The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-02-13
KRoKuK. IOWAl
WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEB. Is


4HE EMFEA0R,S DnORnn OF RI
FORM.
The Cable dispatches announced the othe,
day that the dsspot Of France had issued q
Decree Of Reform, favoring the liberties Of
the representatives of the people.
Such course would have BEEN inconsist-
emit with the Bonapart policy for two genera
tons, and in utter contravention Of the entire
purpose and political aim OF Napoleon the
Third. We should just as soon have expect
ed message from President johnson in "a
vor Of the rights and liberties Of the people,
and the increase of the powers Of their Rep
rssentatives, as Napoleon Third, the Frsnct
despot
At length the mails have brought the De-
cree of Reform, and the Autocrat, instead Of
conceding anything of his usurped power,
henceforth DEGREES, that the Legislative bodie,
of France shall receive his address in silence,
and no member shall be allowed to comment
on or reply to it. That is precisely the FIX
that Andrew would like to bring our Congress
to, and Copperhead politicians generally
seem to regard il as the only proper course
for the Representatives Of the people in Con
gress, to register the Presidents DEGREES re-
specially and in silence.
The French tyrant very generously DEGREES
that certain committees of the Legislative
body, under certain restrictions, may pro-
hound questions to the head of Executive
Departments of the Government in writing.
But the gist of the infamous decree is the last
article, as follows:
Articles and Of our decree Of the gath oil
November, 1860, providing that the Senate and
Corps Legislstif shall every year, at the opening
of the session. vote an address in reply TO oui
speech, are hereby repealed.
The freedom of the press had already been
substantially suppressed, and now this de-
cree suppresses free discussion, even by the
Representatives of the people, aud leaves the
Legislative body no function, but a. blind
TO despotism to register the DEGREES OF the
tyrant in silence.
The opinion of the Liberals is well ex.
pressed in the Arenir National:
aThe country win hear with great surprise and
address are to be suppressed at the very momen,
when it was awaiting those discussions at the
commencement of the session which would have
supplied it with Indispensable explanations upon
the general policy of the Government. The dis
cussion of the address maintained the parliamen-
tary debates at an elevation from which it would be
pity to see them descend for political eloquence
cannot be lowered with impunity in q country like
France. The right Of questioning has no doubt
its utility; but il must be exercised with complete
liberty; it is the entire Chamber which ought TO
be called upon to decide upon it's opportuneness
placed at the discretion Of the committees which
have not to account for their decisions to the pub
lie, it may be considered as buried.
That of the Imperialists by the Constitu
fionnel
Napoleon Ill, after having given us security
and order those essential conditions Of all society,
Is continuing at present the liberal work com
menced by the decree Of November "a, 1865. In
his far-seeing prudence and penetrated by the
timent Of his high responsibility the Emperor has
believed that the hour has come for enarging the
circle Of public liberties. The Empire has already
given TO France fifteen years of profound tran
guilty, prosperity, and glory. The ground APP
pears 10 his Majesty ut present sufficiently consol
idsted for such valuable results not to be endan-
gered by the additional concessions enumerated in
the decree Of January 10, and announced in the
letter TO the Minister Of State. Napoleon III.
viii tnus nave hau Aue uouOie SiVfy OF pelnRr as
we have often said the resorer Of order and found
of liberty in France. The nation will greet with
confidence and joy the liberal act which will mark
new date in the history Of great reign !"
The organ of the French despot talks as
glibly about his masters being the founder Of
liberty, as the rebels do in our country about
Jehnsons being tie defender of the Consti
tuition, which they fought four years to de-
stroy