The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-08
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1853.

''Tell me what thou hast sown to-day, and Will
tell thee what thou shalt reap tomorrow" says
honest Sancho Panza and one cannot help making
application of the proverb to the present condition
and future prospects of France, in view of the
stringent measures of repression and coercion
lately adopted by Louis Napoleon, and of their
certain consequences upon the temper and DISPOSE
ton of the people. The recent law "of public
security" promulgated by the Emperor and the
Senate, was rightly named "ta Loi des Sas-
poets - for as the London Times justly observes,
''the Empire is espionnage; its incarnation is
nouehard" Suspicion and dstrust pervade every
class of society-from the highest to the lowest.
The Emperor suspects everybody, and each man
suspects his neighbor. Hence the adoption, by the
former, of rigid system of surveillance extending
over the whole surface of society," penetrating into
the bosom of the family, and into every nook and
Granny of private and domestic life, and enforced
by 'an immense army of spies, " and hence, too,
the observance of unwonted degree of caution
and reserve the part of individuals, not only in
their intercourse with strangers but in the society
of their most intimate and trusted friends.
"Fames are hesitating whom they shall visit
and whom they shall be visited by. Men consider
whether they ought to be seen walking with a
friend whom they have known for years. Two
persons will be speaking together, and on seeing
third about to join them, will suddenly pause and
turn the conversation There will be in the midst
of social concourse man who checks the mirth
and puts guard every tongue. People will
talk with him. shake hands with him, but they
will be careful of what they say before him. Ind-
viduals are careful what books they have in their
libraries, what papers they have in their writing
desks. They do not talk afably with their infe-
riors as light-hearted Frenchmen in the old times
did The concierge, the waiter at the cafe even
the private servants, are kept at distance. In
railway carriage it is well not to be too commune
cative with your neighbor. In letter it is well
to confne yourself to your own private business
and good wishes for your correspondents health
For Paris and France under strict surveillance
and no one knows who are watchers and who are
the watched"
Need we wonder that under such circumstances
'the gay city of Paris, the home of social inter-
course, of lively conversation and free opinions,
hardly knows itself. The outward aspect of the
place is the same there are the same Boulevards,
cafes frequented by the same loungers and in pri-
vate life the same drawing-rooms, and hangings,
and toilets. But over everything there is gloom
and uneasness.'
Such is the picture which the London Times
draws Of Paris and France at the present moment
A new reign of Terror has been inaugurated and the
Emperor governs not by the love which he inspires
but by the fear which paralyses every tongue and
the mutual distrust which defeats every attempt at
combination among the enemies of his government
The whole administration of the Empire appears to
have resolved itself into single department that
of the army; for France is a camp, its provinces
are military divisions, and the Minister of the In
terror is General Espinasse. At the Court of st.
James where France has had as representatives
such men as Talleyrand Chateaubriand and Guizot,
the military character OF the present government
is to be appropriately represented in the person of
Marshal Pelissier, the newly appointed Ambassador
The Chief of Police we are told is to be raised to
the rank of one of the great Ministers of State
and in the recent reorganization of this department
also, we perceive the predominance of the Military
element In the Moniteur of the 18th of March, |
we find the announcement that the late Pre- |
feet Nj. Petri retres from office, and is succeeded
by NJ. Boittelle, formerly Chef d Escadron of Cui-
rassiers. Napoleon has thrown himself complete
ly into the hands of the army and by every
means in his power gives evidence of his entire
dependence upon them for the preservation
of his throne. "The Emperor is striving to take |
the whole Of France into custody" and for that
purpose has converted one-half of the people into
spies or jailers 10 watch the other half But who |
shall watch the spies, and who guard the jailers? |
The soldiers may keep in awe the curriers' of the |
Faubourg st. Martin, but who shall answer for the
fidelity of the army? Louis Napoleon has entan-
gled himself in web of his own weaving, from |
the meshes of which he will seek in vain for extri
cation. Like the fisherman in the Thousand and |
nights he has opened the casket and the terri
BILE Genii has stepped out, but unlike the fisherman
he will strive in vain to the mighty power |
which he himself has called into action to return to
its narrow quarters within the copper vessel Tore
sumo the metaphor suggested by the saying of San
cho Panza che has sown the wind and he shall reap
the whrlwnd." A fresh stimulus will be given by |
the stringent and oppressive measures to which |
Louis Napoleon has so unwsely resorted, to the |
national appetite for conspiracy and revolution
The present state of espionage and surveillance by
which France is transformed into a great prison.
house will soon become wholly unbearabe-and the |
inevitable fruit of the seed which is scattered to-day
will be the overthrow of the present Imperial |
Dynasty, and the substitution of-what? Who
can tell Sancho Panzas gift of prophecy does not
extend that far.