The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-03

policy of nOn-interventiOn that was actually
pursued Like SO many many other STRUGGLING
natlonalities,' the Chilians expected outside
support. and especially, of course, from the
| Americans. And the Americans would be lees
! impuls1ve and generous than they are, we're not
| their first feeling to rush to the rescue of the
weaker party.
On the whole, however, we must consider il
fortunate tnat the instructions of our Govern
ment to Commodore Rodgers agreed With those
given TO the British communicate pursue
strictly neutral course towards the bpilgerents.
We should be in endless war we're our officers in
such cases allowed TO determine their own
course, or were we to be guided alone by inn
pulse. On the same ground that we should
forcbly intervene between Spain and Chilli now,
we might have intervened, or we might vet in
tervene In a hundred wars. Our Government
may exercise its Offices In the matter, but
the only duty OF our officers is to obey their
Government.
The Late Election in France The EN-
pire- Before the People.
From the Herald. r.r o.
The people of a province of France recently
had an opportunity to express their thoughts
and feelings in relation to the Emperor Napoleon
and his Government. A representative of the
Department of Bas-Rhin was to be chosen.
There was a Government candidate and an op.
position candidate, and the Government candl-
date was elected by an immense majority re-
ceiving rather more than double the number of
votes cast for his adversary. This expression
OF universal suffrage is remarkable, significant
as 1t is OF the real views of France of the masses
OF the people taken in any given part of the
country.
His bold faith in his hold upon the people
the confidence with which he accepts anv an.
peal TO the nation, his readiness at all times to
carry his case to the polling places, is one of
Inc greatest facts in the Emperor's history
From whatever cause it arises, whether it be
the old faith in his name, or the result of
deeper insight into the character of the people
it is unquestonable that this readiness to sub
NIT his Government to the popular verdict is an
important element of its strength 1t trees il
from any necessity to consider the embarrass.
ments that iactious opposition would put in its
way. 1t lifts IL far above the whole atmosphere
OF party discussion and quarrel. No party can
even have base of operations against the Gov
ernment or get the least foOthud IN public
esteem; for the party that promises most can
offer nothing more delusive or attractive than
an appeal to the people, and the Government is
ready Tor that at any time, and makes it con-
stantly Thus the Government is not tram
meledb by the necessity Of trimming close to any
party breeZes. 1t may choose its own course
boldly, confidently, only keeping in view the
great mass and body OF the people, watching
the temper and tone Of The nation. so long as
IT IS sure oil these 1t may despise all else. and
so long as he can get such verdicts as this from
the Bas Rhin, the Emperor may certainly teel
sure of the people.
AS consequence of this state of affairs there
10 uOW IItdl pOIIlCdl lrdQQulllltV IN France,
All the factions that in the past have agitated
the country are in existence still, but they have
lost that confidence of the people that was The
only element OF their power. Whether they are
Bourbons or Republicans it Is the same. France,
sure of what she has, and satisfied with it, will
not give 1t up tor the splendid promises OF any
OF the parties that have led her such horrible
dance since she first cast down the Bourbons.
This is the declaration she makes every time she
elects candidate known to Sustain the Govern
ment. This is more emphatcally still the decla-
ration she has made in this last election be-
cause 1t follows so closely upon those more than
usually bold arraignments of the Government
That have been heard in the Chamber of Depu-
ties this winter. The old Bourbon oppression
mad become so bad that the nation was COM
PEELED to get rid OF it, and in the eXerions of get
ting nd OF it she lost her equilibrium That lost
equilibrium of nation could not be regained at
once, and France staggered and reeled through
all the moods OF trouble-7,the Jacobins, the Di-
rectory, the Consulate the Empire the Bour.
bons, the Republic; through all these she went
and was in trouble STILL but now she Is firmly on
her feet again and will stay there; however the
Reds promise something better and the rhetOr-
clans declam against the Empire.
France is the more ready to stay as she is,
because she believes that she can change her
condition whenever she desires it, She believes
she can do this because she possesses universal
suffrage; and in this way, also, universal suf-
irage adds vast strength to the empire, since
1t has educated the people to believe that it is
the creature OF their own will and has gotten
them into the habit of endorsing it every now
and then. This is a habit that only the greatest
possible errors on the part of the Emperor can
change; for France is not tickle, though her
history following the Revolution has made her
seem so Nothing less than the vices OF the
Bourbons could have induced her to cast them
out; and changeable as she seemed in the many
mutations she subsequently passed through,
she would have seemed great deal worse if she
had quietly accepted any one of those many bad
systems.
1t has been argued that the elections in France
are not fair expressions of the popular senti-
ment, because they are so largely controlled by
Government influences, direct and indirect. This
argument may hold in Europe but cannot here.
where we are familiar with the whole machi
Lery, of elections and know exactly how little
can be effected by organization in influencing
the choice of the people, In view OF the history
OF france she cannot be accused of moral or
physical cowardice. She Is neither so timid as
TO fear the displeasure OF Government agents.
nor is she to be controlled by the presence OF
bayonets. We must accept the decision arrived
at by universal suffrage as the real voice of the
people, and the great fact of the present condi-
ton Of France is that that voice is now over
WhelmiGely in favor of the empire.
MuZZling the President.