The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-24
THE FRENCH ELECTIONS.
The Second Empire Before the People.


In tho recent elections for the Municipal and General
Councils in France the government candidates have
been defeated in several important paccs. IL such
result not TO be ookcd upon as am ovent 10 ise IL
may at eas, be taken as The Itddoo ~ coming eve'ss
The source OF all power IN the administration OF
the departments and arrondsssm ,nts thu same M
that under which the central government Ii conducted
the legislative body in Paris and tho corporation or
the most insgnicant village spring ron S the Same
with almost absolute power by the vote OF an
immense majority OF the French people The modih'
pendent on the will Of tho same majority which
conferred 10. Tho power Of the people in France
sssa and the
pressure 1t exercises ON all manifestation oil the
popular will. But for tho merits and faults Of tina.
held responsible, Il dates from epochs earlier than
the second Empire aud IS indeed. the natural offspring
OF the centraiizng genius of France. No doubt tho
but the ignorance and supneuess OF tho people that
constitute the principal government, strength;
If, then, up 70 this day imperial candidates have
almost without cep,ion been returned by ovcrwhcm-
Ing majorss II Is bal natural TO conclude that the EN-
psrors government Is on the WHOLE sufficiently popular
with the mass OF tho French peopo Except where II
happens that nation allows ise. 70 bc utterly crushed
by the dproportonatc forces Of another 6s VAS the case
til lssely in Lombardy, and il stii IN Poland, q
government should always be taken the index OF
peoples inst nets An independent country IL always
as ree 1t wishes aud ~ deserves be The ruler
combination OF circumstances by conjunction OF fraud
and violence against which, In sn unguarded moment
of government must DO put 10 the ordeal Of
daily criticism The Administrative machine stand
People must maintain his position BY the perpetual reno.
walton OF his appeal 10 the people That every utteance
OF the public suffrage In France has hitherto invariably
led full emphatic, and, 10 great extent, sponans
Gus confirmation OF the vote by which the supreme pow
or In lrss instance into the hands OF Prince
LOUIS Napoleon !. seems Impossible 70 deny the
was doubtless that OF fsar--fear Of themselves
Like children trusted at too early age with
49, thov ratua n tr1no ~dino
with bleeding fingers, praying for orders sake,
thai their two-edged liberties should, 81 least for
. season, DO withheld from them That surrender
rsry Napoien has taken The peoples liberties merely for
SAFE css1dy No. only did no profess himself ready ai
calon Sas ho has repssisdy expressed Dis anxiety "a
anticipate all demands and measures which hailed
q liberal were actually proposed BY himself For
the Emperor w. Of course cannot vouch
what We feel inclined 10 believe Is that his
1s % so ha.s e. 70 eoSses pso
Of uar sciss for greater hbertes Mdn hare beev
nothing but partial and almost personal opposision-
factous and querulousn the press and the Cham
bera No organized atemps has been made 70 array
opinion against sovssnment o. me fountain mead o
ance at popular election.
80 What his people really want Ia probably, psscs
They wish for psacs-nos merely the name but III,
real Substance the security the prosperity Of peace
.: y y %: A,:
lowed ether psaos than such - e. obtain b,
| the display Of rusuousy Appropriateness srms'
Il. material Issss.sss 4 ~ Sssnss; ~ousSs sssi
mosl genuine fcslings Of national pfids rhas bill
ss U SSeu x ss. css r. eSs usbsd ~
sssisss IL the oppositlos against shs bn sp,sss d
.,1s s q: P s r: g: S'Sss
| test against II.