New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-17

Now, whether Louis Napoleon 10 making this
public experiment from benevolent motives in the
interest Of the workmsD, or under pretense Of re-
gard to them, in his OWE interest 10 not much
matter. Indeed, If he makes 1t purely from selfsh
motves-the motive Of selfpreser ration on his
throne-so much the better: surely not 90 much
the better for him, but, looking at the act Is q
sign Of progress 90 much the better for the world.
am net apt to defend his Msjestys moral charac-
ter. But be ia not an ass; and il be talks ~
mocracy now and then and does Socialism now
and then-as IN this case Of the wOrkmen's houses
the less be likes either in his heart, the more OF
. hyp0crite he lie, the stronger the proof that ne
is forced 40 to speak and act from the oundrd
pressure. Louis XVI, poor, good, stupid gentle
man, was not up TO such lodges. If autocratic
Epperors find il best to play the demagogue and
talk for BuDcOmbe, surely it 10 sign that we are
getting on, slowly, to practical development OF
popular riehts.
The doctrine Of Universal Suffrage, as yet
grant but very little more than doctrine is
long step in that direction. This dOctrine-the
necessary preparatory base of practice-i once
for all established in France. / mentioned, few
letters ago, the decision ola high Court Of Appeal
that the tickets bearing the name ofa candidate for
political Office must fall under the general title OF
" writings" (serits, and were consequently sub
ject to the general law on eOlportage-i. e., they
authorities. This decision has since been the
topic of long discussion in the Corps Legisaatf.
(where there are a few Independent members.)
The Government found it necessary to defend it.
self even before that body against the implied
charge Of controlling 20 grossly, the freedom Of
elections; and the Minister of the Interior,
day or two after the discussion, thought fit to
publish circular in which he feels obliged to re.
assert and reterate in the most unequivocal terms
the principle Of free, universal suffrage, and quail
fes away almost all that is Objectionable in the de-
cision of the Court of Appeal. l may be attaching
undue importance to such theoretical cOnhrma-
tons as this of the great working principle of
thoroughly free government, by the Minister Of
Government which suffers it to work at present
only in very partial manner. But cannot over
look what history has taught me, that the theory
of good policy has always preceded its practice;
that We Americans only arrived to our actual
working of political freedom after long appren-
ticeship, the indentures of which were "cbarters
wrested from the hands of unwilling kings" the
theory of which was laid down long ago in what
were called and STILL by some, called, sneering
)y, Uopias- were really laid down in that most
Quixotic and noblest of all books-the New Tesla
queathed US the theory Of Salvation in all kinds.
He was crucifed by the Conservative party at Je-
rusalem. That was eighteen hundred years ago.
NOWADAYS he would hardly be more than richly
abused for his spirit of disorganization and his
pestilent isms-at worst not more than exiled from
Imperial France or knocked down in Democratic
Washington, for his opinions. &c. we are getting
on slowly toward real freedom of thought and
speech then to freedom Of act and institutions"
Little Napkin is doing well, and is taken out by
nurse to walk on the Tuileres terrace overlooking
the river. When his little Imperial Hghness
passes or rather is borne past any soldier or body
Of soldiers, they are bound to pay him the same
military hODOrs that they do to the Emperor him.
self. He kicks up his legs they present arms.
He has been entered on the books of the first com-
pany of grenadiers Of the Imperial Guard as en-
FAINT de troupe which for young gentleman who
already wears the military medal is not too speedy
advancement.
The subscription that is being collected for him
under the gentle pressure Of Commissaries Of Po-
lice and others who carry round the subscription
papers, is waxing to q large sum by little accre-
tiOns of not lees than one nor more than FIVE sous.
The Project of Police has issued an order to his
subOrdinates not to press in this matter. But they
do, by their mere presence; So many people had
rather pay a sous than be marked as not well dis
posed to Government. Some there are, however,
Homage" In biting alusion to the isritHtio"s
to pay, the hsndbls posted all over the city an
the "Hommage" were one night over
written with this formula from q standing police
ordinance: LA mendicitf est inteYdits."
There is idle talk that the amount of funds sub.
scribed will be devoted to the purchase OF the
battle field Of Marengo and the palace standing
upon it, for a present to the Napkin. This estate
has been advertised this long time in our journals,
to be cold NEXT July.
I forget what was bought for the little King of
Rome. TIE Palace of Chambord was bought by
national subscription for the son Of the Duchess
Of Berri. The frft died. for all that, as the other
lives in exile. You remember Beranger's song,
which the King of Rome addresses from Vienna
TO bis cousin of Ctambord Henry V. might, with
slight variations, retune it now to Napoleon ~.
A murder and suicide committed few days
ego in the Rue LATTE is the talk of my quarter.
AS contribution to the dark side Of the history OF
human nature, the story of it 10 worth brief re-
cord here. Monsieur N. was q wealthy banker
in the Rue LATTE. Of his seven children two
daughters were married. The elder of these,
Madame p, who had formerly acted as the head
of his house, transferred her office, when she
went to live with her husband, to younger sister,
Aplae. aged 19. Last Sunday, n. n. had prom
ised his daughters that they should 60 to the races
at the Champs de Mars Just as the carriage and
three of the girls had taken their places, Madame
p. presented herself with her two little children.
The girls were ill-pleased with this addition to
their party, and Mdlle. Aglae declaring that with
the present ample style of skirts, her robe would
be " all unused" (ekifomte) by the children crowd
ing in with their mother among them, refused to 60
at all, and reentered the house. When MadameP.
returned with the rest Of the party after the races
10 dine at her fathers she sharply reprOached
Aelae for her conduct. A quarrel arose, in which
Nj N. took the part of Aglae and n. z. the part
of bis wife.
On Monday morning N. P. left his house at
O'Clock; at he presented himself at the apart
mept of his fatherin-law. p, pretending that he