The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-28
rHE NEW FRENCH REFORM.

On Sunday last NAPOLEON made his lust coup
Qetat,-th time a coup de grace, i'll the good,
primary meaning Of that term. The long debates
Just began in the address in the Corps Legislot ap
pear to have proven to the Emperor thatit would
not be safe for him TO continue long in the line of
policy Quasi constitutional but nearly absolute),
which had marked his rule during the past fifteen
years. The failure of tho Mexican scheme, and
the diplomatic checkmatirG by B1sMARcK were
two severe blows to his 1aestys infllibility or -
vircib;ity. Something must bo dolo torccover
the lost ground. And nothing, he felt, can com-
pensatofor these defeats except a glorious CAM
pagn in the fold that shall result in the territorial
aggrandzomcut Of France. Accordingly the army
is poing froorganizcd" c., there is to be levy
en- nasse-12 20O, 600 men are asked for. The
pross is almost unanimous in it's opposition to
this colossal armament; urges eyory possible rca-
son to show that such a draft on the labor OF the
country must prove disastrous.
Tho plan has been laid before the Counsel Of
State q majority of which,it is said, have made
no secret of their opposition to it; but the Empc-
ror, it is furthsr reported thcroupon addressed
thenl calling upon their patriotism, and said that
he had e'well considered what an enormous sacri-
flee this reorganization OF the army would demand
from tho State, but that circumstances required
this sacrifice, and the project must bc carried OUT
There may be some minor changes in the bill be-
fore il shall be submitted to tho Corps Legislat,
but in its essential points, the Emperor will not
yield an iota, although o numbcr Of the deputies
have already declared to tho Minister Of State that
they could not vote for a measure, by tho ac-
ccptance Of which the Legislative body would at
once surrender the right of determining the annu.
al budget and necessary appropriations.
This r,lf1ed public temper the Emperor by lis
coup dettlt, has most skilfullv and maSnamimously
appeased. He has introduced, to uso an English
phrase, reform bill,-bcforc the came had been
specially demanded. This, he says, ''will crown
the editico Of a State founded upon tho national
will" BY virtue of this decree tho debate OH tho
address from the Throne, heretofore customary, is
discontinued Tic legislative body, however, is to
havo the right Of questioning the government on
matters of State policy.
The right Of the people to meet in public is to be
limited only by considerations Tor the public
safety. Whether this concession shall amount to
anything depends entirely upon the administra-
ton. Tie stamp duties are reduced: the censor
ship abolislled; at least we so understand the
dictum: :soffenccs of the press arc to be tried in
tho correctional courts Of the empire" instead of
being punished by summary sentence.
There is here then I'll extension Of civil liberty
freedom 10 meet in public, free prcss, and a re-
duct!on of:talp duties. But the Emperor has no
desire Of hearing his ilyoI;te arny bill discussed
h. JuIIs EAy1E, and ether eloquent gentlemen Of
tho left, like the Mexican expedition vas g year
ago The debate on tie at.ircss' is. therefore,
discontinued. N. T5IEns strange to ray, fayors
the 1,20O,Goo scheme.
Lie concession is ceriainlg well-timcd,- whether
ne consider Its probable influence on tho French
people and their affection for the Emperor it's
contrasting elect With the great struggle in Eng