The New York herald., 1850-05-18
ton is most to blame for the outrage, both seeming
to have lost all sense of the usages of civilized so
cia


ton II most 10 blame Tor the outrage, both seeming
to have lost all sense of the usages Of civilized
ciety.
Aspect OF Affairs In Franoe-The Paris Elec-
tlOR.
Prom the London Times, May IL
The result of the poll in Paris, as far as it
known yesterday morning, stood as follows and
leaves doubt Of the success Of the socialist can
didae:: His actual majority is s.056.-ED. HE-
RALDl The numbers were
Eugene Sue lG,3S2
Leoierc ''......... ............. lF,1l1
Majority for Sue ....... S23s
Although, therefore, we have carefully abstained
from all speculation a subject entirely obscure
as the caprices of universal suffrage and the force of
the democratic party, we may now safely assume
that the contest is decdedthat il is decided against
the earnest hope Of the great bulk of the middle
classes, against the government, against the Ma
tona Assembly. and against the cause law order,
and society In France more decisive event and
a more complete defeat could hardly proceed from
the ballot-box. Both parties strained every nerve
to the encounter; the whole strergh Of both par
ties was concentrated on single Candidate. The
conservative interest in Paris had been warned and
stimulated by the deplorable consequences of the
preceding election of the 10th of March yet the
socialists, nothing daunted by the dsparaging con-
sequences of their former victory, did not hesitate
10 provoke renewal of the ST, and apparently
they had not miscalculaed their discipline aud their
strength The former election might pass for a
peevish warning to the government, whose acts
the present is more positive declaration of hos
tiliiy, and it removes all doubt as TO the ultimate
effect Of universal suffrage in France, if that form
be permanently given 10 the supreme authority
of the State. Universal suffrage in the hands Of
people placed in such conditions of Intelligence and
wealth as exist in France, means nothing else than
the prostitution Of political power by the ariihces Of
those whose sophsms can impose on the narrow
judgment OF the pcYulace, or by the more fatal
pledges Of those who kindle their passions to the
height Of anarchy and spoliation.
In this election the candidates on both sides were
unworthy Of notice, and served rather to detract
from than to augment the strength of their respcc-
tive parties. M Eu.ene Sue, living the life OF
Sybarite in u retreat from which no excess is ba-
nlshed, is Ridiculous representative CT the hard
ships OF the class which have elected him. nj.
Lecerc, parer maker, in the rue St Joseph, who
bad fought boldly the barricades, was equally
pnit to represent party which claims as its own
The intellect, the wealth, and the traditions of
France II Is probable that the respective defects
ofihese two candidates were more powerful recon-
mendstions TO The electors than their merits. NJ.
Sue was not elected for his powers Of intellect nor
was NJ. Leclerc supported for his political consis-
tency: the one was selected for his reckless attacks
on social and religious institutions; the other for his
freedom irsm all party color. In reality, however.
the struggle lay not between the men at all, but
between the principles they happened To represent.
The principle Of the revolution has trmmphcd-that
Of the government has been undeniably beaten.
Probably some minor circumstances, such as the
absurd and vexatious persecution OF the news-ven-
auhorties TO introduce Of partial repres-
sion, have contributed TO swell the hostile majority
by some thousand votes. But these nterferences
with the liberty Of the subject not felt in Paris
as they are in England. Nobody cares for Emile
Giiardn's elabora;e protests on legality and
government s never lcss likely TO perish in France
Than when II acts upon its own convictions and
takes the law into its own hands But, substan-
TALLY, we doubt whether any policy which the
President or his advisers could pursue with the
concurrence cf the present Assembly, would have
produced any material difference. The question
is not one OF policy, but Of possession. The long
array OF electors who record their votes in oppo-
sition to the government, are led by men whose
OF oiitf tne ' s sSny 10 n lay hands on the % sueoyy
boundless patronage the gay delights Of power the
prizes Of revolution, the sovereignty Of France.
The actual enjoyment OF ihese advantages seemed
but The other day within the grasp, not, indeed Of
the popuace, but of those who have the art OF max
irg the poruacc their dupe and their tool The
current still Iuns in their favor, and in the judgment
Of these walters upon fortune. the tactics Of the
party for the last two year., but especially since the
18th Of June, lS9 have almost repaired the defeat
OF the preceding year, and the folles OF the latter
disastrous day. More than il is their interest
TO abstain from acts Of violence which might bring
them within the grasp of the law. Their warfare
- of enother kind. The constitution OF 1873 Sc
cures them sufficiently ample field, and upon that
ground they srcceed in combining every fraction Of
the republican party.
If the attack come at all, il must come from the
other side, for, "a we observed the other day, the
relative attitudes of the two parties changed
that the revolution has assumed the tone Of legal
authority, whilst authority and law are driven To
borrow the expedients Of revolution But. on the
side of the majority in the Assembly there j. nci-
iher that union which establishes the ascendancy
OF political party, nor that genius which supplies
its place. man who should, TO n high degree.
represent the wishes and interests Of the nation,
would find II ns easy, or probably more easy. To
wcan the socialist republicans from their Illusions,
than to wean the chiefs Of the majority from their
al fIutR auI fItatr st.ftt
Under tie pressure Of circumstances so threat
eniDg, u II by ans impossible that the Presi-
dent, who sees the extreme dangers OF the coun-
ny, and has now perfect knowledge OF the
value Of his advisers, should take counsel Of no
thing but his own courage and resolution. and put
bis fortune 10 the touch, TO win or lose IL all -
But except IL be from the fafalism which seems TO
bow the French nation in whichever direction the
wind may cit, we little reason 10 anticipate that
such an enterprise would end gloriousy success
fully for Lous Napoleon. The time Is past when
any such demonstration could be got up amongst
the people IL must proceed from the army-and
there, IL we are not mistaken, IL would encounter
great. N not insurmountable, obstacles. Beyond
the immediate circle Of the Ely-ee, there are at
this time in France few men prepared 10 conspire
for the ergrsndizcmcnt Of Louis Napoleon, or who
lock TO him as the necessary and trustworthy
yiour of the State. Such enterprises, emanating
from the spontaneous energy or ambition of a SIN
gle Individual, can hardly succeed where the grest-
est combinations Of all human power have success
syely and repeatedly failed. To publish at such
n moment the annals Of the 18Th Brumaire, with
all the acts Of the First Consul when he assumed
the dictatorship Of France, is rather to provoke q
contrast than To suggest an example.
Upon the whole, although the result Of this
election III increase, " that he possible, the panic
Of the moderate party, and give birth to hundred
new schemes OF repression, and although Il will
considerably segravste the positive evils Of France,
by causing capitsl to be displaced and by srresting
the revival Of industry and trade, yet, in spite OF
these evils, we doubt whether IL will lead 10 any
decisive retults unless the President or some other
person Of influence should think the time come
TO assume the personal responsibility Of the crisis.
II is en- old ptoverb, that council Of war never
fights. France is governed by such a council.
The old Generals OF the constitutional monarchy
are employing their tactics, acquired in very dif
ferent contests, TO the great levy Of uni
versal suffrage. Hitherto their failure has been
unquestionable, FOR their policy may be described
in two worde-insdequafe resistance. Ere long,
the problem will assume the clearer form Of direct
concession TO the popular impulse, direct military
repression. Each succeeding event abrdges the
period Of temporizing policy but though abridged
and discredfcd, " pemsins To he seen whether the
eypf dienfs OF that prlicv nj wholly exhausfed.