The republic., 1852-01-07
Paris Correspondence OF the Republic.

Il NsU Phasis-Eiecfion Of Louis Napoleon Re
sfrictions on the Press- Corrupt Practices Sus-
yected Post Office Espionage- Gold Supplanting
Silpr-Densoiifion Of the Rfprssenfatipe Build
ing-R,m1rks Of the Pays Ne,ospaper-A Cente-
naria,.--An american Sociaiit IA Paris.
Pans, December ~, 1901.
very much doubt, Mr. Editor whether my last
letter ever reached you. II written in the
midst of the revolution, or the coup dstaf, and
might have miscarried, from the natural confusion
of the mails, or from the very unnatural practice
adopted by the post office authorities, Of reading
such communications as are entrusted 10 them for
transport in order TO sift the chaf from the wheat
the chaf being, Of course, those which speak Of NJ.
Bonaparte in dsrespecful and unbcooming man
ncr. Under the circumstances, yos can hardly
expect this letter to be sequel the lsst In the
fortnight that has elapsed, the revolution has grown
from coup dstat into fIcd fact and fat accom-
PHI Louis Napoleon then a usurper, and is
now a duly accepted ruler; from provisional die.
ta,or be has become popularity elected sovereign,
prince, regent, or what you will. Though VIC
know but few of the hgures Of yesterdays vote,
VIC know from the fact that the vote took place
that Louis Napoleon has been returned by over
whelming majority Of yeas over nays.
Yesterday and the day before the vote taken
throughout France upon the question Of retaining
Louis Napoleon in power and giving him the nu'
thority 20 establish government on a system Of
bis own. In Paris there were some five or siI
hundred polls open-one nearly to every SIX streets
There crowds at around them, and the
aspect OF the city in nowiso different from that
IL ordinarily wears. There not, far as
could sec in visit 10 some twenty ballot boxes,
single individual either employed or having vol.
UNFAIRLY undertaken 10 distribute negative votes.
Such man would have run dangerous risks Of
arrest or abuse II is not probable that such we're
printed. why should printer incur the chances
of the spite Of the authorities for the paltry consd
Grafton Of a fvc-fanc piece, which would pay for
10, ,OOG nsysl On the other hand, men with hands
full of o stood at The slrcct-corncrs and pressed
them on the passers-by. went to the polls with a
gentleman, who. as he intended TO vote No, had
taken the prccaution 10 write one, as he hardly er-
poc.sd to end any printed votes Of such com
promising character. AZ he entered the Office, he
accepted an offered on, in order TO blind some half
a dozen lockers on, who might bo spies scnt 70 see
who dared TO do otherwise than as the government
desired. Passing through tho entry, he changed
votes. threw away the Yes and deposted The No
in the urn. Now, az Louis Napoleon has obtained
considerable credit for his apparent dsintcrcscd-
declaring the will of people TO supreme,
and that If rejected. he would at once retire from
power I offer this fact--one probably out Of many
thousands Of similar oases-as going to prove that
universal suffrage thus enforced at the point Of the
bayone, is little better than the restricted suffrage
Of the 3lst of May.
On Saturday very email part Of the working
population appeared at the polls as the next day
being Sunday and holiday, they might vote with
out losing moment at their work. Ats O'Clock in
the evening the urns were taken from tho various
voting sections, under a strong escort, TO the
mayors office Of each ward. Each was placed
in room arranged to receive 1t, all the doors Of
which were then sealed up for the night. ma
tonal guard and soldier OF the line watched at the
entrance, while piquet Of troops mounted guard
in the street till morning. At O'Clock the urns
were taken back again to the polls for the second
and last days vote. The number of votcs regis.
tered previous TO tho commencement was 900 900,
nearly ZOO more than were inscribed upon the
lists on the 10th Of December 1888
Sunday busy day at the polls, though
the animation and hustle peculiar TO great elcc.
ton were completely swallowed up in the gaiety
Of the preparations for the approaching holidays.
The Sunday before Christmas IL always lively
doy-perhaps one-hslf of the presents made on the
2kth being then purchased. Though vast nurn
ber Of votes were certainly deposited in the urns,
the electors were far from having il all their own