The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-28
The Emperor and the Editors.


TEE situation in France does not look promis-
Ing for the perpetuation of the Napoleonic
dynasty, and like many other shrewd schemers,
the Emperor is apparently becoming entangled
In the meshes of his own subtly woven net.
The day has gone by when the murmurs aud
discomfort ofthe French people can be quieted
by such an expedieut as gliding the dome OF
the Invalides. The Exposition of last year was
q failure for all the purposes for which the
Emperor designed it. The people refuseto be
amused while they have so much to complain
Of, and it looks as If the attempt to recon-
cile Casarism and the civilization Of the nine
tssnth century was likely to prove gigantic
failure.
The revolution in Spain has served to re-
kindle the fires Of liberty in France; the
murmurs Of discomfort grow louder every
day, and that these murmurs are ominous Of
q coming storm, which may burst at any
moment, our knowledge of the French people
and the history..of French revolutions makes
sufficiently evident. The Emperor has man
aged to array against himself the best aud
most influential men OF the nation, while he
has failed to secure that personal popularity
with the masses which would be some assur-
ance OF the success OF his policy. He does
not dare to permit criticism of his policy by
the press, and yet he cannot altogether sup
press the newspapers and prevent editors
from mentioning unpleasant things in an
unpleasant way. Rochefort with his Ldnterne,
threw light upon the dark ways of the Empire
which did not raise it in the esteem of the
people, and it seems as If the attacks of this
editor were likely to produce momentous re-
suits. Rochefort has been eXiled, but other
journalists prove equally offensive, if not SO
audscous, and the Emperor has been forced
into the unpleasant position of either being
obliged to permit unlimited license to the
newspapers or else suppressing all freedom of
speech. He has chosen the latter alternative,
and 1t was the only one he could choose, for
there are too many things connected with his
Government which he could not safely allow
to be discussed and he has consequently
begun war with the newspapers which can
scarcely result to his advantage in any case.
The cause of the present difficulty was the
publication of appeals for subscriptions for a
monument to the memory OF NJ. Baudin,
one of the victims of the coup detat
of December, 1851. This excited some unpea-
SAINT "reminiscences and brought prominently
before the French people facts connected with
the overthrow OF the republic and establish
ment of the Empire which Napoleon III would
gladly have them forget. Prosecutions have,
therefore, been instituted against the editors
of number of journals. This best legal talent
has been engaged for the defense of these gen.
tlemen before the Civil Tribunal, and it is diff
cult to see how the affair can produce any
other effect than to intensity the excitement
that already exists and to make the Emperor
more unpopular than ever. That he can put
down the newspapers with strong hand and
make them solely subservient to his interests
is at least doubtful, and the conviction and
punishment Of the offending editors will
scarcely prevent others from follow
ing their example. contest with
the newspapers was the prelude to
the revolution which drove Louis Philippe
from the throne of France and now Napoleon
is treadiDg in the footsteps of his predecessor,
unmindful of his example. Ii We thought
that the overthrow Of the Empire would per
manently benefit the French psople, We might
hope for such result from the present con-
test between tyranny and free speech; but
French revolutions in the past have proved
but questionable remedies for existing evils, aud
whether the despotism of the Second Empire
would be succeeded by anything better is so
extremely doubtful that We can scarcely wish
to see the experiment tried. The Emperor's
present course however, is having the effect
of uniting all the elements Of the opposition,
and In consideration Of the strong feeling
against him. his quarrelwith the editors is i'm
polite and unfortunate for himself and for his
hope OF being succeeded on the throne by his
son.