The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-08-04
An English View of the French situa-
lt... . u tion l..

.l" @t tion.
The message Of he Emperor of tho
French, studlonsly Vague and ambigu-
Gus asit is, can be regarded only as Che
commencement Of n vast political
change in the government of France, or
as the first step towards long and IN
certain conflict between authority and
opinion. 1t cannot DO disputed that
the theory Of personal government has
many and powerful supporters. tt is
strong with The adhcrents Ct the impe-
ria! dynasty. IT. has on its side much
ofihe property and some considerable
portion of The intelligence Of France,
and, above all IT, Is The creed Of he
great olliciai aud military lcrarchies
which constitute So largt and i'll pervad.
ing a power in French society. II
In The first place, personal government,
or the dictatorship. has lasted FIR TWEEN
~ years. Now, in countries where
political lrecedom is mos, highly deyel--
oped, 1t is perfectly possible for dicla
tor 20 exercise, with The consent of the
people, unlimited power for short time.
IN order to deal with great public
danger. In such cases when Tie crisis
is past, extraordinary power can at once
be laId aside and the return 10 constiiu.
tional forms may be Effected without
Inconvenience and wi,l,ont changing
the habits or rlfacing the traditions OF a
law abiding people. It is otherwise
with n system Of absolute govcrnn ent
that has cxtendrt over nearly one &c ne.
ration OF mankind Twenty years vi
disnsc have done much TO destroy the
influence and u'lor'iy of parliamentary
government in France. The same pow
er which silenccd the legislature rctlercd
the press and abolished The right Of pub
lie meeting. A generations, therefore,
has grown up with no political cxpe-
rience or education Universal suffrage
is The basis ofahc political system, and
in the absence Of public discussion the
voters, nn'n'orra and unorganizcd, arc
either the slaves Of public (unctionaries
or the dupcs Of wild and irresponsible
agtators. The domestic policy of the
Emperor has tenlcrcd to foster the
belief among the peasants aud artisans
that IN their wants they may look 10
their government. and that i, IS The du-
ty Of tho governments to assis, them and
provide Them with employment. At
long intervals the voter, have exercised
their rights il The election Of deputies,
hut the Whole administrator Of public.
business hus been in Tie hands OF func-
tlonaries responsible to no one but the
heads of their respective departments.
Ills diff cult to conceive "a moro hopeless
task than to communicate to this un-
trained multitude The sense Of political
Independence and the habits OF political
life. Nor is it only with the cons,lu.
ent body'that arc to be found great
obstacles 10 parliamentary government.
If tho voters are unframed, their lead.
crs arc no less so. Their apprentice.
ship has yet to be undergone. Even in
tho time Of Louis Philippe the Cham
Der, rich rs it was in men OF very high
ability, vas ever singnlarly wanting IN
the tact and moderation which are es.
scntlal to the conduct of business in
popular assemblies. The bitter rivalrirs
Of the chiefs Of different sections made
monlus Oao'nrt, or to keep together a
Par''amentary majority. There was
none OF mat 're''ng which Is the tradi-
''on OF our House OF Commons, and
"h'ch Is SO valuable N practice that
Whatever a.' may DO .he state OF tho parties
inc government OF tho country must DO
carf,ea on. Unnecessarily followed that
inc onamoer became d'scrcdted III tho
couh'ry' iha''''nal deputies preserved
.: oa' a s.c"oor connection with their con-
,''%u't;, oI ,, I',' I"n' "nrn once at rnra, car,