The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-07
THE IMPERIAL SURRENDER.

from tHe ". 4, ITtOune
The draft of the Parliamentary reforms in
France is now matured. 1t accords with Ma
poleon's late message in granting the right of
self-regulation. the voting of the budget in
detail, the simplifying of the mode of amend
ments, the selection of ministers from the
chambers, the submission of tariff modlfca-
tons, and the extension of the right to inter
pellate. The Emperor and the Legislature
Will together enjoy the initiative in making
laws: and the members of both chambers will
he permitted to address questions and de-
mands to the government. Amendments
Will be passed to a committee, communicated
to the government, returned to the chamber
with remark, and finally acted upon. A
more definite statement of this provision
IS to be expected than that which we have
now by cable, but apparently the Council of
State is deprived of its sovereign right to
devour all amendments before they can be
put TO the vote, while the Emperor retains
sufficient power over the subject TO make
the amendment still a matter of process and
difficulty. Over and above the reforms pro-
missed in his late message, the Emperor's new
exhibit provides that Ministers shall he pre-
sent at debates. and, though responsible for
their acts, can only be impeached by the
Senate The Senate will have public session.
but on motion of five members may be re-
solved into secrecy We are advised that the
matured decree of the Emperor will tho
roughly Ordain the relations which are to
exist between the two Chambers and himself
and will dwell on the transformation of per-
sOnal government into liberal empire. He
will also reduce taxes and extend education.
These concessions. skilfully checked and
balanced, as we believe they will further ap-
pear. will not quench the suspicion or satisfy
the desire of France, but they are parts of
wholesale measure of change from an absolute
to a constitutional government When it is
remembered that i'll 1852 France had no right
to discuss the imperial address, and could but
furtively venture an opinion on the budget,
the extent Of the present concessions may be
reckoned. AT that time the Legislature could
neither question ministers nor initiate laws.
Even i'll 1860 the right of the Legislature
went no further than the discussion of the
address, and the Imperial Government con-
sidered it a privilege that the Parliament
should have its debates fully printed. The
reforms now granted are like tide wave
overwashing many old abuses.
The Emperor is a shrewd student, but has
lost some of his facility of adaptation; his
| latest concessions show the awkwardness of
| surrender. One of his critics speaks of him
| as a reed pointed to look like iron. He would
| prefer that the world should regard him as in
| the secret with destiny and in conspiracy with
| events. We fear that his last move reveals
| the Imperial CaShostro, and shows that France
is conscious of fate to which Louis Napoleon
| is but circumstance and an impertinence.
| The Emperor, in his famous letter to NJ Oil
| vier, declared that he was restrained from re-
| form neither by incertitude nor vain infa-
| tuation for prerogatives, but from desire
| to establish at n stroke what is called the
crowning of the edifce, and to avoid taking
any step which he would have to retrace He
| has now made stroke ut last, and though he
advertises that personal government is ended
| the edifice is not crowned. viii he attempt
to go backward when France endeavors to ad
| vance still further?