The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-01
LOUIS NAPOLEON.


The London Economist, speaking of the pardon of
Montalembert by the Emperor says:
at marks conspicuously, for at least the fourth
time, among the greater public events of his regime,
the desire OF the Emperor to represent his in
dlvidual wishes and will, as something at once more
clear-slghted, more just and more generous than
the general ministerial policy and state necessities
by which his Government is ordinarily limited If
there is apolitica purpose to be gained clearly I'M
worthy OF a great European State, that purpose is
pursued by him through the ordinary channels of
ministerial action or negotiation, and therefore, in
the name of the French nation if it becomes ne
cessary either to dsavow that purpose or, when it
Is substantially gained, to divert the general stream
of Indignation it has called FORTH he gains his end
by breaking at once through the forms of ministe-
rial Government, and identifying himself person
ally with motives and tendencies which his Gov
eminent in the name of France had ignored or re-
sisted.
The Normal policy of his Cabinet, which, nomi-
nally at least, commits France includes all the acts
OF tentative despotsm or unseemly foreign dictation
which are likely to promote the purposes of his
regime; the frank explanations or sometimes even
regulations of those acts which go to avert at the
least moment the rising displeasure of Europe and
to create in the unthinking mind the notion of con-
cession or apology, while in reality perhaps the
main end is secured already, are associated, not
with France and the organic laws policy of the
nation but with the direct interference of Louis
Napoleon himself. Such we say is the obvious ra-
tional of the which in the case of Montalem-
berts condemnation the Emperor adopted by no
means for the first time. 1t is the same policy
which he adopted when, during the discussion by
the allies of the terms of peace with Russia, he dis
missed the Minister whose advices was found to be
too favorable to the Gar for general acceptance,
and so represented that advice to Europe as entire
| ly out of harmony with his own view.
! 1t is the same policy which he again adopted
during the discords of February last, when the n
suits of the French colonies had been officially
produced in the Moniteur and when at the last
moment to avert if possible the displeasure of the
| House he tO
| his personal regret for the apparent official
dorsement given to language which he himself, he
assured us, wholly disapproved. 1t is the same
policy which he so recently adopted for the third
time after the slave trade triumph had been gain
ed against Portugal, and England had been severe
| lip Inundated through her closest ally; when the
Emperor's letter to his cousin suddenly disavowed
all bias in favor of slavery and left the obvious n
ference to be drawn that it was the stroke of for
eign policy alone for which he himselfa least cared.
This policy it is which now once more shows
itself in the imperial act of grace to Montaembert
coming as it does when his judicial condemnation
has etfectually intimidated all obscurer men from
initiating course of action that, while it would
crush every hope of private happiness, would
scarcely secure even the active sympathy of Eu-
rope for any man of lower rank, less genius, or less
fame"
The London correspondent of the National htelli-
gencer says:
Amidst all the pros. and cons. which are banded
about when discussing the character and the con-
duct of the Emperor of the French two things may
safely be asserted, since history and the conclu-
sions which may be drawn from the past give the
strongest probability of the first-and ''facts and
figures prove the second assertion-that under the
rule of other political chief in France could the
peace of Europe have been so well preserved as il
has been during the seven years of the reign Of
Napoleon ILL., And, again, in no other seven con
secutive years from the accession of Charlemagne
or even from that of ''King Clovis have all the
great interests of France, financial POLITICAL com
mercal, manufacturing, and agricultural, so rapid
ly advanced they have done during the sever
years which have elapsed since 1851. The facts
are established; the conclusions every person mus
deduce for himself.