The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-17
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER II. 1856

nuzzle of Englishmen. The two nations are so
onposite to each other in their habits, customs.
manners, and modes of thought that it is next to
impossble for either of them to form correct
Judgment of the other. The popular idea in
England of a representative Frenchman, is that of
Il spindle-shanked, slender-bodied, weazen-hced
man. quick in his movements, volatile in his dis
position, naturally joyous, yet sensitvely irrita-
BILE, and invariably emphasizing his remarks with
shrugs, grmaces, and profusion of gesticulation
This is the JEAN CRAPAUD of the English stage,
and of the English caricaturist. The French
idea of an Englshman is not a whit better.
They represent Monsieur BULL as a solemn, stolid,
pauuchy, rcd-iaced individual dressed in broad
brmmed, lOwcrowned hat, q blue coat with
brass buttons; yellow vest, knee breeches, and
top-boos. His ruling foible is to find fault with
every thing and every body. He speaks from the
viscera, and garnshes every other sentence with
the national cXpleve. He is the butt of the wits,
and the dupe of walters and chambermaids; and
his pondcrosity, his unconquerable stupidity, and
his mau0aise hoate, give to the French playwrights
constant opportunities for introducing him into
their comedies in the most ludicrous situations
imaginable. There is some truth, and good
deal of exaggeration in both of these sketches of
national character. They are caricatures, but
with sufficient of resemblance to admit of recog-
milton, and beyond this, in their estimate of each
other, neither Frenchmen nor Englishmen appear
to be capable of going. But if the former are
very apt to fall into in their criticism of the
English people and their Institutions, the latter
certainly do not understand and, therefore, can
not properly appreciate the French, or the form of
government best adapted to their wants. This
fact has frequently made itself apparent, of late
years, in the speculations in which English jour-
nalsts and publicists have INDUCED with regard
to the present condition of France under LOUIS
NAPOLEON, and the contradictory opinions which
the same individuals have at different times ex-
pressed. The leading article in the Westminster
Repie,c, for October, embraces critical examina-
ton of the structure of the Imperial scheme OF
government, and points out, what the writer con-
ceves 10 be, its radical defects. In reviewing the
origin of the Second Empire, he attributes its re-
establishment to the fears entertained, by men of
property, of the spread of socialistc doctrines
among the masses; to the strange misconception
which prevailed among political schemers
with respect to LOUIS NAPoLEoNs real
character, and TO the fascination exercised
by the name of NAPOLEON on the
'rlliterate mass Of the rustic population" These
causes combined are alleged to have elevated the
son of HoRTrSsE to the Presdency-an authority
which his own strong will 'easily converted into
'an unlimited dictatorship" Those political
spectators who imagined they could use him as a
puppet, and so mould his policy as to bring about
n restoration of the monarchy, wholly mistook the
character of the man. LOUIS NAPOLEON found
France at the mercy of parties and factions, and
proffered her, boldly, and with a confidence only
to be inspired by strong personal convictions, a
remedy for the troubles under which she was la
boring, and protection for the perils which it was
imagined would accompany the reconstruction of
the Republic. The system he proceeded to intro
duce was that of the old Empire, modified only in
its foreign policy, and therefore, a system which
the English Reviewer regards as ''of so despotic
mature as to be incompatible with the indispensa-
''be condition Of n peoples healthy state' He
asserts that LOUIS NAPOLEON has exhibited no orgi-
nality whatever in his administrative policy; but
has modelled the French Code with scarcely
the change of single provision, upon that of the
first Empire. The task, which, in the opinion of
the writer, LOUIS NAPOLEON undertook to perform
was to acquire national position, by relieving the
people from the responsibilities of government, and
by putting them in the way of advancing their ma
terial interests while protected from internal dis
turbances by the strong arm of authority But to
accomplish this resllt it was necessary ITO erad-
''cate the noxious elements of opposition residing
Gin an impulse towards reform from within, which
''under the influence of representative govern
'ment had been growing in France since the in
PRODUCTION OF the first Empire" In this war
against existing organization, it is claimed that the
political elements against which he is still fighting
"baffle his inadequate measures" and constrain
him 'to have recourse to the coercion of unmtiga-
''ted tyranny as his sheet anchor, so that now his
government is matter of summary injunc-
''tion, like the direction of an army, and
'hs Administration is reduced to q band
''ot police agents, responsible merely to him,
''and bound by no considerations but his decree"
1t Is charged, moreover, that LOUIS NAPOLEON
never feels himself strong, except when he is sup
ported by some precedent drawn from the measures
instituted under the first Empire, and that, when
his model, which have met with opposition he
has, almost invariably, lost his rmness and self
possession. The hand of the government is traced
everywhere;-n the restrictions it has placed upon
the press; in the jealous supervision it exercises
over public and private education in every de-
partment Of science and art; in corporations, and
IN the prosecution Of public works. The opinion
IS expressed, that this excessive Capitalization of
power works to the manifest injury of the French
people, and involves in doubt the permanenco of
the government. The whole tenor of the article
IS depreclatory, and, although the Reviewer fore
Stalls criticism by acknowledging how difficult it
Is to form Judgment upon contemporary events,
he has certainly not shown the merit of impair
TALLY in the view he has taken either of LOUIS
NAPOLEON, or of the institutions he has reorgan-
lzed. The writer is an Englishman, and Judges
France and Frenchmen from an English stand
point-the worst point of view that could posi-
bly, be adopted for an accurate survey of nation
SO wholly different from the English in all
us leading characteristics. The best evidence of
The ability which LOUIS NAPOLEON has displayed
since his elevation to the throne of France, may
oe found IN the material prosperity which the
people have enjoyed under his rule, and in the
consideration in which he is held by the leading
european Powers. Statistics have been publish
Gu, on more than one occasion, which claimed to
eSlaoiisn the fact that France was on the verge
OF bankruptcy. Yet no commercial nation passed
through the financial crisis of 1851 with greater
ease, or recovered more rapidly from the pressure
IL was supposed that the bursting of that magnif-
cent bubble, the Credit NoJilier, would involve so
many families in ruin, and create SO general a
spirit of disafcction as to menace the existence of
the government-yet nothing of the kind has
occurred. 1t was predicted that the army, by
whom LOUIS NAPOLEON was sustained wonld GROW
weary OF lnactlon, and demand to be led to new
helds OF conquest or would conspire AGAINST him
yet the acclamatons with which he was RECENTLY
received at the Camp of Chalons conclusiyelv re-
futed the prophecy. But it is said that he op-
presses the people, letters the press, and has es-
tabllshed an odious system of surveillance over
every part of the Empire. In answer to the first
charge, his friends point to the encouragement he
has consistently extended to the industrial classes
and to the protection afforded to all but those who
are obnoxious to the Government from their real
or suspected political alinities. Admitting frankly
the other charges, they contend that the restric-
tons placed upon the press, and the thorough
organization of police invested with extraordinary
powers, were demanded by the best interests of
U'I,ot+ actrr rr1a Go.