The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-15
REFORM IN FRANCE.

Whatever may be said of the French 0pposi-
ton, and of the character Of many of the mea-
sures they advocate, certain it is that they
merit great credit for perseverance amid dis
couragement. They take great pleasure in
giving the Government 'piecs Of their mind,
and not unfrequently, it is thought by many,
oppose measures for no other reason than be-
cause they are brought forward or supported
BY the Government But, as far as we can
perceive, they have accomplished nothing
whatever The Emperor somehow contrives
TO have his own way; and we are not prepared
to say that he does not understand the needs
Of France and of her people quite as we'll, or
that he is not as patriotic" as M. JULES
FAvRE or NJ. GLAZE BEzoIN.
The Emperor has atbeau ideal Of a "liberap
government, and as fast as he thinks the
people can bear q little more liberty, he
apromises" to accord it to them. Thus in
January last His Majesty issued whole batch
Of such promises, and the Corps Legislatif has
ever since been industriously engaged in FRAN
ing proper laws for the carrying out Of the En-
perors will in those matters. As an Offset,
however, to these promises Of enlarged liberty,
is the very unpopular measure of the Reorgani-
zation, of the Army. This, with the law regu-
lating the liberty of the press, and the right of
meeting, have engaged the chief attention of
the Chamber; and they are perhaps the three
questions, more than all others, calculated to
excite lively discussion, and rouse the passions
even both of the Corps Legislatif and of the
country at large.
But the Exposition, with its attendant pomp
and incidents, the visits of so many sovereigns,
and the great glory all this reflects upon the
Emperor's government, could not but exercise
q modifying influence upon the members of the
opposition. Deputies even are but men; and
the great spectacular drama that has been
enacting in Paris during the past three or four
months is not calculated to promote that calm
of mind, so desirable when celebrating upon
important questions of legislation. In fact
the Exposition itself is national affair, and
therefore occupies the attention of legislators
even legitimately. With the exception Of the
matter of appropriations, all other questions
can very well bide their time, and wait till the
national holiday is over. In fact decency
alone would forbid violent internal agitation,
at time when 80 many foreign guests and
visitors are enjoying the hospitality of France.
The French, never wanting in politeness, GER
tainly would not be guilty of that breach of
good breeding, of exhibiting their family quar-
rels in presence of their company" And if
the people can wait with the reform of the
laws of the press and of public meetings, GER
tainly the government can wait for the law
authorizing the reorganization Of the army;
first because France is at peace with all man
kind, so much 50, that we see it stated that
the Emperor contemplstes disarming some 49,
600 men. But should there be war, or a
threatening even of war, NAPOLEON has
ample means and power to organize as large
an army as he may think necessary. The
further discussion Of all these measures has
therefore been postponed till November, when
an extra session of the Chamber is to be
held.
Paris is intoxicated with her Exposition, and
with great ytstes almost every day. Who cares
whether there are few journals more or
less? especially as the Minister of the Interior
has authorized twenty-five new papers since
January, when the Emperor's promise was
given for an enlargement of the liberty of the
press By tacit understanding, the Govern
ment now permits all but unbounded liberty to
the newspapers.
As to the right to meet in public unrestrict-
ed, it can be of little Importance before the
next election for deputies to the Chamber and
if the law is passed in November it will be in
ample time for that purpose.
Some of the French papers, however, the
organs of the Government, while they profess
the utmost resignation to the postponement of
the passage Of the two laws just named, are
not so well satisfied in regard to the delay of