New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-30

ing repose the other the tranquility Of le;hargic
ioipor. There are ZONE crises in disease IN which
the relief produced by powerful opiae may De
essential and salutay but to make the medicine part
Of the patents ordinary diet is not to appease toe
derium, but to undermine the constitution. Which
species Of tranquility is il that Louis Napoleon ha
administered TO France Has his treatment consisted
in the violent remedies q the ignorant quack or IN me
healing wisdom OF the skilliu physician The condi
ton Of things in 1851 critical aud exceptional ana
the coup detat, If II IS to be deienufa ~ y, a lst os
defended on exceptional grounds. But the cnarscer
Of the man who took advantage OF political Junctare
TO furh.r his ambitious and personal OBJECTS must
be Judged not by the temporary success OF HE stroke
but by the permanent result which he has producea
ON the country the government of whichhe has SEXES
The position Of Louis Napoleon in history Will depend
not on the fortunate accident Of his usupaton but on
the political system he has established anu on the
future Of which h. has laid the foundation.
When we ask ourselves IN what respects the social
ar potical situation Of France better in 1851 than It
was when Louis Napoleon possessed himself OF a6so-
Lutte power in 1851 We coifess that we can ma 10
satisfactory answer. If the Emperor Of the French
bad been gifted with any of the higher qualities OF
staesmanshp his first aim would have been 10 recon-
truc out the wrecks Of revolutionary dlsorganlZa'
toD some vital and sefsus,aniDg principle OF govern
ment Instead of this he has contented himself with
RELYING on the mere brute force which for the moment
had become alpoweiu IN the midst OF social oistrac-
ton. The Incidence and love OF pleasure which seem
10 be the characteristics OF his disposition have deferred
him from attempting to build up any political system
Offering TO France the prospect OF solid and reason
able tranquility. The Government OF the ID OF De
cember was, in its origin, an occasional government
and il has never had the moral force 10 give perma
nent character to its constitution As long AZ the
Civil List is voted, the metropolis amused and
the people kept from grumbliDg by donatives,
the Emperor Of the French seems 10 be salts
fled that he has performed all the functions which his
position imposes upon him. But what root has Gov
eminent in the proper sense Of the word, taken in
France under the auspices o! IFS present ruler Has
il advanced one step in public opinion since the tH!-
& bad W.. Er.tN f,npI I'D his
throne on the aggressive passions Of an unclaimed de-
mocIacy. As long rs he could feed their nav with
glory, he retained his influence; but when the mo-
Hent of adversely arrived, he paid the just and natur
al penalty Of a selfish and unpatrotic policy. His
nnwer faded quickly as it had grown; and the
eouId which had spruIg up In day under the Sum
ner's sun, was withered as quickly by the Autumn
ost The first Napoleon fell because he had used the
power committed TO him solely for his personal aud
selfish ends-because he had never sought TO identity
the syDpahies Of the people or the interests OF the
Empire with the objects which he pursued with so
much ability and good fortune.
His nephew, with far inferior genius, but almost
greater luck seems TO be pursuing the policy,
and Fastening TO the same end. Can any reasonable
OF thoughtful man see, IN the existing situation of al
fairs OH the other side of the Chenne the promise of
tranquil futurel In what respect, would ask, is
the political repose Of France assured since the
I'd OF December, 1851 There is still the uninixed
government of the sword. Public opinion intellect and
worth are trampled under foot by the demDl0nde rab
Bile Of a Court of adventurers. Throughout the length
and breadth Of France, the Government is regarded
with ndfere by the vulgar, and despised by the
educated classes. The country submits II is true but
it submits with mingled apathy and disdain The
patient may sleep for the moment, but he will assur-
eddy awake again, enc day or other to more certain
and fearful delrium. The present dictatsrsmP IN
France was the temporary refuge of terrOr-stcken
people but the Government is fast losing the support
which il found in the serve fears of the middle class.
The present state of things cannot continue forever
Already, within the past year, murmurs have been
,pbi hsy he EinppfOr
well-founded unea.iness. The profgate public
expenditure, which it would have been the
proper function of an Independent Parliament
10 control, is Fastening on social crisis which
will, at no distant day, try to the uttermost
the strength of Government IN France. Louis
Napoleon has staked everything on his per-
soDal popularity, and with that popularity his whole
power crumble to pieces; and then the country
will feel the whole extent of the blunder which has
been committed in negecting the precious opportu-
nifty of five years of tranquility to plant and foster
some system of government which should have a
chance of surviving the accidental ioltuLes OF sngie
man.
If there had been any bona fde attempt on the part
of the Emperor to give true representation to public
opinion in the Chamber restrained by such limits as
the condition of France might require, 1t would have
been possible to hope that her political and social dis
eases might gradually heal themselves by the curative
poweIs of nature. But the insoent manifesto lately
set forth in the Moaeur shows that there is no honest
intention TO give any real existence TO this Imperial
plsything The so-caled " Representatives, IL IL
ppaSsr are meant TO be exactly like any other
officers of The houeehod and to form part OF the pa
eeant without partaklng Of the power of the State.
The enemies OF free institutions will tell us with
speer that these the natural fruits OF universal
suffrage They take the same sort OF delight III the
degradation Of the representative principle as T0ae
would find in the detection of missionary In pecca-
dllo or in the sight of Quaker Keeling in the street
But the truth is that the whole OF France, from the
very nature Of ts civil government, Is one gigantic
close borough. To return an independent member
n "A .ft I,n,a rtnl INV nfnn MT
would be almost easy to return Tory for Calne
or IN opponent Of the Ministry for dockyard. 1t
rested with the Emperor to determine whether the
elections should be free, and he has not had the
courage to make up tis mind in the aihrmstivc. tie
has never dared to trust public opinion, and pubic
opinion is beginning to turn agar st HIM. All the pre-
cautions which have been taken to make the elections
safe are fresh proofs Of the disrust with which the
Emperor views the state of public feeling toward his
Government. He adheres t. the simple prnci-
pie of force which he founded his power aud
his Government has not cast one single root into the
country by which it might sustain itself against the
accidents which may unmake as easily as they have
made it.
While such state of things exists in France there
may be q powerful army, but there IS not strong
Goyeument On this subject venture TO borrow
the language Of article in Fraser to which we have
lately called attention. c., =.
sense that Government Is strong which Is unTestraned
by law. In another sense, that Government Is not
strong which needs the support OF half million bay
onets which breads the pen of the merest senbbler,
which ouakes at the whisper of salon. Again, that
Government IL, in one sense stable which whatever
the vices of the ruler cannot be changed by the pub
lie will but, in another sense that Government Is not
stable which depends on the life OF single man, or
even on the continuance Of dynasty. And when the
break comes it is not change of Ministry, but civil
war; aud civil war-not between principles, but be-
tween pretenders-Of all wars at once the bloodest
and the most VILE
1t is not difficult to see how different the state OF
things might have been the Emperor Of the French
Ind really been wise statesman, Instead of fOrtu