New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-13
A few Words OF veracisuS History.
n Alexander Thomas is q well-kno


the leading Orleanist Journal in France he
wrote also the very able Political Summaries IN
the Rerue dss deur Mondes. Compelled to leave
| France by the measures of Louis Napoleon, he
resides at Brussels, and edits with d'Hansonvhie'
a weekly paper called the Frsaeh Bulletin. In
this journal we find recent able and conclusive
ANALYSIS OF the vote of the 10Th December, from
the pen of N. Thomas, under tn title given
above. 1t is the result of such accuri'e kno"i-
| edge in the premises that we are sure . doing
| our readers and the cause OF justice sc wee,
| by communicating its substance to them.
The Government Of the ID December hoped %
secure stability by deceit. 1t has, however, given
only one more proof that there is no security for de-
eeiyers. 1t was loudly asserted that the Northern
Povers were in ecs.scies at the coup dsfa and that
the Pope had displayed unwonted JOY There were
even those who had no doubt that the holy Father
Nould come in person to Notre Dame TO testify his
satisfaction But this unive rsal ght lacked proof
The Prussian journals even the most favored oil the
roysl party did not applaud, and the Russian Minis
ter at Paris insisted that the President should an
rounce that he had not received any autograph con-
graduation from the Gar, and gradually 1t was
discovered tn at the letter from the Pope was very
spocfyphal affair.
The plan of operations was then changed. II
was ntmated that the Kings had quite as much
need of the President, If not more than he OF the n
There had been loud talk OF special embassies to
announce to various Courts the regeneration Of so
| ciety and the salvation OF France and Europe
But II was suddenly discovered that the dignity
Of the Government permitted only simple notlica-
tion Of the event
NJ de MoTny, without leave, placed the names OF
| eminent men upon that commission, 10 which such
indefinite Offices were allotted. But the eminent
men, directly they were aware Of this misuse OF
| their names, declined, with emphasis and before
| the world. NJ. &c Montaemben only, remained,
having vainly stiven to pull Berger and de Falloux
| into the mre. Ii will be sad momentwhen France
| perceives her profound humilislion-and 1t is to
aid her in awakiDg 70 sense OF it, that We ex-
anime In the light OF facts, the real sgnii OF
| The vote Of the goth December
| II was an unprecedented spectacle. For more
ihsn half century France had oeen struggling for
lIbertytben, suddenly plunged into the most aoIsc
submission to an adTenturer, signed lis own suren-
der and Enthusiastically sanctione the crimes whica
| had secured its defeat. One doubts if the liberal
canse in France be not MORALLY stricken
But, conte plated more nearly, this vote ceases to
| be significant and decisive. 1t must be proved
voluntary vote before Can be considered expressive
Of any general feeling Now it wants both liberty
| and sincerity. 1t was imposed upon the country,
ard we will show how. The frat fact which invali
dates it, is its character, and the false manner in
which the question was presented TO the people.
| Having broken the Constitution, did Louis Napo-
! leon iEyte France to name Leader or to summon
| new Assembly to frame Constitution Not a. all
He required the Nation to answer casegocally upon
facts already de,erminedto ratfy, or not the revo-
| luton he had made-to maintain the Government
that stood upon the ruins of the Old to overthrow
preserve kind of order or to fall at
into anarchy. To such questions, under such cir
cumslances, did any nation ever make but one an
swer In 1893, in the years 3, and Is OF the oil
Republic sority larger than that of the 20th De-
cember answered as France now answers. 10 the
| year 10, upon the question OF making Napoleon En-
peror there were in Paris but 20 Noes to l20, l47
Ayes and in all France 1900 Noes to 57a 3ao Ayes
After the 18th Brumare-in the year s-there were
1857 $50 Ayes, against 40 975 Noes. To-day On the
Goth December 1851 in the City of Paris alone there
are 900 Noes out Of 2l2 600 votes saying nothing
OF all who abs.ained from voting. But even in
Gaze OF his absolute rejection by the vote, NO one
doubted that Louis NAPOLEON, supported by the panic
he had caused, would have concealed negative re-
suit. To every serious mind it but the playing
of comedy, to a usuIpation with the show of
popular conservation.
This is rot all. There was no chance allowed for
discussion. Even under Charles Tenth, when the
censure was the rule, the Press was always unmuz-
lied month before the election, that there might
be pretense OF popular elaboration, as we'll in
pamphlets in the journals. But for the fortnight
slspsiDg between the coup dttdt and the vote OF the
Goth December, not sound, not word, not a look
1 Al
Nay, by refined meanness, the papers were CON-
PEELED TO publish statements VIGOROUSLY Ease. All
assemblies OF political complexion, in public places
or in private houses were absolutely interdicted.
In several Departments edcts were issued that there
| must be no conversation upon passing events. We
| cite examples of such Edcts They illustrate the
cord,on of French liberty from the Cd TO the goth of
December
"The Prefeci OF the Lower Rhine DEGREES:
"AsTIcLE U.-EVery person who BY false reports,
or celebrations or violence OF any klEd' seeks 10
hinder the vote shall be arrested and brought 10
justice
cts OF writings, IN the streets during the 2oh and
| 2lst Gays of December Is formally promoted"
| General d'AplOnse commanding the state OF
| siege in the Department of the Cher, DEGREES
"ARTIcLE IV.-EyeTy person seeking TO trouble the
10 oifuSe reports or kueges, fears OF kind
| to excite tie community, viii be immediately ar
resed AID brought before the Council Of War.
| PARTICLE FIIl-EVeTy person Ios belonging to
| the commune who comes tnither attempting 10 vi
rate the vote will De inme lately arrested and
| brought before the Council of War
| ARTICLE IX.-When the vote Is closet and the
| result known, every meeting for commenting upon
cIltc sing this result VIII De considered sedtous,
ard will he treated as IN the foregoing articles"
| The Project OF tee Upper GaronAe DEGREES:
| ARTICLE The autAOrIly accorded 70 assemblies
| Of every kind IN this department. IS annulled.
| ART. lin future no society or assembly must
| be formea without proper authorization.
| "ART II-EytTy assembly violating such condi-
items Will be immt q ately dissolved. Inc members
making part q Il Will be ecnsicered as be ging 70
| a stcItt soc.ety and will BE treated Accordingly
ART. IV.-Every person, stranger in the Com
| nune, Who shall he discovered de voting himself 10
| any species Of propsgandism, or circulating false
reports Wil be considered exeter OF civil war,
and wil De relrDqushed 10 the judicial authority.
| ART V-E'eIy distributor or peGdler Of Writings