The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-03


introduced into, said Territory"
Upon this the question now turns. II may
be voted upon soon, or il may constitute
theme of discussion for several days TO come.
The Proposed Restriction upon the Right
OF Suffrage In France.
"The eyes Of the civilized world are riveted
upon France"-so says the London Nautical Stand
ard. And it is true, the Standard doubt means
the kingdoms of the world, when il speaks of the
civilized world. The eyes of all are thus directed,
and on the failure of the experiment Of republican
ism there, depends the stability of monarchies else
where. Will, then, the friends OF monarchy ad-
wise republican France for the purpose of promoting
her welfare in republicanism will they not rather
seek to encourage such state OF things as will
tend to the restoration Of the old dynasty of Louis
Philippe, or the permanent establishment of an en-
pre under the rule of the ambitious Louis
Napoleon None surely will imagine the posi-
bihty of the former motive. The design therefore,
of the following article from the journal above
quoted will be comprehended by readers. We
transfer it to columns for the purpose of exhib
iting to readers the plausibity with which
monarchiss can cajole, and gild their specious
gunents with professions Of love for the people and
respect for their sovereign will
Dut IL Ill VIII not 10 ''uen are Out ana
the definition that describes to be San animal
that votes,' is doubtless in accordance with the
popular Interpretation. We think those who be-
come at once content with this popularity as one
necessarily connected with the human species, will
save themselves world of trouble. ''To this COM
plexion must come at last" To our extract,
however:
THE LATE ELECTIONS IN FRANCE.
The of the civilized world riv
upon France and look with intense anxiety for the
result of her citizens efforts to redeem the fatal
errors committed in lS4S. The late elections in
Paris prove, to the most enthusiastic friends
of liberal policy, how dangerous it is to intrust
arms to the mailman, or power indiscriminately
without securing the compromising elements OF
prudence and discretion. The experiment hazard
ed by France in conceding to all her citizens with
out regard to worth, character, qualification an
equal voice in the organization Of the government,
was an act Of insanity, worthy of the occasion; il
was an accident rather than lava result of for
tuitous circumstances unprecedented in the history
OF civiization-buti 1t was result big with import
ant consequences; it held within its grasp the ma
tionaty OF France, perhaps the safety and exist
ence of society itself.
There is no more satisfactory way of xposng a
fallacy than by working out its results. France
has received the benefit Of such experience and is
now gathering the bitter fruits of harvest sown in
confusion and watered with the blood OF her cti
gems. The present proposed electoral law has for
Its object, SO far as s practicable, TO retrace the
dangerous steps which were made towards anarchy
in period of confusion, precipitation, and doubt.
The proposition in no way aims at curtailing the
present unlimited qualification nor to substituting
any qualification having for its basis the payment
OF taxes other evidence of political status Ii pro-
poses simply to secure the evidence of the
having some residence free from trick or fraud;
and though such qualification in an eector is the
lowest that one can well imagine as evidence OF
Status still II is an improvement upon electoral
scheme which at present leaves the ballot box open
to thieves, swinders, and the very refuse of their
race, provided that their condemnation NAV not
have extended to three months imprisonment Ii
Is of course obvious that system whose meshes are
30 wide as to admit indiscrmnately the flower and
the refuse of society never work SO as to Sc
cure the peace OF the government the welfare of
the masses, who ought always to attract the great
est attention
II was of course soon seen that in large centres
of civilization such Paris, where large masses of
the population are.continually repenished by very
questionable citizens, law which negects to dis
tinguish the good from the bad, by some mark of
presumptive evidence, must ultimately give the
preponderance of power into the hands of the men
who have the least discretion, and the strongest in
JUDGEMENTS to abuse 1t to the prejudice of their fell
low citizens. The present step cannot be consid-
cred in any other light than the foundation of a
more perfect system of representation; France
feels that she has outstepped the line which pru-
dence would have marked her limit; order is
now threatened by the masses of the people, who
have every thing to gain by change, and nothin g
TO anticipate by the establishment of order
The fate Of France hangs upon the balance, the
decision OF the chamber is looked TO with intense
anxiety and il is TO be hoped that the dire fruits OF
successive disorders will finally convince an i'm
portant class OF citizens who formerly exalted
upon this subject of universal suffrage before il is
too late, the Importance OF seeking for guides and
example the men of character and consideration
in Paris, rather than yield 10 the impulses of every
blast of revolution which sweeps their fated
land