The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-21
Nnpeieon's Reform Biii-Importnnt Crisis In
the G0vernment Of France.

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the GSvernment Of France.
Yesterday Sunday the Emperor Of France
issued decree which may with great pro-
priety be classed as one Of these remarkable
and original utterances, the production OF
which, at certain periods and under particular
circumstances, signslize the epochs Of his
reign. Napoleon. in fact, orders French re-
form bfli the working Of which, ne declares,
twill crown the ediHce of State founded
upon the national will" This imperial con-
cessioa ordains that the legislative body shall
have the right Of questioning the government
on matters Of State policy, but sets forth, at
the same time. that the custom Of debating
and preparing an address in the Chambers,
or Lower House, in reply to the speech from
the throne is discontinued. The Fright Of the
people to meet in public" is to be ''limited
only" by the regulations necessary for the
public safety, the stamp duties are reduced,
and offences Of the newspaper press are to be
tried in the correctional courts Of the empire
instead Of being punished by summary sent
ence.
The French people will certainly gain many
citizen benefits from the effects Of this imperial
coyp-d'stat; particularly a. regards their free
dom from arrest when agitating for a further
extension Of their franchise rights, by public
meeting or through the press, and in the saving
which will result 10 them by reduction of
the stamp duties, which are heavy in France,
owing to the legal necessity which exists for
the every day use Of government stamps in
business transactions.
Parliamentary representative leaders receive
"heavy blow and great discouragement' by
the clause which declares that the address
OF the Chambers in reply TO the speech from
the throne shall be discontinued" Members
may question the Minister of State in the
House as to the diplomacy of the empire, but
everybody knows that the studied answer Of a
Cabinet Official to query put according to
parliamentary form will, particularly in
France, form q poor compensation for the
popular enlightenment which was sent forth
during the late sessions by the debates pro-
voked by the brilliant oratory and keen and
pungent opposition remarks Of MN. Theirs,
Jules Favre and their adherents.
Here we have q fact which suggests The in
quiry why does the Emperor proclaim bis Re-
form bill at this particular moments Is it in
pursuance Of that system Of friendly contrasts
which he has applied to England since the
Crimean war-that he "orders" for the French
millions . greater amount Of liberty at mo-
ment when Earl Derby Is at his Wits ends to
know what to do between John Bright, the
Trades Unions, manhood suffrage, and the
threat Of personal petitions" from the people
to the Commons Does he wish to keep side
by side with Bismarck in the march of consti-
tutionalism as likely 10 be developed by the
new German Parliament or, more important
still--does he seek to silence the speeches
which were certain 10 be made In the
Legislature, just about TO assemble in
session in Paris-by the united Orlcanists
and democrats on such subjects as the Next
can empire scheme aud its cost, the relations
with the United States, the army reorganization
plan, the war in Cochin-China, the diplomacy
towards Germany during the war, and in Italy
aud Rome since the peace, the policy on the
Eastern question, with other matters Of more
local Importance tteH
The order iof he discon inuauce OF the legi3-