Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-10
PURLIC LEDGER.
LATE ELECTION IN RANCE AND
FREE SPEECH.


France has come CT, and the results
have declared in favor of the Govern
ment. The Nspoleonic Empire is, per-
hans. the most liberal that has ever been
established; and in these times OF cleo
tion men and politicians are permitted
NV the law enacted to discuss freely all
subjects Of public interest, whether their
exnrassiens should indorse the govern
ment or the opposition. 1t may be true
that the entire Influence Of the admins
,,stiou was and should have been
exe,ted in favor Of the Court party
and from this il fuence may be attributed,
10 some extent, the success OF the lmpe-
rial candidates. But admitting THE,
every elector in the Empire was left free
n Seuosit his ballot as seemed best to
himself, end regardless of fear or favor
from the Government As is the case in
all nonuIar elections excitement ran high.
and the passions of the multitude, stirred
by politicians, like the sea lashed by the
wind, threatened danger to the ship Tor
the time. But since the election has
resulted so largely in favor of the Empe-
ror things have assumed their wonted
course, and the Empire can be said to be
at peace.
That the French Empire is firmly estab-
lished, during the life of the present En-
peror, can scarcely be doubted, but
we regard the future, after the
death Of Louis Napoleon, Us looking
gloomy for the continuance OF his dy-
nasty. If report be true that the sue
cessor to the throne is wanting in the
essential qualities to make him the EN-
peror Of great people, then we may
look for revolution soon after the death
of the present ruler. The French are
caloric nation--snbject at any time to be
thrown into sudden revolution. The
hand that shall exercise the frmness and
the discretion Of keeping quiet such
people, is deserving the expression OF
com mendation from all nations.
Louis Napoleon has won for himself
q name CO equal with that of his illus
trious uncle, who is ranked with Caiar
and Alexander. the greatest men that
have lived. We give below an extract OF
a speech OF Provost Paradol ct Nantes as
a bold and outspoken expression OF
opinion, during the last canvass in
France, as referred to above. The
speaker was opposed to the official can
ddate, and spoke as follows.
II told you when ] last addressed yod
that the Government which was required
was that of the majority, whose views
and wishes should be carried out by q
responsible Ministry. / do not think that
if we take at haphazsrd any twelve in
telligent Frenchmen they will be found
TO dissent from that proposition. Instead
of that Government what have we got
now? Ministers who are the mere advo-
cntes of personal ruler; Ministers who
have no will Of their own, because they
have no responsibility Ministers who
represent nothing. They are not even
the advisers of the Crown, and yet it is
sometimes wholesome for country that
there should be Ministers powerful
enough TO compel the chief of the State
TO perform the will Of the country which
they have been instructed by the majority
TO carry into effect. When you are
shown this phantasm Of Cabinet, and
told that that is Government, it is just
as IL you were shown dial without any
works inside, and the hands of which are
turned by man crouchiug behind, and
told, That is clock-don't you see the
hands are movingT We have enough
Of appearances and shams-what we
want is reality. You are told
that Ministers, that deputies should only
play q very secondary part; that the
reality Of power must bslong to the Chief
of the State, and that to him alone does it
belong to tell you the way you should go.
There must be leaders-but We require
no masters. Remember, gentlemen, that
in ancient Rome there were leaders
they we're called pTetor, cdiie, imperd-
for, but Rome was free under their rule.
But when they made themselves the
necessary protectors of the people, when
one of them assumed the title OF tribune
OF the people par excellence, then all was
lost, and Rome made rapid progress in
the path Of slavery. Believe me, gentle.
men, this is historical trulh-whenever a
man usurps the pompous title Of sole
representative Of the nation, the time is
not far of when the nation will cease to
exist. [Greai spplause.] do not mind
tie upholders Of The present system de-
scribiBg it IS necessary-ihAt is matter
Of course. They proclaim that an AbsO-
luie master is Necessary. 10 my opinion