The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-01
Napoleon and the Press.

nalS OF Parls. flDlDB eultOrs huu seu'iuB
them to Jail ia sometimes a comparatively
insignificant proceeding, for it occasionally
occurs in the most liberal countries, our own
included, without exciting special comment or
outrsging public sentiment. The prosecu-
tions and prosecutions in France, how
ever, have evidently deep signid-
canoe. The dangers incurred by every writer
and publisher who directly or indirectly assails
the Government would not be encou uttered in
30 many instances if the popularity of the
empire was not on the wane, aud if multi
tude Of readers were not always ready to hail
with delight open or covert attacks upon the
present rEgtme. The extraordinary circulation
attained by La Ldnterne in brief period proved
tn at bold antagonism to Napoleon was short
and sure read to journalistic success, and tina.
the applause and patronage of a myriad Of
readers would speedily reward those who
gratifed the prevailing popular taste. The
proudest boast of the Emperor is that he
reigDs by virtue of an almost unanimous in
dorsement by the ballots of the people
of France, and his justification of the
crimes and cruelties of the coup
d'6tat is based on the allegation that he only
carried into effect the wishes of the great body
Of the citizens. This theory supposes that he
was and is a popular idol; but it is rudely de-
molished by the fact that Frenchmeu enjoy
with a keen relish exposures OF his weak
nesses, follies, and tyranny. II it were, in
deed, true that nineteen out of every twenty
Frenchmen are fully convinced after dus
consideration, that the perpetration Of the
NapoleoHic dynasty is essential to the public
welfare, the pellets of Rochefort aud his imita-
tors would be as harmless as the attacks of
Brick Pomeroy or the New York World upon
General Grant, and they would reflect dis
credit only upon their authors. The prosecu-
conscious weakness which would scarcely
be made If the Emperor did
not secretly coincide with the Judgment of
those who declare that his dynasty is seriously
menaced, and that his individual lease of
power is by no means absolutely secure. If
he did not fear his foes, hs would certainly not
sanction the mean and malignant prosecutions
which are instituted on the most trivial pre-
texts. Even the superserviceable zeal of his
subservient judges could not discover
any law that had been violated
by the publication of the lists
of subscribers to the proposed monum ant
to Baudin, or any law which forbade the erec-
tion of such a marble memorial; aud it was
only by constituting these acts as violations of
"a decree against practising manUuvres
within the realm with the object of hold
ing up the Government to hatred and con-
tempt, that convictions were secured. The
notoriety given to these proceedings cannot fail
to bring home to the bosom of every intelligent
and patriotic Frenchman painful conscious
ness of the rigorous intellectual thraldom
which pervades his country. The people will
be forced to conclude that a governmsnt so
excessively sensitive to criticism must b. iuhe-
rently rotten, and that if they continue to
tamely submit to the suppression of political
intelligence public affairs may be adm nstsred
without their knowledge, in the most dangerous
and disreputabe as we'll as the most despotio
manner. The tardy tribute to Baudin, who,
after reposing in a neglected grave for seven
teen years, is suddenly honored because he
fought to maintain the constitution which
Napoleon subverted, revives psrilous recollec
tions; and the subscriptions which have been
published disclose to the world the names Of
those who do not fear the trown of
the Emperor or fail to regret the down
fall of the Republic. The attempt
to check the movement proves that
historical "reminiscences still exert powerful
influence over the French Imagination, AMI
that there are hosts of living men whose
aspirations for liberty are not less fervent
than those which animated the souls of the
republican leaders of former times and who
are ready, when occasion offers, to assail
Napoleon as mercilessly as he has assailed
his political enemies. There are rumorS
that all the discordant anti Nspoleonic factions
of France are rapidly being fused into homo
geneous mass, and that Bourbon aud 0rleanis t
are ready to unite, not only with each other,
but with Red Republicans and with the cham
pions of national Republic in cordial aud
earnest efforts to overthrow the Emperor.
If such union can be perfected,
and if it can acquire sufli
cent influence in the army to spread dis
content and disloyalty among the bayonets,
even Napoleon may become another victim oI
the French fashion which has prevailed fol
more than century of deposing their mo
narchs and preventing them from transmit
ting the throne to their immediate heirs.
tcl