The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-06-23

The French Electaons.
The first Legislature of France since the empire
has just been dissolved, and the country is now
busily engaged in electing new men to 90 tbrou oh
Tie farce of legisating for the country during the
ensuing six years. The spectacle is full of inte
rect both to republicans and to thinkers generally
The government is not afraid of being accused
of interfering in the elections. 1t comes out with
long circular from the Department of the In.
terror to the projects of departments instructing
them what are their duties in reference to the
election Monsieur Bllault, the subscriber of the
circular takes credit to himself and to the gov
eminent for allowing "hostiie caudidaturcs" at
all "Let them come forward, these opponents
of the government" says he in burst of chival-
r0us generosity; ''the people erected the empire,
they love it, they will uphold IT," Pursuing this
cogent logic the Secretary of the Interior ad-
monishes the projects that they must not thrust
into prison the republicans who may want to vote
for candidates Of their own; they are to be go
verally let alone, and shown up to public scorn
and ridicule; meanwhile, it will be the duty of
the salasied officers of government to strain every
nerve to secure the triumph of the government
candidates There is no mincing of the matter;
NJ. Billaults published circular specifies distinctly
the peculiar branch of the duties of Office holders;
indeed the frankness of the proceeding is its best
point.
On the other hand, the republicans are in
great straits. The Paris organs of the party
have been notified that they will be permitted to
advocate the claims of republican candidates to
the suffrages Of the people of Paris. But stimuli
taneously we learn that warnings have been
addressed to certain republican journals in the
provinces on account of their appeals to the re-
publican party to stand by its candidates. This
inconsistency has embarrassed the Paris republi-
cans; aud the general opinion among them seems
frankly, and that ii they avail themselves of the
the privilege conceded to them, they will some
how find themselves caught in q trap. On this
ground, we believe the editor of the Steele, the
leading republican organ, refuses to allow his
name to be used as a candidate.
There are other considerations upon which the
republicans are bestowipg much thought. The
registered number of voters in France under the
Imperial scheme Of universal suffrage is over
nine millions: this in q population which the
late census tables assure us does not vary much
from thirty-fve miliions- In round numbers it
would appear that one out of every four persons
in France is voter. We need not dwell upon
the enormous improbability of the actual number
of voters being SO large. In this country, the
voters loom up in very different proportion
We are running but little danger of exaggeraton
when we estimate the total white population of
the country at the time of the last election at
twenty-six millions of souls yet the vote polled
for Buchanan, Fremont and Fillmore but slight
ly exceeded four millions. Again, il has long
been an axiom among Statesmen and military
men that on occasions Of great emergency, as,
for instance, In the event of foreign invasion,
the fighting population of a country could not
be compared with the aggregate population in
any higher ratio than to 8; one eighth, in other
words, was the larges; possible proportion of
adult males (from the ages OF 10 to COY capable
Of bearing arms. Napoleon the Third finds over
l in 4 capable of voting.
Finally, all the electoral machinery is in the
hands Of the government The republicans have
to trust to the honor OF their opponents as their
only safeguard against fraud there may be
stuffed ballot boxes, false returns, force anc VIC
lence at the polls; none Of these things can be
known, for want Of q free press: and il the go
vernment triumph requires them, they can be
perpetratod.
On review Of these facts, General Cavaig.
nae and other representatives of The republican
party seem disinclined 90 avail, Themselves OF the
invitation OF The government to come out and
get whipped They cay that II were a pity 20
interfere with the entire performance of The cleo
toral farce. Besides, were they elected, they
could not take the oath to the Emperor; aud
thus their seats would remain vacant, and the
struggle have been in vain. There Is talk of
Raspal ond the ultra rougcs running at Paris Just
for "thc demonstration"