Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-11-27
Louis Napoleon.

This extraordinary tnaa has exalted France to
pitch of power and Influence such as she new
er reached even in the days of the first Napo
leon. He is not only master of the situation in
Europe but has silenced discomfort at home. In
the last seventy years France has gone through
fourteen changes OF government. But, though
it is time for another Revolution, she shows no
symptoms of a desire for change. The truth
is, the French Emperor is not despot, the
French people are not slaves, Orsini and Pierri
were not martyrs. The French people were
tired of the Republic which they had them
selves originated, and which had almost ruined
profitable industry. Louis Nafoleon became
President by the suffrages OF 7430 346 civilians,
against only 64O,737. He was favored by the
arlny-at that time 100000 The Empire was
declared by still larger majority. AS to those
restrictions upon the press which have drawn
on the Emperor the charge of desiring to stifle
free thought, the peculiar temperament of the
French people renders it desirable that their
journalism should be restricted, otherwise it
would run wild and keep the nation in con-
stant blaze. Nor is even the inscrutable and
pervading police at all antagonistic to French
sentiments and ideas. Whatever the changes of
supreme rule-whether regal, regal, republican
or imperial-the French have always maintain
ed, and seemed to like silent, secret, despotic
and searching police. Although the power of
the Monarchy, of the Republic, of the Empire,
and even of the Army, one after another, has at
times been swept away, and, although at every
Revolution the will of the people has, for GER
tain period, become the sole law of the land,
yet the police of Paris has never foundered in
the storms which have destroyed every other
authority. Accordingly, under the Republic of
1851, every workman was compelled to be pro-
vidsd with pass or certificate of his trade or
identity, and in the workshops, alongside the
placards of Equality, Liberty, Fraternity"
there was an a6iche to be usually seen, making
it Unable for the men to speak of politics in the
shop.
Although France has but recently emerged
from two costly wars, yet the recent French
treasury report demonstrates that, financially
she was never before in such admirable condi-
tion. With all the immense outlay of the Cri-
mean and the Italian war, and of an interest
payable upon an enormous debt, the expenses of
the last FIVE years are balanced without having
exhausted the resources of the State. She main
tains an army of halt million of men, and an
immense feet, always in the highest state OF
preparation. She has vast system OF railroads
the average price of the stock in which is more
than par. French railroad makers borrow mon
ey at five per cent, while Americans promise
ten, being obliged to create bonds bearing seven
per cent interest, and then to sell them at enor-
nous discounts. The precious metals 50 much
abound that taxes are paid in France with
promptitude that was before unknown. The
increasing productiveness of French taxes is at
tended by constant diminution in the cost Of col
lection. The interest upon the immense nation
al debt is paid with the greatest punctuality.-
With such marvellous ease does the government
pay its way and maintain its credit that it has
L <lo%T -
discovered gold mines in Africa, which he is
working with fabulous number of negro slaves,
and which yield larger product than the com
bined minds of Australia and California.
But the truth is, France has found an inex-
haustible gold mine in the right royal brain of
her present ruler. Such nation the most in
tellectual in the world, the first in war and the
first in science, has now head worthy to sit
upon such shoulders. This Napoleon of peace
will accomplish the aims and gather the fruits
of the labors and battles of the first Napoleon,
and will achieve new conquests, more solid,
productive and permanent than those of war;
Bait. american.