The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-13
The Empire Established In France.

In connection with the important though expect
ed intelligence received from Europe by the Naga-
ra that the empire is finally established in France
by the vote of the people, publish to day several
very interesting documents relating thereto, and
which will be read with great avidity at the present
times The report of the Commission in favor Of the
Empire, the protest Of Henry V and the protests
of Victor Hugo and Of some French revolutionary
societies IN the island Of jersey. These papers, par
ticularly the report of the Commission, which is
able and elaborate, will amply repay perusal, and
serve to throw much light upon this the al-absorb-
ing topic in our foreign news
We have not the entire official vote, but We have
enough to indicate with absolute certainty what the
result is to be- and that it is exactly what we an
tcipated receiving the fret intelligence of the
proceedings taken to bring the measure before the
people. We then stated our conviction that the
people would vote Louis Napoleon emperor for life,
with greater suffrage than ever was given to any
man in France before greater, even than given
to himself when he was elected President of tho
public in 1913, and President for ten years in De-
oember 1851. This is the denosaenent Of the drama
to which We pointed years ago. We knew that he
was made of sterner stuff than he got credit for and
we alfo knew the sentiments of the people of France
that Louis Napoleon had the strength and capa ,ity
to maintain his position, and would proceed step by
step to the establishment of the empire. We knew
he would follow the example Of his uncle, who is
his model and his idol, as well as the idol of the
French people. In the face of the predic-
tioDs of Kossuth, and the false prophets
of the shallow presses which sustained his views,
we declared our mistaken belief in the pcrmanency
OF the government Of Napoleon the Third, aswe did
in the bursting Of the Hungarian bubble. In both
the result has justified the soun iness Of the
views of the HKaALD, and exposed the ignorance,
the short tightsdness, and the charlatanry of the
public instructors ~ho endeavored to lead the PEG.
pie of the United States estriy upon these and
other fiibtsfero questions.
Some Of our cotemporares are sadly at o loss to
account for this series of political events in France
and puzzing themselves with various theories to
explain what appears TO them to be almos. ioex-
plieable. They cannot understand why it ia that
man who was not popular, who had not much abili-
ty, and bad emerged almost from obscuriy, should
be not only raised to power but continued in it, and
that power gradually increased and strengthened,
till what seemed red republic less than FIVE
years ago, is now absolute empire. The
secret is this-the French people never de-
sired republic, at least not such a republic as
would maintain liberty, fraternity, equal y. The
revolution Of 1913 wss not the emanation OF
the people Of France; it was pure accident, which
took every body by surprise, and the actors in the
drama were as much surprised at their own SUCCESS
as any body else. But the mos. curious part Of the
business was, that when republic was proclaim %
at the Hotel de Vile by ouyrier 10 a blouse, the
men who brought ii about we're Mt . loss what to do
II was Office they wanted, and not revolution
Nor did the people Of France went republic, az is
evident from their votes The republic was pro
claimed without consulting them, and nov they
have repudia.ed it.
They are not republican ID their IDEAS aui d. not
appreciate republican irsdlaS01s Ali that tlas
WaAied nasa stEtng, stable y.snnent, th.,; woali