Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-08
Paris Letter-Fine Times in Paris.
Corr espondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l

Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
PARIS. May 10. 1869.
During the week there has been lit
tie "playing at Revolution" The
troubles may be said to have commenced
on the evening of the 18th, following the
meeting held in the Chatalet Theater,
and which was convoked by M. Emile
Olivier, a moderate Liberal, to discuss
politics with his opponent, M. Baucel. 1t
is between these two candidates for the
third electoral district of Paris that all
Importance is centered. 1t is trial of
strength between the moderate party,
aided by the Government-as it has no
other choice-and the revolutionists, rep.
resented by M. Baucel. Upwards of ff-
teen thousand persons besieged the above
theater for admission, broke down the rail-
iDgs, forced the doors, and rushed in. All
order disappeared. With great difficulty
the orator of the evening was heard
Finally the meeting had TO be dis
solved, it became so bosterous and
disloyal. The crowd moved towards
the Bastile, yelling seditious cries and
singing the Marsellaise. Some sixty
arrests were made. On Friday evening
a political reunion took place at the Ma
poeon Circus. Inside, the crowd was
great, but outside still greater. Ulti-
mately, both crowds met and swept down
the Boulevards, tearing down ratings,
trees, and uprooting stones. Shops were
closed as quickly as possible. Revolu-
tionary songs and cries became general.
The police were maltreated with stones
and life.preservers One inspector is re.
ported to be dying, and several of the
men are more or less injured. Cavalry
quickly arrived, followed by the City
Guard. These cleared the roadway, the
police charging the side paths. All was
soon over. Succeeding evenings wit
messed bands of young men marching
through the streets singing prohibited
songs and expressing illegal epithets
The students had little affair of their
own. The city is now calm. The right
to hold these public meetings expired on
Monday night. Five days will elapse to
allow excited passions to cool-the news
papers alone having the privilege to write
warmly-and on Sunday morning at
eight the vote by ballot opens, ending on
Monday evening at four. Some allow
ance must be made for these disturbances;
it has been the first exercise of the right
of electioneering under the second en-
pire. The French press is correct in say
ing there has been nothing in these ex
cesses like what takes place during cleo
ton in England, America or Switzer-
land. Very true; but there is this differ
ence, that in France an election riot may
end in arevoution-in placing bonnet
rouge on the head of the sovereign
sacking the Tuileries and cutting the
Palais Royal for "suld acquaintance"
sake. Of course, Frenchmen still want
the compliment of liberty-they have
right to ask for more; but let 1t be done
in a constitutional manner - like
freemen. What is still their due,
it is certainly not worth while
overthroving q dynasty and delug-
ing streets with blood to attain, 1t is
more prudent policy to give cautiously
national characteristics remembered than
to give all at once, and then be forced
hereafter to recall. It is this latter
course that has eyer proved most disss-
trops for ell governments in France
republics included. Il is this conditional
instalment-giving of liberty, the natural
consequence of an individual system Of
government, that meets with most ap-
proval by those who know France best,
and which the general election will un
donbtedly ratify. People want rest-are
BEGINNING ts End out that perfect gov
erpmentis no thols . uopopoly Of party
., jvn- n--'v than virtue is Of seet. 'fhe
Emperor is fully alive ~ 'ne iac' 'nM
matters cannot continually continue as
they are. The semi-oficial press herald
the change by going over to Liberalism.
It is to be hoped the new Parliament
will at last see the crovniDg of the
a1;6nap -