New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-28
FRANCE.
From Our Own CorrtspcIdeLt.

-
From Our Own Cor,,toIdeLt.
PARIS, May -, lc5o.
/ ain very glad to state that the event does not
accord with my prophecy as TO the probable result
of the adjourned election in the fifth district OF the
Department of the Seine. The election was held
Sunday and Monday of this week, and resulted in
the triumph of the opposition. The addition of
one more to the dozen liberal members of the Leg
i.latlye Body, though desirable enough, is not Of
much present practical Importance. The much
larger and hopeful significance Of this election
will best appear from the comparison Of few
figures and facts. The voters Of the fifth district
have been called upon for their sufrages three times
within the past eleven mon.bs. The exercise Of
his franchise is greater interruption to the daily
routine of bis affairs for Frenchman than for an
American, as be must first apply for his certificate
of right; it requires two operations instead Of one.
Newspaper appeals, crowded meetings, public
speeches, torch-liebt professions, in fine, most of
those means so largely employed with us for exci.-
ing and entertaining electors in the discharge Of
their duty are prohibited. The strongest encour-
agenent to action the hope of victory, loses hafts
efficacy here where the victory is, for the opposi-
top, almost barren Of immediate benefit, and for
the supporters Of Government only drop i'll their
bucketfull. And yet on this third occasion the
voters came out in nearly as great force as they dis
played last June, and in greater force than they
displayed last April. The figures are well worth
observing and are, in round numbers IA follows:
June whole number Of voters 2O,7O0; Opposition,
- GEO. Government, Z, 400. April whole number,
le,1O0; Opposition, $50, Government S714 Ono
choice, owing to scattering votes. May, whole
number, 1881; Opposition. 10, AGA, Government,
e9e2. This looks more like the persistent pluck,
the robust political vitality which belongs to English
and Americans, and without which popular sell
government is impossible, than almost anything We
meet with in the history Of popular political action
in France. 1t furnishes more solid ground for hope
in her future freedom than can be found in banquets,
barbados, or bombs in OratOrica jets Of repnbli
can enthusiasm, or mprOvlsed and impractical free
Constitutions. 1t seems like the beginning of
cheering contradiction to what has hitherto been
lamcntaby true Of Frenchmen. Guizot said, gen.
eralzing from his wide personal and historical ex.
peiienee: d" 1t il our weakness and our misfortune,
- that in great political cries. the vanqu shed
"becOme dead.
And this brings me to what should have been the
first well ae main topic of my letter, the recently
published first volume of this statesmans Memoirs.
Those who take it up in expectation OF finding
curious anecdotes indiscreet revelations, sentiment
tai condolences" and personal confessions, or any
of the entertaining gossip which the mere title of
M{moires seems to promise, will be crayely disap-
pointed. The complete title is, Memories pour serrtr
a rHistoin dc mon Ttmps, and is fully justified by
the contents Of the work, as they may be judged
from this first of the promised five volumes. Ii is
thus far an extremely valuable contribution TO the
philosophy Of the political history Of the RestOra
tion-to the constitutional history OF France from
lcl5 to the eve of the revolution of 1e3O. Princ
Il. tha,, re pnap tho
narration of events being only subservent to philo
sophical concentrations. 1t not amusing reading;
its pages must not be turned rapidly. There are
not ten pages in the book that will create smile
or that do not deserve to be perused thoughtfuly.
Though something less formal than his great hlstor-
zeal works, the style of thought and language is
much the same-elevated, almost severe, concise,
compsct-only no. dry, because so vigorous and
clear and full. If ever there were a case where
Buttons dictum, The style is the man, applies,
here is one. NJ. Guizot tells us hardly anything of
his private life, but in his manner gives US the man.
Not only his style is himself but his pet word every
writer hes his pet world "ticace, which constantly
occurs the very getting up Of the volume its
prompt opening into It's subject without wordy
pre- are characteristic Of the man. Here are
his first words: u act otherwise than several of
my contemporaries have lately done; publish my
memoirs while am still at hand 10 answer for them
1t is not from WEAKNESS ofrepose nor for the sake
''of reopening for old contests little arena in de-
fault of the great one now closed. have combat
ted much i'll my life, and with ardor. Age and re-
"tirement have shed, for me, their peace over the
past. Ihe time OF history has
mot vet arrived for us, Of history full ard free
without omissions as 10 men and things. But NV
Gown history, what thought, felt and wished when
acting in the affairs of my country, what the poii
zeal friends with whom was associated thought.
felt and wished the life of our souls in acts this
may tell freely, and this is above all what have
- AT heart 10 tell "a a. 10 be- if not always approy.
:" ed, at least ALWAYS known and comprehended."
Let me- say before making further extracts that
all who can should read the original work which
is extremely difficult 10 translate satisfactorily. The
author of IL Dict,OHHairc dcs Synonym'S knows
his French" as few FreNcn writers de-, and bi.
thoughts and words are nicely adjusted To each
other that To- separate them and put English equiv
alents 10 the former with similar accuracy is i'm.
possible. The few aud brief extracts are, bes des
very inefficient sample. from which 10 Judge the
whole work.
NJ. Guzot's political opinions are not of the lib
eral sort likely 10 be approved by American read
ers. The great modern idea of democracy has not
been taught bim by three great revolutions; il does
not enter into bis system of free government
His notion of free government was and Is coa
stl.uiional monarchy, Win PariaIltl: chosen by
small class Of wealthy, intelligent citizens. Tie
masses are 70 be coverned-1ot 70 sh'Ie II roysru