Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-01
Mr.. DE TOCQUEvILLE AND THE PRE-
SENT GOvERNMENT-PARI
NAPOLEON AND LORD PALMERsTON
THE LONDON TIMES.

NArOhHON AND LORD PALMERSTON
THE LONDON TIMES.
/" Better thousand times the ercesses of De-
nlagogism than the present SYSTEM" said M.
De Tocqueville, two or three months ago,
to gentleman of our acquaintance, who re-
ported his words to us. The opinion Of the
illustrious author Of the democracy Of the
United States" who during his political career
never ceased to contend against the spirit of
demagogism, and who may be said to have
ranked among the conservative party of his
country, to the astonishment of those who
knew him only by his work, will certainly be
duly estimated by those who still preserve
some doubts about Louis Napoleon's govern
nent, morality, and honor. 1t is the brand of
learned and honest man set upon the repu:
tation of the third offspring of the imperial
race of the modern ruler of France. The
words of M. de Tocqueyille, now in Brussels,
are the best commentary yet made on the po-
htical situation ofthat nation, for it is not to be
doubted that were his country prosperous and
happy, he would not care about the form of
government, nor censure it in so bitter q
manner.
The fact is, that France is at the present
time, in state Of unprecedented prostration
and weakness, especially in the country, among
the peasants. Trade is at q stand still, and the
last failures of the wine crop have very much
impaired the resources of the large portion of
the agricultural class. Trade is only alive in
large cities, and still, there it has to be sus-
tanned by the protection of the government.
In order to help the BUSINESS, on the first of the
year in Paris, Louis Napoleon is said to have
purchased for his senators lots of furniture.
which he directed to their houses. But, instead
of paying the bill, he took good care to tell the
cabinet-maker to send the furniture and the
bill to their lordships, and to charge good
price. That way of forcing his creatures to
unite the strings of their purses is copied from
his uncle, who, as it is known, used the same
means Of helping trade by purchasing for some
OF his senators and making them pay for his
purchases. The case of the Aarquese Of Ali
gre fully illustrate the system. The construc
ton of houses in Paris is progressing slowly,
but every progress, emanating from the central
governments, being charged upon the different
mayoralties of Paris, loads the city with so enor-
NOUS debt that she win be obliged to stop
the buildings and perhaps to fail.
This is the beauty of the system SO much
praised by travellers. They have seen houses
and streets emerging from the muddy center
Of the capital Of the civilized world, and they
have wondered at the genius Of Louis Napo
leon, without inquiring whether that genius
was feeding upon the pockets Of the people,
impairing the solvency Of the Partisan mum.
cipalities, and gradually leading them to bank
ruptcy. They did not perceive that the star
they were worshiping was but candle in a
lantern fast consuming itself in the midst OF
smoke and grease, and leaving a bad smell
behind.
When we compare this, to MS, well known
state of France, with the shy and cautious
language Of the English press, we cannot help
thinking that there is strong suspicion enter
tanned in that country of coming explosion in
France. We had lately an opportunity of
quoting the London Times in reference to Louis
Nspoleon's speech, and the treacherous COM
ment Of that paper on that occasion. There is
still another fact, more conclusive, showing
that something is covertly brewing in England
against the French Emperor. At the end OF
October, 1854, the Gazette of Frankfort, the
most influential paper in Germany, published
the unexpected news that the Cabinet Of st.
James was, at that time, discussing the even
tual question about the form Of government
the best suited to France and the French peo-
pie, and they came to the conclusion that a
moderate republic was the thing. This created
quite a sensation in Germany; the article was
reproduced in nearly all the papers, and the
French press Of Belgium had it translated and
circulated everywhere. But the most striking
point Of the anecdote is, that the London
Times itself translated the article from Ger
man into English, and had it inserted in its
columns. This was, it must be noticed, in the
midst Of the warmest exchanges Of friendship
between the English and French cabinets.
Another fact still confirms us in the opinion
that everything now passing in France is not
TO the taste of the English Cabinet "How do
you like France" asked Louis Napoleon Of Lord
Palmerston, at the time Of his visit to Paris
"Sire,' said the diplomatic, a. find her full OF
grace, spirit, and vivacity, but she is TOO tight
an her stays" col" answered Louis Napo
leon, with laugh, "the time has not come yet
to unloose her waist" And he was right, for
TO unloose her waist would be the loss Of the
empire. Lord Palmerston, with the grace and
politeness of courtier, compared imperial
France TO suffocating woman; he might Just
as well have compared her with q red-hot
boiler. Both images we're applicable to her
case.
The words Of de Tocqueville, the suspension
&c off.;ra tho hard condition of The naasaptrv