The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-14
FRANCE.
0scsnstructien Of Paris-The Finances-Ths
Drama.

usesnstructtes Of Paris-The Finances-The
Drama.
PARIS, July I, 1858.
! stated In my last letter that the parties and
eabals that from year to year oppose the govern
ment had changed their base and given up their
familiar captraps about liberty Of the press liberty
Of this and liberty of that. There are two reasons
for this. The public have got tired OF this no.
t0rious ding dong, and next the Emperor is steadily
making 80 many shrewd concessions Of one sort and
another that the politicians found they losing
ground. They have now disguised themselves as
financial reformers and have to work with great
vigor by first pitching into the expenditure Of the
government and next by assailing the terrible outlay
of the Corporation OF Paris the rebuilding of the
capital, which is fast becoming the wonder OF the
world This is a very cute dodge Of the Orleanists
and republicans for the French are great deal
more sensitive in money matters than the devil
may-car people Of the United states. Whatever
the motives it is an advantage 10 the government as
well az the people to have financial matters looked
after by those who have wit and leisure for the
task. mentioned also that lot OF piquant pam
phets had appeared during the past winter, hurting
millions upon millions OF money at the head OF the
government, and trying TO prove that France under
the Second Empire was fast descending into the
abyss OF bankruptcy. They allege that Napoleon In
thirteen years has more than doubled the public
debt. That's bad enough They next assert that
tho French debt is only ST. 200 600 less than the
British debt. That's worse. Finally, they declare
that the French debt both TO principal and in
teres Will before long reach the level OF the debt of
the United States. Nothing can be worse than this.
Napoleon, to be sure, might say In selfdeence that
the French debt has been many long year climbing
up TO Its present elevation, whereas II had only
taken four short but bloody years for the grea. re-
La Belle France. He might say great many other
things and doubt will after the enemy have fired
their biggest guns. France Is obliged TO expend
great deal OF money to keep up her army and navy,
which her safety and dignity require, else Russia
and Prussia might give her black eye at any
moment.
Besides this the Emperor has gone extensively
into the development OF France. Railways, canals,
docke, roads, bridges and thousand other useful
things he has advanced money upon, and the in
crease OF the national wealth shows he has not
come TO Paris. The chief criminal here
In the eyes OF the aforesaid reformers, is Baron
words, the head OF the principal body presiding
Paris and the 6dnteue. Ii is some fifteen years
the Emperor and doubtless with a view TO carrying
out the great job he had In his eye, which simply
TO Napoleonize Paris. Haussmann was clearly born
reconstructionist for no one else could have gone
through such Herculean task as he has been 30
long working at without being buried, from fatigue
under the ruins OF his own gigantic demolitons. II
Providence had only sent a political Haussmann
we should have built up the Union and filed the
South with bouevards and palaces In nalf the time
and for half the money are likely to accomplish
It. To describe the prodigous achievements OF
Napoleon's great civic marshal greater by far than
any Roman Edile that history has bequeathed vs.
would be a tedious joo unless could state briefly a.
1 can't. the hundreds OF acres he has cleared Of
paltry houses and narrow lanes which are trans
formed into splendid avenues. lined with mansions
SURPRISING In beauty and convenience all compari-
son rivalry. The Fifth avenue with all Its brown
stone spendor, would suffer not little from any
comparison with the miles OF gorgeous bouevards
that decorate ate paris IA on every r. oSsv pG e
nothing OF the vast benefits to Paris, moral. material
and pecuniary, II may be regarded as the cheapest
job accomplished. II Will cost, up TO the end OF
1869 the paltry OF $500. 10000. That ~ not the
greatest marvel, by any means Listen ye taxpayers
or New York the most, swindled, abused and help
less class in either -faussmann has not
only pulled down the greater part OF TINS vast city
and ouht II up again win the lnagniii'
cence aforesaid, and for the sum aforesaid,
but ne has done II without adding dollar
90 the taxes. This NAV well seem TO the plucked
viciins-i might say geese-o corporation ridden
New Ofk ~ utterly incredible, hut the baron In his
report the other day to The Emperor and which IL q
"Sockdologer' 10 the opposition journals has demon.
So rated ~ More astonishing s't. no speaks % his
being able Ia another yeas TO make q considerable
REDUCTION IN the t0AatOu II the CITIZENS Oi New
YORK uont assemble forthwith and send committee
over TO Baron Haussman TO impOre hn 20 cOmmuni-
cate by what hocus-pocus he has spent t4OO 900
without taxing for II, why, they deserve their fate
1 may say this much IN eNplanatiOn;-M hen the
baron bought an old street anu is old houses
ana he has bought hundreds took care TO ret
space enough not only 10 lay out nne wide avenue.
but 20 sell TO the capt. aiss VINO desired to build
IT, ana that at such an increase over the price he
paid ~ 20 make a profit on the operation. This j.
one clue To the mystery | have announced aud |
dare say his report TO the Emperor mat nave not
yet read may reveal others as striking.
nave mace long story OF French finances, ma
tional and iocal hut the subject IL interesting and
none the less that you have begun building bOule-
wards In New York. The engineering intellect OF
France and England IL actively occupied with
grand problem, only next in dficulty aud results 10
the Atlantic cabe-nainey, new mode OF crossing
the channel from Dover 10 Calais, either by bridge
or 10y a tunnel The French seem 10 believe In the
feasibility Of a bridge, while the English are more
given 90 q tunnei. Boutet the engineer IA. shown
his plans to the Emperor, who taxes a great inter.
est IN the enterprise, while English engnesrs have
investigated the road both sides o, tue channel and
report the tunnel may be built for SO yy3Oyy--a
mere bagatele for such prodigy. Ths passage OF
the channel IL generally made In e-a than ~ D0lrs
but the ag0nes OF that busy period are sarp enough
TO deter thousands from yentunng a tGonel or A
bridge would increase the traye a hundredfOd.
A period Of singular stagnaiion seems TO have
oveItaken the dramatic mind OF France usaalIy 40
active and inventive. AL last year the theatres Of
Paris dished up their old pieces OF various dates
that answered Just well for the thousands Of for.
eigDers attracted 10 the exhibition who had never
seen them before. IL was supposed the dramatists
were hard at work and that we should be drowned
this year In vast Hood OF novelties Strange TO say
there never Was such paucity Of new plays and OF
the few produced the majority fall. The only one
that has made q sensation ie a drama by Emile Az
Rier, written In verse The composition is not with
out merit, but the plot and characters are common
place. while the main incident 10 utterly disgusting
The great talent OF the artists OF the Theatre Fran
Gals obtained for this odous play q temporary suc
cess but u dsgraced the theatre usually
20 classic drama. Onenbach, well known IN
New York, has produced two new pieces com
posed In bis earlier years. Neither has sustained
his reputation, and they are destined to
short life, not q merry one. The music Of neither
d. s.is..l fh. ltl.rnf