirs, Barrot, and Berger be placed in power,
the Government will degenerate into mere prize
for the office-hunters, and tho Republic be but a
resurrection of the monarchy. As Louis Napoleon
is elected, we can now only hope that he will have
at least sense and firmness enough to discard the
Bourgeoisie aristocracy and pin his political for
tunes the skirts of the Republicans. If he should
not adopt this course it is probable that one year
will not elapse before revolt more terrific than
that of June will cause the streets of Paris again to
flow with blood. The men who made the Repub-
lie know that the name of liberty avails them
of which they complained under Louis Philippe
may become equally as odious and grinding under
their new form of Government They know their
evils social rather than political, and unless
they be remedied, the high-sounding names of
Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, are an empty,
meaningless lie.
If Napoleon therefore lends his influence to those
measures of necessary reform advocated by the
Radicals, he may retain power and hide his personal
insgnificance. If, the contrary, he should Goa
Lessee with the Conservatives, the stability of the
new Republic will be rather problematical.