Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-28
rhe No,r PolIer Of Napoleon.


The late decree Of the Emperor Napoleon permitting
the Chamber Of Deputies latter the Of the Brit
sh House Of COmmO1s TO vote address in reply to bis
speech the Opening Of the Chamber-declaiog bis pur
pose 70 appoint Ministers without Portfolios to attend the
debates for the purpose Of calculating and defending bis
policy (as Is done b. the Premier in the British Para
men-snd authorizing the publication Of full reports Of
the DEBATES naturally the Of great rejoicing in
France and TIE subject Of many Journalistic compliments
to the Emperor in England and the United Safes.
Il is somewhat difficult for an American 70 eOmpre
bend the state Of things where single ruler has the
right TO impose or remove such restrictions the free
dom Of debate. The wonder is as the New York Ador
tissr observes that people Ike the French could sub
init to conditions Of the sort for nearly ten years until
the spirit o. revolution beginning 20 upheave society
in Southern Europe Ike earthquake. In reactonary
periods, hOEever there IS telling to Wha. depth OF
degradation a great people viii otter sink witness
England during the rogu Of Charles aud James the Sc
eOnd These rulers, however, did nos comprehend the
time or they would have made preparations 70, arevva
Of the old spirit which had rumphed under Cromwell
and the family igaOmnio1sy driven on, OF the king
dom.
Napoleon is more sbrcEd II not more liberal by dis
position With iyee institutions l5shed in Italy, to
great extent through bis own active influence, aud the
old dynAstes Of Europe oterng apparently their fG
fall with general imbeety p0rvading the supporters OF
despos whether civil or ecclesiastical he knew that
France would catch the Inspiration Of the moment and
demand greater degree Of freedom. He had crowned
her with victory; he had conducted the ship OF Site
through the dangerous channel OF commercial crisis; he
had ostered the arts Of industry he had rebuilt in great
part the city Of Paris and supplied its abOres with cheap
bread vet an was not enough. Even in a secular
the saying true that "Nan does not live by bread
alone" be has aspirations after freedom and equality,
which are APT grow stronger rather than weaker after
a fun supply Of the necessarcs Of existence.
The astute Emperor accordingly took the initiative,
BY anticipating demands for the emancipation OF the
tona legislature aud (a par that Of the French pres.
In this respect he has demonstrated his ability ruler
boldly taking time by the forelock. TIE concession Is
not made TO demonstrations Of force as were those Of
Louis Philippe or Francis Of Naples. Il wears all the
grace Of genuine Hberaty While those who mly att.i-
butte to is author inferior motives will eoncede that the
step has been els. very gissy taken. BY making n
imperial decree instead Of proposing i; as Law to be
enacted b. the Chamber the Emperor only gains al
the credit Of the act but retains the right to Withdraw
the concession It. necessary while his policy Of deliver
ing sudn strokes whether in or politics policy
that Is eminen.y adopted the French eharacler
maintained.
That tais viii be only the commencement Of a series
OfEbera measures on the par. Of the French ruler is
pretty evident The ssm-ol,ial Constitutional init
mates plainly much ihlt observing that practically
many Of The restrictions imposed on the press have been
removed. The Paris journals jubi,ut the
Arged privileges in store for them and promise be-
hav IN fha ana
Chamber of Deputies Is filed with sentiments OF grail
tude. The people have hardly had time to make thei,
voices heard at the Tucre; but they viii doubtless sp
precile the advantages secured aud look for d
the revolutionary movement in the res, Of Earop, ia
only wisely guided so that it shall not end in another
failure ike that Of 1915 France viii feel herself dragged
along ~ith t-quie,y, il may be, Ike vessel in the
gulf stream; bur in the right direction, nevertheless
Ia view Of the final triumph Of eousiituoualsm in lay
aud Germany the day be very far distant when
Louis Napoleon will be the chief OF nation having
government as liberal az most Of It's ueci bor it5 rr
SELL potent at home and abroad; but owing that power
bis wonderful agscy in understanding the character
Of his eouutrymen, and the tendency OF the age 10
which be lives and moves.
When tie Freneh nation appeared to scquiesce tame
" IN tbe despOtsm Of Louis Napoleon the opinion
igvy expressed, both on TINS cOuutr7 and lr Europe,
that !. bad entered upon lis "deeine and fall" Ike
Rome vhsn sinking under The mild imperial rule Of Au-
gn.ius The authors Of this theory apparently forgot
one Circumstance which makes al the difference imagu-
sbl5 between the two cases. The Roman Empire eight
teen centuries ago was commemorate with civilization
Outside Of ,s limits whether 10 Europe Asia, Africa,
there vas no eouatry known with laws and institutions
half SO enlightened and tolerant France however is
Oay one o. the Eve fifty powers Of The earth Wh CD
may justly lay claim 70 possessing high Civilization
In their material interests and politically these
states come in contact every day competitors
vls The result Is a moral ietioa which generates new
ACTIVITIES, new aspirations, new necessities, One Of
these is the enjoyment Of certain amount Of civil AID
religious liberty the loss OF which viii be I'll, upon Ire
national arts Of industry. l. impossible that tie
people Of France would eonseu; themselves sink
below their ueghbOrs and had prince with ten times
the power Of he whole Napoleon family made the at
tempt he IN the long have been utterly ruin
ell BY f. Louis Napoleon knew better than TO keep up
such an unequal var.