The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-01

mere empty distractions Do they, Mr.. Pryor.
Tho French Elections.
The experiment which Louis Ma oleOn ia try
ing is the boldest ever attempted by any govern
meDt siDce the Roman Senate decreed its own
dissolution and the annexation Of the empire of
the West to the empire Of the East Our British
contemporaries epeak of the pending electoral con-
test in France as they would Of common cleo
ton in this country or in England; they blame
the Emperor for the restrictions he has placed 90
the freedom OF debate, and for the warnings given
to the press; they quarrel with him because he
does not conrrive to make the contest wear the
same aspect of freedom aud ldiSSr Mier which is
worn by electoral contests in constitutional coun
tries.
These publcists forget that where electoral
contests in this country aud in England are never
vital matters, and the salvation or the ruin Of the
country never depends upon the issue, the con-
test in France is deadly one, and that the issue
may be bayonets and revolution. One candidate
whose address we have read, quotes that portion
Of the imperial address delivered three or four
years ago, in which Napoleon alludes to the pro.
gressive character that will be stamped on the
empire, and to the steps which it will
and he inquiries where is this pro-
missed progress, where the steps liberty
wasd? If, says this clear headed candidate, you
elect the government candidates, you will admit
that you enjoy at present an adequate measure
Of liberty; If, on the contrary, you think with
me that 1t is high time the Emperor redeemed
this pledge Of his about laying the foundation of
liberty under the imperial regime, then you had
better elect such opposition candidates as my
SELF Another candidate, Monsieur de Monta-
lembert, one Of the most csustic and-imperial
writer's and orators, simply refers to his printed
views and opinions, in presenting himself before
bis old constituency; nothing that he could have
said would have been half so severe on the gov
eminent. In Paris Of the ten opposition candi-
dates, at least four were Imprisoned at the coup
daat, and could not help, were they TO regain
their lost position at the head of affairs to bring
the Emperor to trial for that violation of the Or
ganic law; the others, with one exception, indeed
all nine would without doubt rejoice at the
BLOODY overthrow of the government and the
utter destruction Of the Napoleon dynasty. That
is Their platform; ii is for announcing and re-
commanding ii too theoretically that the Steele
has just received a third warning, and now owes
It's existence to the imperial clemency.
From these few statements it win ut
once be seen that the position of the con-
test in France is very different from any
thing that has ever been witnessed in England
or in this country. 1t is actually Imperialism
which is involved in the issue a return of an
opposition majority would place the Emperor in
a dilemma between new coup d6,at or an abdi-
cation of his throne and an acquiescencc in a
new revolution. If any monarch of modern
times has ever risked as much as this for the
sake Of affording his subjects the privilege Of
electing representatives We Go not remember it,
The articles in the Mopa;elr announcing to the
republicans the gracious condescension Of the
Emperor, and other articles In the same
paper which would be here called campaign arti-
cles, are certainly among the wonders of journal
lem. Fancy Mr.. Buchanan calling upon the peo-
pie Of the United States to decide whether they
would revert to British dominion; or TO make it
still palmer, fancy the same magistrate calmly
laying before the people the question whether
IL was right or wrong TO encourage servile In
SURE ctions
The game which the French Emperor is play
ing, however, is too well known and too familiar
10 the gambler TO DC as full Of risk as i. Looks
Even If the republicans OF Paris should muster
force enough TO caIry the elcston and place their
men in the Chamber, in the provinces there l. b1.
little danger Of such contingency. There is
world Of instruction in that pithy sentence
in one OF the most influential country papers in
FIance: I'VE beg TO inform our readers that we
have been notified by the Project that We are at
liberty to discuss political questions during the
canvass. We shall avail ourselves Of this priv
lege by remaining silent on the subject In
point Of fact IL is quite obvious that both the
privilege Of candidature and the privilege Of dis
cussion arc illuso,y in the Departments; the
elections will be free, no doubt, but nobody will
he elected but the friends Of the Emperor. This
reflection will no doubt help 10 console the En-
peror for the risk he runs in appearance, and for
the possible defeat he may undergo at Paris
Posi- OFFICE PNETruITIEs-UNEQuAL DisrRr.
HTroS OF Public ACcoMNoDArIoS.--The policy
pursued no the Post Office Dcparrrncnt in rcrard