The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-09-22
Ths Present Csmaisisr< .r vr.....


frsught with ineaculable results. In order TO ac-
quire a correct notion ard form just estimate Of
the prosperity or misery of country-of the bless.
ines and advantages winch emanate from wise
management OF affairs on the part of the govern
mentor Of the evil consequences that accrue
from It's observation-disclosures is not only neces-
ssIy that we consider the present condition of a
country; we must alec take comprehensive view
of the causes and circumstances which inevitably
lsd 10 the institution Of new system of govern.
ment, and lake cognzance Of the state Of the pub
lie mind that prevailed at the time.
The fearful and melancholy scenes (the echo OF
which stil rings in our ears,) that trans PRED Ia
the three first days of the new republic, are too
iamihar TO every one TO require minute re-
capinlahon. Yet, among those awful convuslons
that rent the bonds of every social union there Is
one incident TO winch 1t is deemed necessary to
advert, as being of vast importance and of migtty
influence, in The late transition Of events. When
the Prince de Paris was proposed as the successor
Of Louis Philippe, and the members of the Assem-
bly, were called upon to second the motion by It's
adoption, death-hke silence pervaded the house,
until the voice Of one of those desperadoes who
cranimed the ball, and on whose distorted features
sat desperation, breeding fearful vengeance, ,hun-
dered forth, at is now too late," which at once
decided The issue of the question II is strange,
yea, wonderfully strange TO contemplate that the
utieranee of such lrfng remark, made by one
who possessed neither name or power, should have
wrought such marvellous influence as to decide
the destiny of an entire nation Yet II is a remark
able fact, pregnant with instruction, that during
the various phases Of the late revolution, the most
TRIVIAL circumstances have produced the most as
founding effects, which even the greatest stretch
Of human intellect, aided by all The powers of poll
teal and diplomatic dIscerDment, could not have
anticipated, much less with certainty have predict
cd. The ominous silence The members maintain
ed on this important occasion, bore evidence of
their rresolution Ms 10 which side they should cast
their votes; and, kept in awe by the popu-
lace, they were harmed into the vortex
Of revolutionary vicissitudes, and, almost with
out their consciousness, the republic was estab-
Gshed, when protestation and opposition proved
Int fiec,ual. Thus we behold the various parties
into which the constituent part of the French
population is divided, irreconciled to the existing
form OF government. The principles and ten
dency OF these parties are materially different
from those the parties profess in the United States
or any other country. Here, although each of
Them strive TO gain the ascendency in the manage
ment OF public affairs, they all unanimously concur
in one great principle-the maintenance of the
republic. In France, again, they are, from prin-
clple, opposed TO each other, that the establish
meni of the system Of one party pre-supposes the
subverson of that of the ether, since two con-
fciisg elements cannot be combined IN one
nation. Hence may be accounted for all the con-
vulsiens that sweep the political horizon of
France, and ill the calamties and disasters tina,
befall her unfortunate people
After the storm of the revolution had been lulled
TO rest, and the newborn republic of France had
passed through its first transformation the election
OF President began TO occupy the attention of
the people. The administration of this hi III Office
In a Country which, in Importance and power, still
maintains The first rank among the nations of the
world. fell TO the lot Of Louis Napoleon. Among
the reasons that have swayed the public opinion,
to cast the prepcnderance in the scale Of the
present President, the most prominent. and per-
haps the most cogent one, viii be found in the
heroic recolections that still cling to the mmor-
til name Of Napoleon Bonaparte-in the remem-
brance ofthe magni6cence and grandeur to which
he exalted France-in the consciousness Of the
fame and renown with which he invested the
steps OF her throne, and in the memory of the re-
splendent days when he gave her the rank Of an
empire. To pay, then, the tribute of honor due to
this prodigy Of genius, skilled, not only in all the
departments Of warfare, but also endowed with all
the necessary requisites for holding the reins Of
government, was the high station Of Presidency
conferred on Louis Napoleon, who bears, indeed,
the ilustrious name, but has inherited none Of the
noble qualities that elevated his uncle from the
sphere of insignlicance and obscunty, 10 be the
mightiest poientate of the earth. After his ascen-
dency 10 the Presidential chair, the election Of
the members Of the cabinet was next pro-
secuted, connected with which was the strik.
ing fac-a fact which raDged almost on in
consstency-that all the champions of the re.
public. with the exception OF two or three, who
fought for her existence and watched and protect
cd her in her infancy, were excluded from all par
iicipauou in the governmental treatment which
Ill accords with the services they periodically de-
voted to the interests Of their country Taking now
into consideration the whole political career Of the
President since his instaliation-hs expedition for
the suppression Of the sister republic IN Rome
which direct violation Of the principles he had
worn himself to uphold-his frequent couespon-
dence with the Emperor Of Russia, the lnve,rrate
enemy OF liberty, which Iustihes the suspicion OF
clandestine mutual understanding, and Of a CONN.,
vance at secret machInauons-hisi intended mar
rage with one Of the royal family of Sweden
which will tend to cement the uoon between him.
as the head OF the republic, and the crowned sove-
reigns all his actions, in one word concur to at
tstihe Correctness Of our opinion, when We assert
that his sole ann and end consist in the promotion
Of bis own nterests-in the establishment Of per-
manebt stability in his present pre-emnent posi-
hon and, finally, in the foundation Of an absolute
empire, Of which he shsll be the anointed. View
ing, therefore, the critical position of affairs in
France a. whole, it will be obvious that things
cannot remain long thus ; they must come to ter
either one way or another and there are
only two bypo,beses, which, in the transition of
coming evenis, might with equal certainty be real
ized, VIZ. either the President, 10 the course Of
time, will be Iecsfsitafed to abdcate his present