, 1869-01-25
NAPOLE0N's THREAT.

The most important part It the speech |
with which the Emperor Napoleon open
CT. The present session OF the Corps Leg
islatif is that which relates to the a1ma-
nae1ts Of France. "Tne laws p1oyiding
for the reorganization OF the army" be
said to the Senators and Representatives,
had given strength ind confidence to
the nation, which WAS now ready 10 meet
all events Of the future. The armament
OF the iorcts was perfect. The arsenais
WeIe aaled with supplies, the reserves
well drilled, and the Reorganization Of
the National Guard approached compile
ticn. The feet hsd been recruited and
TIE Notifications At Ill important points
we1c in good condition. The Imperial
wish was realized. France was 50 placed
as to vindicste her status In the destinies
Of the word. Peace had been heretofore
fonght, 1ot because Ct weakness, hut 70
sustain the toror OF the Safe"
This language is very significant. Ma
potion III. is aswaYs extremely cautious In
the choice4oi hls wSrfs sn61a do6n to
make al:eratIcns in the draf8 of.sats
epeecbes almost up TO The momsnt when
they are DELIVERED 3,s4sthfs he should
exp1eEs himself In such strong
terms, shows, therefore, very co1clu-
sive1y that his intentions toward Prussia
are not entirely pacific, and the prcdie-
tsors OF those European Journalists who
have prophesied for some time past that
war between France aud PrussiA would
bresk out In the sprlrg, perhaps, deserve
10 IA
ob:ai1ed.
II ahe domestic situstion ct France
were such as 10 justify the assertion OF
the Emperc- that the people still hsd
corficence In him, and il there were no
symptoms Of tetaoux discomfort among
those clements OF he population which
up to this time Uefe invariably found 10
be The mcst loyal sdhetents Of the Second
Empire, these warlike predictions nigh,
be locked upon As merely sensational
and very improbable. But 1t is uude
uiable that the events " the last few
months in France iEdicae in the mos'
urnis:aksble manner the growth Of dis
certeat In the rural dis!r.tts, while tht
Onn.sit,on in the cities AID towns !
better organized and more asttve and de
fsnt than it has been for many year
na,t The Emperos's assetshr, In th
esme sneech, thas "thc receur election
rctpltei In fhycY OF Tie government"
siror!y untrue. Not only were Ia gos
e,6neut candidates beaten by .ove1
wtelning n.jorities in several dlsAic
where ths. Opposition had always HI
ner1y btenSiu . small minority, ou:
Opposition gsins even In those dis.ri'
which were carried by the governme1
ytrc enormous, and the litter succeed
orly in ayerting still more disastrous
icats bY nominating popular and I'M
penteut men: Instead OF the servile c.
dida1ea whom it had hitherto support
at the elections Tor the Corps Legis.s
The government has, moreover, Just
te,ea It's dist1ust Of public optnion
rn4aonlng the clec.ious for the vsssne
IN te districts Of tbe Corps Lsgtstatlf
The dR on which the general electia
SIC fot; held il. Ma5 aexk This must
cnu1ke n.s been adopted becAuse the p:
einment'ts fearful that Gambeisz a
ctheF Democrats would be elected to
tEese rscslcies, and that shelr trlum
would agait dim the prestige Of the IL
ptrialists anl produce very fpjurio
effect upon the approaching general ell
1ions.
Conscious Is the E Enperor must be
the growing iissfeccion st home. 1t
Eot surp1isinx that be should think