The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-06

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their material enjoyment. In their distant security
they scarcely feel sensation from the revolutions
thai shake the seat of empire The convulsion Of
February, 1913, which dethroned tho monarch and
set up nominal republic--the bloody strife of June
of the year, for socialism and q red republic
and the coup deat of December last, did not cleo
trify the landed propretors of France These events
hardly caused ripple on the surface Of their equa-
nimity. If they had any apprehension, it was lest
socialism, red republicanism, and infdelity should
disturb them in their simple enjoyments. They
had, in fact, more to hope and less to fear from
a strong government than from weak one, and
from civil war and intestine commotion threat
ened by the factions opposed to Louis Napoleon
and to each other. They therefore hailed his tri-
umph and the establishment Of II military despo-
tism, which put down the malecontents. They had
much to lose and nothing to gain by domestic feuds,
and they regarded the dictator as sort ofpoltical
Gdipus, who united the Gordian knot, and pre-
served to them the blessings Of peace--with their
cottages and farms and their fruits, and bread, and
wine, and all the enjoyments of rustic simplicity.
In Grent Britain and Ireland the case is the very
reverse. Any change must be for the better to the
majority of the people. An ogarchy of 40, 900 possess
the land and rule the country, Notwithstanding the
theoretical provisions Of what is called the constitu
tion In theory il is said to be limited monarchy.
but in practice its limitations are so essentially ars-
tocrac that though the shadow of royalty remains,
the substance has vanished-the sovereign now dis
charging no other functions than signing official
documents, and comforting dignitios and pensions
on individuals nominated by the oligarchy. AS to
popular limitations on royalty aristocracy, there
ali f,rt bo l.ft
people is the right of complaining or of petitionng
an adverse legislature-the House Of Commons,
elected by bribery and intimidation consisting for
the most part of branches of the aristocratc fami-
lies or their nominees and being just as little the
true representatives of the people the House Of
Lords, except in the large cities; and even in these,
the elections often decided by the money Of the
aristocracy. In fact, like the rod of Aaron, the
olgarchy has swallowed up the prerogatiyes of the
crown and the rights of the commons 1t carries
out its will and executes its laws in the name of
the monarch, who is merely the grentest arstocrat,
Yet there is recuperative power in the British
constitution, which will one day set all right.
In England, then, the monarchs have no
power. In France it has been always quite
different. When feudal monarchy was intro
duced, England had two advantages which France
did not possess, and which has led to opposite
results In England it came suddenly, and the
country not being prepared for it. was reused and
united against despotism. England being but
State, union easily accomplished On the
contrary in France feudal monarchy was introduced
by degrees and strengthened itself as it advanced
while the country, being divided into petty sove
reignties, could not efectually combine against the
steady encroachments Of tyranny. The French peo
pie, therefore, became a monarchia people, and
their ideas Of government were those of an absolute
monarch, or emperor, whatever else he might be
called Hence the first republic failed, and merged
in the empire Of Napoleon Bonaparte, and now the
second republic has failed, and merges in the empire
Of Louis Napoleon. 1t was great mistake on the
part of Louis Philippe to attempt to assimilate the
French government to that Of the aristocracy Of
England There was no basis for such an assimla-
ton. In France the many possessed the land-n
England the few There was no aristocracy in
France one hand, and on the other no machinery
for constitutional government. In France the King
had great power-in England the Queen has none
at all. The circumstances, therefore, Of the two
countries were and are essentially different
An elective emperor, representative autocrat is
what suits the French people, and is adapted to the
rrcponderating interest," which is that Of the land
The propretors Of the soil do not fig for the
extinction Of the liberty Of the press in the capital
What is it to them They are not affected by it,
and do not appreciate il. They have every motive
Of interest to sustain strong government, md there
is not a shadow Of doubt that they will stand
by Louis Napoleon. There will be peace and
imperial despotism in France for long time
to Gomez and the revolutionary, disconnected
spirits, who are chiefly confined to Paris Lyons,
harsees and two or three other cities, will come
out to the United States where unless they very
squeamisb, they enjoy republican liberty in its
theory and practice, such it exists nowhere else
under the sun, and has existed since the be-
ginning Of the world.
IMPORTANT CHARGE OF THE RECORDER TO THE
GRAND JURY, ON LoTrERIEs-JUDGE DUER on THE
ART UNION LOTTERY We refer our readers to a
very important charge delivered by Recorder Tllou
yesterday to the Grand Jury, the subject of gam
bling and lotteries. In that charge, while the
Grand Inquest is called upon very properly to do its
duty, the District Attorney is not forgotten in the
same category. Gambling and lotteries though
both prohibited by law have increased in impu-
dence and operations throughout the land during
the last few years. This has been mainly occasoned
by the example and influence Of the Art Union
Association, which has been encouraged by per-
sons Of reputation, without proper thought or
reflection The whole country has been reused Of
late TO this subject. In the meantime, while some
Of the Judges and lawyers of New York manifest
such profound ignorance of the gambling and
lottery laws. that in Massachusetts, they arc
perfectly understood and enforced. Two persons
have been recently arrested in Lynn, and one in
Boston, for being engaged in lottery speculations
similar in character to that Of the Art Union. Now,
there is not much fear that the Judges who try them
will be puzzled in understanding the meaning Of the
statutes. 1t i not likely, however, that they will
quote as presidents the opinions Of some OF our
Judges
The leaned opinion Of Judge Ducr, and his recent
decision in the Art Union case, will, he promises,
be published in full during the week. We are glad
- L. "a r. - al. r.. -.