The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-08
Distance travelled by passenger trains 100000
Instance travelled by goods trains .. 3lOOO 900
Political Affairs In France.

For the last two years the aspect Of public affairs
in France has been the standing riddle OF poll
ticians. IL has proved an amusement, an anxiety,
an exercise of the intellect according to the tenn
per, the character the interests OF the observer.
But the moment has well nigh arrived when the
enigma must, in some fashion or other, re 'eive
practical solution IL is impossible that the most
vital questions which can affect the destines OF
a great nation should be djourned from year TO
year without any definite security for tne present,
or any probability of setteEent in the future
The POINT at issue amounts TO nothing less than
this-shall any sovereign power exist IN France,
Of suic lent strength to insure public tranquility
at home, and that degree of influence beyond the
frontier lines, 70 which go great cosntry is
equitably entitled As matters stand at pre-
sent, the action Of the government. is SO COM
pletely paray1ed, so fritlered away in internciEe
feuds between the executive and the legislative
powers, that for all practical purposes IL might
almost Is well have no existence at all. IL is per-
fectly true that since the met orable outbreak OF
June, when the life blood Of France flo we'd freely
along the cutters Of the Partisan streets, a
kind Of dubious pause has taken the place Of active
hostilities. Peace has been tolerated rather than
sought. The explanation OF this phenomenon Is
obvious enough kind Of arrangement had been
hit upon which enabled all parties to adjourn, not
70 give up, their pretensions. A breathing space
was absolutely necessary to every action that IT
was certain all would combine for few brief
months, to maintain public order. L here was
President without any real power but the influence
Of a traditional name. There was an Assembly,
powerful 70 enact DEGREES, but poVe.efs TO enforce
them in the face Of government which could play
Of the symIathies Of the nation against the wishes
OF its REPRESENTATIVES. There was an army, de-
priyed OF the vatchword of loyalty. There were
Lsce political factions, which could only hope for
the attain nent Of their ends amid political turmoil;
and the great bulk OF he nation, which desired
peace at any price. IL is far easier to enumsrate
The difieUltCs cf The case than to point out any
single feature u Ropo. Even that last chance Of
individual gfCatrcSs, upon which come reliance
may be placed when all sober calculations break
-. n fsht I.~a fgf
their recent political yicissitudes. Il there be
single great man ia Francc-any indivi5ul whose
character anu talents inspire confidence in the
minds Of lis country men--what Is his name! where
is be to be fcundl The revelation Of February has
rot ITcCuced either statesman or warrior ca
pable Of guiding the destinics Of bis country
through the perils Of the APPROACHING hoar. The
leading politicians Of Louis PhipIe's time have
sunk into msrited contempt: but the pla;e they
blled la the public eye has not been occupied by
younger mtn
Can iLcfe be . mere striking Illustration Of the
detective nature CT The present French constitution
than the Intelligence published IN our columns yes
tcrdsy The President, ~ the time for his success
sOr's election draws near at hand. Is compelled 10
remodel ana contradict bis former policy and his
yitvicus declarations II Is evident that Ia the con
test which has 20 long been vsged between Louis
Nstelron ard the majority Of the Assembly, the
Ultimate advantage was with his opponents II no
active measure we're carried out on either SIDE IL
was for bis interest, a. u lay in his character, TO
aoi0Urn any overt step until the last moment OF
possibility Who co ala tell what hos.ities laight
not be dsarmed, or what adhsrents gained, a.
month alter month passed byl The Ian who does
nothing profits by every error his adversaries may
con nit still, as far az the President sconcerned,
the moment u ust arrive when be would lay aside
this cautious policy ard venture upon more active
measutts. The Alternative IL, that at the expira
ton Of bis term Of Office he should abandon his
atsrtmeBt at the Eiyseo, az Lord Mayor Of Lon
don quits the mansion house for bis private resi-
sence at ClsrhsM OF STANFORD ALL But mother
the fortunes nor the temper Of Louis Napcleon al
nit q such a solution oit5e question, and he has
at length given evidence Of has purpose to retain hs
hold oil power AZ all hazards. A. The majority Of
tle Assembly have formally expressed .heir deter.
nination 10 refuse any thing Ike revision OF the
constitution, til PRESIDENT conceive his last chance
70 be- ina Quite rupture with The present order Ok
thugs "a u clear tohm that b. cannot shake the
decisIcn Of TIE representatives-he boldly bids Tor
the svrpot Of thOfe vast masses OF the people
Which had been excluded from power By his own
lsw lie would, 10 doubt. with greater satisfaction
Lave pls yed the game OF the property anj iute
~ u the cguntry against the rude squadrOns Of
The revelation They will DOT have him: W, at
least. they cannot be broUsb: 70 act with any
eject ia his favor against Bis opponents in the
Assembly ard, accordingly, be is prepared to az
real 10 more fiery corstit ency out Of doors. His
ministers cannot be induce ~ consent 20 the nccos
sary arrangements; they resi- N, at0 those resgna-
items are accepted. The Iresiden. no doubt, hopes
70 find more subservient or less scf1pulous agents
for his designs. We hear Oifesclutors 20 bold that
NJ