The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-26
The Emperor OF France.

The Emperor OF France.
Whatever censure awaits Louis Napoleon ct the
hands of the moralist, the politician who reviews
the history Of France during the last four years
cannot withhold high eulogium on his adroitness
and energy. Few men, with less intrinsic claims TO
success, have achieved greater things 10 80 short
space Of time-few have defested so powerful ad-
versaries st 90 small o cost of bloodsbed and dis.
turbance-few, IL any, have found means Of gra-
tifying the proudest dreams Of their ambition, with
out exciting far greater number Of enemies, and
rendering their odious to those whose liberties
they sacrificed.
When Louis Napoleon arrived in Paris iI March,
1913, he was peremp.orily requested by the provi-
sioDal government to return to his exile. The man
who had twice attempted to conquer France with a
corporals guard-who had defeated the vigilance
OF the most experienced ailors at the prison of lam
was too formidable subject for the feeble som-
Gil which sat at the Hotel de Vile, He complied;
but soon returned, and, to the amazement of tho
world, set himself up candidate for the Presi-
dency against Cavaignac, the man who, if that
proud deed has ever been accomplished by any, had
assuredy saved France. More slender claims to the
surages Of the French than his it is impossible to
conceive. Cavaignac had restored peace to Paris,
and was, besides, tried republican; Lamartine
had done coed service in February and March;
Ledru Rollin was un6inching representa-
tive of the socialist principle even join
vile had distinguished himself as a sailor and
a man of nerve and courage. Louis Napoleon
had nothing to recommend him but the name of his
uncle, and the very equivoca fame derived from his
exploits at Bologne and Strasbourg To account for
his extraordinary success, must necessarily pre-
IN vi Cd IN WITT tha
skill which has since characterized the measures of
his goyernment-thst neither gold, nor the other
thousand means of corruption which are SO potent
in France, were forgotten-that the great name of
Napoleon constantly sounded in the ears of that
large class Of FIenchmcn with whom it is synony-
nous with grandeur and glory-that he awaited
himself largely of every fault Of his competitors,
while he was unusually careful that his own tactics
should DO beyond criticism. To those who were
familiar with French politics, it was manifest, de
spite the sneers and sarcasms of the London press,
that the individual who elected over tho heads
Of Cavnignac and Lamartine, was no ordinary man.
When Louis Napoleon found himself President, he
was not long in discovering the nature Of the people
he had to govern. republic, without republicans
"a vast number of rival parties, without policies
people without constancy, or the power of appre-
u
OF three sections of monarchists with rival candi-
dstes- as many cliques of experimental politicians,
each with different theory, and only coincding in
vague general desire to overtun all existing
institutions-an army which could not be relied
on-bands of volunteer troops, accustomed to
enjoy brush in the streets every now and
them national guard that was sure to side
with every upstart authority-all those prin-
ciples Of manliness and honor which are the
Only safeguard Of government, seemed oblitsrated
from the hearts of the people, and, in their stead
species of interested conservatism in the old, and
reckless hankeriDg after novelty in the young were
the only feelings whose existence was undoubted.
With such materials to work upon, the course of
the new President was clear. The national cha
rscter was not sufficiently stable for republic; the
old dynastes were rotten and could not be revived
new government, strong enough to control the
young and inspire confidence in the old-which
should not be subject to the vote of tickle MAORI.
ty in the House of Representatives, or rely in any
measure on the fuctuating sympathies of the Paris
mob-was what the country needed. And Louis Ma
roleon resolved that they should have it. II coin
cided with his own ambitious views, and gratiied
his thirst for power WHILE al the same time it held
out as fair prospect Of benefit to the nation at
large as any government that could be suggested.
How he steadily pursued this object, in spite of
dangers and resistance, for four years how he an
initiated his most powerful enemy, by curbing the
liberty Of the pIess-bow he replenished hi Golfers
from the estates Of the late house Of Orleans-hos
be foressw the blow which was to strike him to the
earth, boldly took the initiative, and crushed the
socialists how he secured the attachment of the
army and the church-sre matters with which
every reader Of the newspapers is familiar He has
at length reached the goal The news which we
published yesterday placed before our readers the
message which the Senate was to vote Of
course their deliberations will be mere form: the
Senatus consuitum viii decree that Louis Napoleon
is emperor. Nor can any doubt be entertained Of
the result of the appeal to the people So skifully
have Louis Napoeon's measures been taken, that it
seems as though he was reluc family consenting to
grasp the sceptre which has been 50 long the object
Of his dearest hopes.
So far as France il concerned, we songratulsts
the French on the event. We believe the p.ope
will enjoy larger measure Of practical prosperity
under Lsuis Napoleon than they would have en-
joyed under republic. We feel confident that So
cislism, which has beea for many years the bane
of Paris, will not its head under his energetic
rule. We look forward to the exteusioa of their
trade and ma nuisctures the develspeneat Of their
industrial resources, which have been almost over
looked in the clamor Of political and
to the rsestaslishment Of domestic tranquility,
which, after all, Is the true secret Of happiness
Glad. proud as should feel to see the French in
the full enjoyment Of that share OF civil and poli.
tical liberty which our constitution secures to the
meanest citizen, we cannot close our eyes to the
lessons taught by the past or dsude Ourselves into
the belief that republic can prosper among q
people whose character docs not contain q single
elemest OF republication. highly as we value our
own liberty, NO are net prepared to admit that it
would be safe to extend it to the whole wsrld, or
to remove all restrctio from press whose notion
Of freedom is the right Of sting rank treason
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