The southern press., 1851-12-29
SOUTHERN PRESS
WASHINGTON CITY.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1851.
France.

and the vote of the people may be expected Il
stand high for him, so. long as he appears to be
acting in favor of the triumph of republican
principles.
The army of France is well known for its
republican character. Its very constitution par
takes of it. And although, for moment, while
LOUIS NAPOLEON appears to be acting in the
right sense it goes with him, it is very question:
bic indeed whether the nephew of the Emperor
can reckon upon its continued support, should
he deviate from his programme. 1t has voted
il must be borne in mind also, under considera.
ble surveillance, and by compulsion, arising
from authority and the nature of the crcnm-
stances. 1t could hardly have voted otherwise
But we come now to the great trial-t the
opinion of the nation. Will it endorse the vote
of the army! Is it under compulsion, military
or official? 1t cannot be, for the vote is univer
SAL Then, how stands the question! The ma
ton is indebted to LOUIS NApoLEoN for the de.
struction of the most odious assembly that ever
made re-actionary laws for the suppression of
the liberties of people. Here is a debt of
gratitude.
The nation admires with sort of devotion
the great NAPOLEON. He added to the glory of
France in more ways than by gaining battles
He is not f,rgotten.
But there is still stronger motive for voting
in LOUIS NApoLEoN's favor--a motive little cal
culated on by those who are ignorant of the
French character. We mean the universal aver
sion to agitation and violent change.
The great mass of the French people are pos
SCISSORS of property to an extent unknown in
any other European nation. 1t is the great body
of the people who are the proprietors. Their
earnest desire is, peace--ther constant com.
plant is, the perverse and re-actionary character
of the government-their demand, that the mill
tary and police power of the government shall
be diminished, 80 that the nations will shall
always express itself in gradual improvement
and reforms.
A revolution has invariably occurred when the
arbitrary government, after crushing parties,
gagging the press, and sitting under legal qub-
bles the strict letter and democratic meaning of
the law, has stretched the national patience to
the utmost and menaced the interests of those
innumerable proprietors.
The irritation against the reactionary assembly
has been immense. A few headstrong spirits have
now and then endeavored to stir up the masses
but the industrious masses abhor those changes
and agitations which affect the value of prop
eyty, check commerce, and render work uncer-
tain. These "emeutes" then failed.
There are in France, variety of restrictions
upon commerce and agriculture particularly, so
utterly inconsistent with the democratic charac-
ter of the institutions, and SO injurious to the
interests of the country population, that earn
est wish for their amelioraiion or ertiaclion has
long prevailed. Every change in government
gives hopes to the country of attention to these
important interests. But each government, after
acknowledging their justice and the necessity
for an amelora ton, ends by refusing them
under pretext of an unwillingness to derange
or injure the revenue. But the evil exists and
with other social and political difficulties forms
public opinion; and that opinion, unfavorabe
to government, becomes at length hatred ready
for or encouraging revolution.
LOUIS NAPOLEON, after crushing the hated
assembly, now offers the bait of legislative
body, elected by universal suffrage, and sen.
ate, as a counterpoise to it. What more favor.
able opportunity for having an assembly, which
shall be real exponent of the will and wants
of the nation Z? Will not the great majority ac-
cept so good an offer, even though they may
doubt the mans intention to keep his word {?
or will they, indignant at his hypocrisy, dreadng
his selfishness, and Indifferent to his name. run
the risk of a continuation of agitation, Ferpex
ity and struggles, by refusing him their conf
dence
LOUIS NAPOLEON has foreseen as any simple
ton could not fail to do, the national perplexity
he has cunningly taken advantage of it.
For the sake of peace-ihe motive which
chiefly weighed with the people at his first eec.
tion-he will perhaps receive the majority of
votes. But that choice will not prove otherwise
than disastrous to him, should he be led away
from the course he has proposed with such q
show of honesty, and to which the nation will
hold him, or punish him for any treachery.
LOUIS PHILIPPE well knew the French peo
pie; and played with them, and made then
promises, until he had so thoroughly exhauste,
their patience, that the new government fell L
pieces in his hands. Then, and only then, III
people seized the reins, and entrusted power t
other men. Yet those men, though pledged t,
carry out the reforms SO long demanded by tn
country, found the possession of power too in
toxicating to keep their promises. They sough
preterts for maintaining the military system, tn
police system, Capitalization, and other mean
for absolute government and, of necessit,
were compelled to seek subterfuges, (for res
sons) against any change in the amount of Ia,
alton.
Thus the revolution Of 1880 and 'AS, have v
to be completed-and it is now to LOUIS N
PoLEor's honesty-questionabl as that may
hot tho IL