Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-08-09
MATTERS EN FRANCE.

MATTERS I'm FRANCE.
The Assembly of France have passed bill
depriving about sixtenths of the citizens of that
Republic of the right of voting. Thus from be-
ing the most liberal country of the world in the
matter OF suffrage. she has become the least SO
OF any country which at all recognises that right.
Were the power Of the country lodged in the
hands of a single individual, this would not an
pear strange, but what could induce an assem-.
bly, elevated TO power by The vote of the uehoze
people, to disfranchise more than one-haf of
those to whom they were indebted for their pla-
ces, seems strange enough to the casual observ-
er. But the close observer will perceive such
to have been the tendency of things, since the ac-
cession of the first President. Unlike America,
France had no probationary period between the
downfall of her monarchy and the establishment
of her republican, period of trial in which the
souls of men could be tested, and their virtues be
laid open to the people. The transition from
the ideas OF monarchy to those of republicanism,
was the work but of moment, and who were
the true friends of rational liberty and. who its
enemies, none could tell. The people of France
were compelled to exercise a generous conf
dence" in the selection of their executive and
representatives, and the consequence is their
confidence has been misplaced, and their trust
betrayed. Never, perhaps, did moro selfish
demagogue than Louis Napoleon attain power.
The interests and happiness of the people of
tranPn aaho |,
those OF the people of the MOON He seems am.
bilious to transmit name to posterity which
shall equal, if not out-ive, that of his uncle. and
not having the sense to perceive that it is GOOD
ness alone which will survive any length of time,
and that 1t would be the easiest thing in the
world to overtop his ancestor in that respect. he
evidently hopes to excel him in his half-expanG-
ded wickedness, and to that end all his efforts
seem to tend He has two projects, evidently,
with either OF which this late crowning act of op-
preston may harmonize. One is, to drive bv
oppression, the people Of France to anarchy and
bloodshed in the hope that out of it NAV grow
events similar to those of which Characterised
the former Republic, and which shall end in ma
king him monarch as did those in making his
uncle; and the other is, to so restrict the RIGHT
OF suffrage, that should the people of France
prove to be long suffering, the government may
be confided to his friends, and himself retained
in power.
The leading feature of this new suffrage bill
Is, If we recolect Alright, that to be an elector,
man shall have resided permanently three years
In the precinct where he offers his vote, his
name being registered that period of time. The
inlquiy Of the measure is apparent as it confines
the government OF France 70 few wealthy pro-
prletors, and leaves the great masses without
any voice In the government. 1t creates one of
the worst kinds of governments, compared with
which the despotism of Russia is preferable
Were the government confined to dictator and
his necessary dependents, the number of inso-
lent officers would be comparatively few, and
the whole people being in the same category,
might patiently bear their dependence; but where
society is divided, and every other man becomes
agovernor, and his equally meritorious neigh
Dor, slave, it cannot be expected in the nature
OF things, that such unnatural conditions can
long be maintained We can perceive only one
result to this recent attempt to tyrranize over the
people of France. The pretence of Republic
continually reminds the people of the rights of
which they are robbed. To hope to re-attain
their rights. by any concessions at future period
on the part of the minority who have thus usur-
ped them, is folly. Such is not the nature of
usurpers. Strife then must come sooner or la
ter. We can only hope that the present gov
eminent, like the one which preceded it, will si-
lently crumble in the dust of its own decay
but il is faint hope-because the time is, when
the masses will not wait in patience for those re-
suits to develope themselves. The scenes which
signalized the close of the last century may be
re-enacted. The reaction of any body is pro-
portioned to the pressure it has undergone and
when the people rise in their wrath they will al
ways manifest the fullest power of the passions
which have been by years of oppression and bru-
tai degradation, educated into their natures. Let
our sleek fed men-our petty ty rants, and our
great tyrants, and our men of all classes, who
walk deliberately over oppressed and suffering
humanity, recolect these things, and should the
days fthe guillotine, with all its horrd attend
ants, again return, it will be simply the reaping
oil the whirlwind by those who have sown the
wind
NJ TRUTHFUL.-The following truthful
and sensible remarks we take from the Galena
Advertiser of the End instant, if we have not