The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1852-12-09

THE FRENCH n washington
P,guRic has a very good article upon the re-
establishment Of the French Empire, which
At this time possesses sufficient iaterest To
transfer to our columns, "Te France"
sapsthat paper, "the re-eststlishment of a
Bonapartist dynasty may afford momeutary
relief. 1t is the last step in the work of re-
action, and copsummaies the devices and the
policy that have marked the progress of the
Imperial adventurer. The fascination of his
name enabled him to outrun the most dis
tingoished men who competed with him for
the Chief Magistracy Of the nation.
at was not long after till he overturned
the constitution to which the Repuoli-
caaism of Europe looked,as at once the sign
and source of its advancement; and then
with as little apparent difficulty he construct
ed another, stripping the people of all but a
semblance of power, and securing to him
self all that was needed to further his Interior
purposes. President in name, he was then
Emperor in fact. The army, through whose
agency the last blow had been struck at pop
ular power, rename TO do his bidding; and
constitutional iugglery enabled him to Gre
ate the Senators who now proclaim him
Emperor. That a majority of the people
will concur in their decision is beyond
doubt; and the world will then witness the
spectacle Of imperial power and honor
swayed by one who began with treachery,
whose second advance was an usurpation
and who ends with extorting approval from
the victims of both. The whole movemen,
furnishes nutriment to absolutist contemners
Of popular intelligence and virtue, and will
be pointed to hereafter as an illustration Of
the theory which assigns to integrity. anG
wisdom only subordinate influences in the
science of government.
Nowhere out of France could such q
paradox be pcrpetrated. With her il is
the re-enactment, with variations, of won
ders familiar to her history. The first Ma
poleon--thc last King, Louis P%hillippe--and
the new Emperor, Napoleon the Third-are
all proofs of the ickleness Of French SEN
timent, and of the absence OF the self reli.
ance, and the considerable, determined pur-
suit of right for its own sake, which consti-
tute the glory and the strength Of Republi-
canism. A straw will tickle all France into
laughter. An OPERA, fete, a review,will make
her people happy in spite of duplicity ant
despotism. A name recommended by moth
ing save by a tinselled glory, weans them
iyom freedom achieved through blood, anC
reconciles them to its destruction without q
murmur. Theatrical display obliterates all
remembrance Of their wrongs, and stimulates
them to shout to the praise Of him who
wronged them. We know of but one parul-
lei, and it in some respects is less humiIiat-
ing, The b%enighted superstition which
prompts the worshippers Of Juggernaut to
their horrible self-sacrifce has at least the
merit of earnestness, and springs from prin'
ciple, however ignorant. The sacrifice
made by France has no such redeeming fea-
ture. II is an idolatry without faith or con
%sistency to recommend it; a national suicide
that can be neither justified nor palliuted b,
the caprice that directed it.
"That the man who bus brought abou
nil this possesses high talents & an indom
liable will, is unquestionable. lie has OK.
hib'ted an ability, an energy, and a perse.
verance not indicated by his anteccdcnts.-
His every step has displayed profound
knowledge of French ohara ctcr. His i'm
perial purple t%estiies to this and more. The
skill, tact, and duplicity which have 20 far
characterized him, render any attempt to
predicate his future utterly idle. His in,cn-
tionS are an enigma to which his words give
no clue. While wooing for the empire, his
speeches have overflowcd with pacific pro-
f%essions; but then we remember that while
vowing allegiance TO the Republic he was
laying mines to shiver il TO atoms. His past
might warrant an opinion that he is to be in
terpreted by the law OF contruries, aud be
expected TO do exactly the opposite of tha
which he promises. Our conclusion Is, how
ever, that he will be peaceful or belligcren
as passing circumstances may require. |
he can invent gew-gaws fast enough t,
please his subjects, doubtless he will be con
tent, at least for a season; if not, not. Wa
or peace is to him a question Of expediency
and nothing else. On one hand, an mag
ined destiny, the ideas associated with a DO
naparte dynasty, u desire for military success
aud national ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, may urge hin
to struggle for Il reversal of the terms which
the victories Of Leipsic aud Waterloo i'm
posed. On the other, the common instinct
Of self preservation, the caution OF which he
has shown himself possessed, and tho de-
clnred determination Of the continental
powers Jointly TO resist aggression, combine
to guarantee temporary tranquility. Apart
from these considerations, speculation is al
together at fault.
"ft is probable thlt tho proclamation OF
the empire will be acquiesccd in by Austria,
Prussia, 4 Russia. without further hesitation.
Whatever annoyance their rulers may feel
from the elevation TO their own order Of the
hereditary representative OF an old enemy
II is reasonable to expect that they will pre-.
fer the presence Of an emperor to that o
the republic which he has destroyed. Obvi
Gus cxigencics will in such q case 90 far Il
counterfeit the force Of traditionury untipn.
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