The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-23
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

PARIS Mayo, 1850.
/ To he Editor Of he National Eve.
The great capital of the political world has
once more spoken and in clear tones IL has said
to the Royalist and Bonapartist factions which
plot the destruction of the Republic Thus far
shall you go, but no farther" 1t has pronounced
the condemnation of the men who would foment
anarchy and civil war. The candidate of pro-
gress has triumphed A week before the election,
the republican party was in despair: the Govern
ment was putting into exercise against them all
the machinery of the administration the troops
supposed to be Socialist had been sent off an
immense number of voters, some say, $4,000, had
been struck from the the lists by the Government
and police, the circulation of their journals was
impeded in every way, large sums of money had
been employed to gain votes the candidate against
them was an honest and brave man who had sig
nalized himself for herosm, and two of their own
Journals abstained from advocating the election
of M. Sue, because of objections to the personal
character of the candidate and the manner in
which he had been selected. On the contrary,
the coalition was confident Of victory: an unlock
ed for chance had given them popular candidate,
their opponents were discouraged, their treasury
full, their partisans united and unfnching. "On
the 10th of March, cried the Journal des Debats,
1--WE did not 20 into battle with all forces this
time it win be different The night of the last
day of the election the leader Of the coalition
met in their room in Bergere street to await the
announcement of their victory They had order
ed banquet to be served up at midnight, and in
tended to celebrate in bumpers their victory over
the enemies of religion and social order. Poor
fellows! Courier after courier brought in dismal
news and at eleven their numbers began rapidly
to diminish at twelve, the restaurant keeper look
ed around in vain for his guests The banquet
hall was deserted.
The victory was an overwhelming one. The
Socialist vote has increased beyond the num-
Der at the preceding election, and the coalition
vote has diminished several thousand All
attempts to explain away this result are use
less 1t speaks for itself The coalition journals
complain that 100000 voters staid away from the
polls This is proved to be false from the lists,
which show that not more than 10000 did so. 1t
is an exaggeration of 100000 Some of the jour
nails of the same party insist on change Of the
electoral law, forcing every man to vote under
penalty of fine. This is mere pretence to cover
their defeat, as they are not half as confident as
they pretend to be- to the adhesion to their side
of all the non-voters. Forced or not, the vast
majority of the population of Paris will vote for
progress reform Of abuses, economy in the budget,
liberal institutions, free press, public order, and
quiet commerce, against prince Presidents who are
ever balancing between their oath and treason
against royalst factions who are ready to plunge
France into civil war for the honor Of wearing
the livery of some brainless youth, whose only
merit is that his grandfather or some remote an
cestor governed the country very badly against
the vexations of police which would place a spy
in every family against moneyless young adven'
turers, who would push the President to comp
de,at and civil war that would destroy commerce,
FIJI the land with mourning and blood and arrest
the march of civilization. The people of Paris
want peace and quiet with the development Of
republican institutions. They abhor civil war
and its promoters This is the meaning Of the
election of Eugene Sue.
IL is amusing to witness the confusion and con-
sternation of the coalition camps. The Presiden-
tial papers abuse the Legitimists, the Orleanists
the Council Of State, the majority Of the Assem-
bly,, the Socialists, and humanity generally. They
don't forget in their invectives the right OF suf-
frage The Legitimists lay hearty blows on the
shoulders of the Orleanists, who cudgel them in
return. Some of them say To armsp and are for
q st. Bartholomew day against the Socialists
others call with great esrnestness for the removal
Of the capital from Paris and all unite in demand
ing change in the electoral law. The Repub-
lican party is perfectly calm after its victory IL
is assured Of its final success OF the ballot box and
is preparing itself for the management Of the
helm of state The mildness and frmness Of the
opposition journals Of every shade are admirable
The discussion Of particular forms Of socialism is
laid aside for the promotion Of the great cause OF
progress fthese journals maintain their present
course for year or two longer, there is no doubt
whatever of the success Of their party at the
elections of 1852. The rage Of their opponents
will probably waste itself in furious defamation
and halfway legislative measures. France will
be, in few years, If peace be preserved, fairly
On the way to republican manners and customs
Experience, discussion and suffrage, will sift and
purify the plans Of the party Of progress, and
france will probably realize, as soon as any other
hA'ion, the union Of the doctrine of individual
r'sn' With the principle Of paternity.
Every great reform must 90 through several
Stages OF progress before its accomplishment The
nrs. " one OF struggle, selEdenia purity Of prin.
cipie, and patient endeavor, on The part OF the
authors The second sees the principles Of the
reform adopted by mon who see In them the ele-
ments Of success, and seek TO rise on them to |
power; IN this stage, the authors Of the reform |
are oo'sea 70 give way, A men TOO unpopular to
third sees the reform part and parcel Of IL |