The New York herald., 1851-12-25


In the distant days OF King Louis Philippe, when
Fraaee stnl abored under the yoke Of oonstitutoua
monarchy snd bounded her military Ambt10n BY cam
Sv observers that the future master Of France
was diminishing Ia the gorges Of Mount Atlas
and that the African army and its chief trained in that
their country feel the edge Of the sword which had
drunk deep Of Arab blood The days Of that predic
ofthe last of General st. Arnaud; and all that
maned Of greatness independence in the political
assemblies Of France has been driven like cattle into
pen by the military mNauders who hold supreme su-
thority in the capital Of that great nation For this end
countless millions and innumersbe lives have been
pendency. An army was formed and aattersa by the
indulgence Of its despotc, rspacious and sauguinary
insncts until from the professional guardian Of public
order has become the basis OF usurption and absolute
and from this stan Of officers deaf the
rights and laws OF European freedom, and despising ths
were 1t length selected not for the superior quality Of
their services but for the axy Of their principles and
the energy of their ambition Such are the instrunsns
which this revolution has been and may
be consummated; such the men by whom II ct
all the imperislst government Of France must be re-
established.
We presume tnat no doubt can nnger in the minds Of
readers the true nature Of this catastrophe 1t
is not free appeal to the nation 1t not dissolution
of the National mby to be followed by the convocs
on Of another constituent body and the revision Of the
consttution by any elective authorty-a measure which
val Of the nation might perhaps have justsd Had the
President confined his arbitrary interference to the OBJ
ect Of revision which the country demanded he had still
in his own hands cause which has now been much
compromised by the violence and precipta lion of his
late actions But the question pfopoundsd by the
government simply whsther a dictstsral and consttu
tive mower is 10 be conferred on Louis Napoon and
this question first to be answered In the terms Of Yes
No, within forty eight hours By the army Popular
election with the blind and clumsy machinery OF uuver
sal suffrage. is to be consulted next week but to-day,
Immediately the ,ept OF orders from the
Nj mister Of War; the officers in command Of detachnsns
throughout France to take the votes of the troops
on what is ludcrously termed plebistun investing
Louis Napoleon with absolute power. The armyis,
therefore directed by its votes well by its v
tualy to the form Of the government and to
tcpste the choice Of the people These military orders
for Prtorian election accompanied by no less per-
emptory instructions to the civil Cover
throughout France. fhe projects are commanded by
circular despatch of de Morny Minister of Interior
to suspersede all the de paz and other unc
tonares whose support they cannot rely onto require
from all these functonaries to give n in writing their
ment-nstanty to arrest every should attempt
to disturb public trsnquility-apd to suspend every
Journal whose arguments might be hostile to it Upon
the obedience resistance Of the civil and military
thorties throughout France to there orders depends
this momeut the failure Of this daring at
civil war The celebrated circulars OF N Ledru Rolin
not despoticany revolutionary for the Ian
guage Of all governments imposed By force Is the same
But though nothing has been respected and the
Court Of Cessation the last sanctusry Of civil justice,
has been ntimidated and dissolved by troops the uniform
obedience army Of 100000 men, Of scarcely less
numerous host Of public functionaries and of nation
Of thirtysx millions TO orders entirely devoid OF pre-
tence ofegay would be to us the most astonishing oc
which the French revolution has ought
forth Such proceedings resemble Msle.s conspiracy
more than the deliberate acts Of great party They
originate with very small number Of persona who have
not yet secured the positive adherence of any larger
class except the army which has acted from discipline
and passive obedience. The names Of the persons de-
signattd by the President to form consultative COM
mission either those Of his most devoted creatures
OF whose consent to sit such body had not
essh o. - NsS"san ,nsr n mum hex
Indignantly resens tbs use thus made Of his name sad
declares that the only Office he holds is that which be
derives from the people Ir fact thus far the immense
military and civil machinery OF government in France
the army and the police, appear TO have been set in
a monos On ap.ans.snss, power, ana snsy are es
tranemft
The real claim Of Louis Napoleon to the gratitude Of
France and to the confidence OF Europeene thate have
always been ready TO admit-was that he had given
tranquility 70 nation still convused by paroxysm Of
revolution and that he had respected the conditions Of
peace abroad; and the principal motive for desiring
the prolonason Of his power By legal means that
this seemed the only mode Of averng another revou
tion But the events Of the last few days have entirely
loDged by q revolution; and in place OF the .alacous
tranquility in which the nation hoped to rest, il lie
plunged into fresh conflict from which It can only
emerge with the sacrifice Of its liberties TO dictztors
thority the desirueton OF that authority by the
fury OF popular CONFUSION. However may be dis
posed to Question the ultimate OF such coup
eaf the chief argument in Louis Napoleen's favor
to be that IL s stin dfcut to suggest any
other expedsnt The mopsTehicai parties are in state
Oesns especially have only served for the pretext Of
this conspiracy of thegovernment against the conditions
lost the form in which 1t had been accepted BY
the nation, and the who had been elected in
ls4s ss refuge from its natural tendencies and
Even the conservative party which
bad exercised for time by means Of the Assembly the
power gradually reganed after the revolution Of Febra
sry IL stricken, divided imprisoned and exhausted
The republic reestablshed after such an attack upon
IT, would have al the force derived from fresh popular
convulson and the triumph Of extreme principles II
In ha int olu+a md
baby aggressive than IL after ls4s and
ly even more abhoent TO the mass Of the community
but to acquiesce in this usurpation That argument
must have weight with the uercane classes and the
more timoreus or servue spirits Of the country But
they deceive themselves II they imagine that the Whole
authority Of the Law be restored the power
which has just overthrow for purposes Of s own
the army Il viii be eneoppss.sd BY every species Of Sc
cret conspiracy and open resistance II will have it's
Moreau and II may have lite Duke dEnghein, for the
glory Of the Eirst Consul himself did not him from
implacable conflict with enemies whom he crushed,
at the cost Of crime. France is entering upon
period OF coercion and suppressed or eagrant
invited 10 put term.
From the immen.e amount Of the military res3urcss
Of the government and the stern Determination with
which they employed 10 net to be expected that
any suecer.u effort Of popular resistance could be made
n Paris Nevertheies from an early hour yesterday the
streets Of the capital especially the ubourgs Of Martin
md St Antoine witnessed renewal Of the Of
ssge have often had TO record and TO depore In
Mnlstsr OF AT oecre~1 every person
the &C. Of raising bsrrctdes should suffer ccordng
10 the most rigorous Laws Of or, In other words
boold be instsntly shot The barricsdee raised
md they defended by the pdomit sbe courage Of
Ire population from midday to I've In the afternoon,
against the forces Of the army supported by artillery
this conflict l. only the for.rupn.r Of more rene.
raj Disturbances, which only be crushed by acts
Ct unqushn.d severity and how s Il possible for
meEt 70 submit lite pretensons to the decision
pf the country by universal suffrage whilst that question
h. In reality pending between the cannon OF the army
and the barrcades of the people, We do not doubt that
Louis Napoleon who has shown niisputAble hrmues ip
he conduct of this revolution IL profoundly desrous ts
,void sangunsry conflict and that he regrets that the
blow aimed chiefly at his rivals In the Assembly shoull
all with all iu hsr rish pc the people But such
he terrible consequences Of the responsibility he has In
,urred he has 70 face determined republican party
all the cities OF France, and the rural socialism q
many departments He has to dispose % captive Ma
ionsl Assembly, and q silenced press. He viii
TO provide for population thrown cut of work by
HE sudden renewal Of period of disorder; and
imitting that he be thus invested with dictstorisl