New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-24
90 rren.l. EI.elarnl 80.

Tie Prcu,h Electoral Law.
We devote this morning a good deal Of
space among our d,tlils Of European news
to the particulars If the Bill for the regula-
ton of the Electoral Franchise just intro
duced in the French Legislature, and the
debate which attended its introduction
The matter is one Of great Importance, and
cannot fail to engage the attention Of all
who watch with any care the varying phases
of foreign politics. Indeed, since the reyo-
luton Of February disarranged all parties
and frustrated all intrigues, no event has so
distinctly marked the tendencies of the
falsely named friends Of order as this
Nothing has so demonstrated their despera-
ton and their impotence; and of all the de-
feats which the historian will hereafter re-
cord as falling to the lot of their fury and
their folly, none will be reckoned so decisive
as that upon which they arc now rushing
IL il be ever true, as is said that the
faults of ruler are crimes, 1t Is ten times
true OF the faults of the ruling party in
France. Not to mention the lighter wrongs
it has done, the 1nsurrection of June and
the Invasion of Rome are crimes Of the
yloomiest hue, which no falsehood and no
sephistry will ever erase from the lang ac-
count of its oGenses. But in branding these
with the stigma hich justice forever fixes
L
upon them, we ought not to overlook the
fact that the men who were their principal
agents were urged into their fatal course by
motives to them irresistible. We ought not
to forget the Necessity which stands supreme
over that whole continent, forcing men with
resistless hand to 60 one way or the other.
Among these criminals were many Of up
right and honorable intentions, such men
as De Tocqueyille and Barrot; they meant
well; they sincerely purposed the good OF
their country and of their race; at least so
their previous history must make us believe
But now they were called on to decide be-
tween Socialism, of which they knew no.
thing except to distrust and fear it, and q
course of policy which at first seemed easy
and simple, the policy Of holding fast to
what was already recognized as good and
practicable, if not already established. There
was no neutral ground on which they could
wait till the battle was over and then take
sides with the successful party. They must
take sides now; must themselves be found
among tie champions; and being there,
they must follow the struggle to the end.
No compromise was possible; no stop, whe-
Their they chose one path or the other.
But the misfortune was that neither of
these parties could be stationary. That
whose word was Forward could not halt at
any one point to suit individuals among its
members and 90 no further. That which be-
gan as conservative party soon found itself
forced to become reachOnary party, and to
do deeds at which the ma Ority ofits followers
would have once started back with horror.
And yet when the time came there was no
choice; the wrong must be committed or
else Socialism would be sure to triumph
the Republic of Rome must be put down by
French bayonets or the stock jobbers OF Paris
were endangered in their craft. To hest.
tate was out of the question. The Necessi
ty was there palpable, inevitable, imminent
and it was obeyed. The world cannot stanC
still. 1t must 60 forward or backward
This is the secret Of these unparalleled
criminals who govern France. They woulC
no doubt have preferred & medium between
the two; they desired moderate progress, a
they delight to call it, that is, progress
whichwould leave all their privileges intact
But the times would not admit of such {
thing. Their compromise, their juste-mlie'
was impracticable. And thus not daring t
90 forward, not having heart faith, courage
enough for that they could only endeavo
by violence and fraud alike unscrupulous, t
force the nation backward. The result o
their laborS affords one Of the most instruct
i've chapters in political history.
The Revolution Of lS4S had for its frs
purpose the establishment Of Liberty
That was admitted, apparently at least, b,
every party. 1t is true that French states
men had not an entire faith in Liberty
Democrats as well as RsSctioniSts ha(
hitherto learned to regard the people as un
fit to hear the whole truth; but this they die
not say openly, and Freedom Of Speech, o
Association, of the Press, tOgetherwith Uni
yersal Suffrage, were sOlemnly guaranteed
by the Constitution Of the Republic. Now
al these are rights whose exercise by the
s,oss of o;.;yons tands n carrv a nation for