The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-03
THE CIRCULATION OF THE "DIs-
PATCH" IS LARGER THAN THE COM
BNED CIRCULATION OF ALL THE
OTHER DAILY NEWSPAPERS OF THIS
CITY.
PARIS LETTER.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
PARIS, FRANCE, March 16, 1869.
RELGIUM.

one. Since the fortress of Luxembourg has
been dismantled, Prussia sees that, by
France possessing the working Of the Bel
gian line into Amsterdam she would be able
to concentrate her forces in the twinkling
Of an eye-and Zouaves move proverbielly =
| quick-on the Prussian frontier. How
ever, neutral territory, when small, is lit
tie inconvenience to giant armies. The
Allies in 1915 entered France through
| Switzerland without asking the permission
Of the Helvetic Diet, and France, in her
last Italian campaign, took the same liberty
1t is no use of quoting Grotius on these
| points, for in force alone for laws Of na-
! tions look. 1t is difficult to fathom the mo-
tive Of Belgium's refusing to ratify the
concession Of her little Arlon railway to
the French Eastern; because France is
not only her best customer, but, since the
commercial treaty, her exports have
more than doubled within ten years, and if
France resorts to reprisals by declining to
renew the treaty, Belgium must suffer.
| France looks upon her neighbor as pear
that will drop into her lap when ripe. If
| the Emperor was sure of the neutrality of
John Bull it is not improbable he would
ego i'm for annexing Belgium, and brave
war with Prussia. Further, Brussels is
the refuge for all the political exiles of
| France, who exhibit sort of perpetual
motion in "pegging away" at the Second
| Empire, and the Mamelukes of the semi
official press are burning to make these
gentry "move on" To complicate the diff
fculty still more, Holland, it appears, also
| declines to ratify with the same French
company the working of the other end OF
the line into Amsterdam. Possibly the re-
| ported mixed commission, combined with
the friendly Offices Of England, may allay
the ferment.
REUNIONS.
Two more Of these miserable reiinions
we're dissolved during the week. The police
officer, after vainly calling the chairman's
| attention to the violent and seditious Ian
guage uttered, declared the meeting dig
solved, and called upon the audience to
disperse. In one case the people refused
Ito 60, and proposed to put the officer into the
cellar, and who had, ultimately, difficulty
to make his escape. Some of the speakers
INDUCED in quotations from Robespierre
and Danton, that kings and emperors were
incorrjgible and should be destroyed-an-
other, that Napoleon the First was cruel
tyrant, and if any one believed his success
sor to be the same, let them-a third
called for arms to wiring their rights from
power, SC. 1t is difficult to see what social
good this talk can effect. 1t clearly shows
that France wants q saviour of society.
Sadder still is it to see Deputy Like M.
Jules Semon-an able writer and distin-
guished politician-calling upon meeting
of his constituents to assist him to over
throw the Government he has sworn to up
hold: 6 Be you revolutionists with me, lie
says, and I will be socialist with you
will reorganize property and organize la
| bor." Another distinguished writer lays
down that every workman should demand
O minimum income of at least 2, 400 francs
per annum, and $4,000 francs as maxi
mum. Every legalized Frenchman aged
| twenty-one has vote, but he forgets he
has no right to revolt when possessed OF
this privilege, and cannot, or will not, un-
derstand the logic of q majority.
SOME INTERESTING ELECTION STATISTICS
have appeared, showing the progress made
by the unofficial" party. There is, after
ell, no compact opposition in the Chamber
each member opposing does so for himself
it is all "heads ''-not tail. In the fol-
lowing years votes were recorded:
Candidates. Candidates.
lS52................... 6,250.00O Slo,962
lS57................... 6,26O,0OO S45,646
| lS63.................. 5,5o0,0O0 l,S63,o72
Thus showing that the opposition party
is Weakening up" Of the 272 Deputies
returned in 1857, six were non-oficial in
1868 thirty-one represented the opposition,
and since then casual elections have added
to the thirty-one about seventeen. The
struggle is to do away with the system of
official candidates. 1t is not peculiar to the
Second Empire; it flourished under former
Governments, and even under the Republic.
Two blacks do not make a white, but it re-
calls the hemily about even-handed JUS
tice. Man should be as free in the exercise
| of his political as well as in that Of his
moral and religious rights. Any tamper-
ing with it must be reprobsted, whether
such springs from "grapes or lawyers,
pastry cooks or kings"
SPAIN.
The draft Of the new constitution for
Spain is expected to be presented during
the week to the Cortes. AS the Duke de
Montpensier appears to have the prospect
of "Walk over" to the throne, 30 in
crease the evidences of discomfort at his
Kingship. Andalusia and the Basque pro-
yincss will not sc dance to the tune Of allie
giance," and the question is rapidly falling
for decision into the hands Of the army.
Prim has foreseen this contingency, and
has placed legion of friends in command
ing positions. The colonels y will do the
work they have too often illustrated the
adsge, celui qui trahI trahira. Prim can
"walk round Serrano and many think
that, sooner than see the Duke de Mont
pensier King, he would declare himself
Regent, and bring back the Prince of AS
turias. This is the Emperor's private solu-
ton of the Spanish question.
ITALY.
In Italy the growing desire is to remain
neutral in any war that may burst over
Europe. To take side would be the last
blow to her finances. Even the grant for
secret-service money has been sensibly re-
duced, and the subsidies to make some
newspapers agreeable" have been cut
down to 600f. per month for each. Austria
desires to be friendly with the King. Po-
litical passions still run high, and duelling
has melancholy prominence. An Italian
will go twice round the world to serve friend
and five times to be revenged consequently
when Greek meets Greek one or both must
fall. That old duellist General Bixis is
preparing bill 10 put down the practice.
Prussia seems to be flirting with the Holy
See. She has appointed, at q good salary,