The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-29

whole machinery of French oficialism, pre-
teots, sub-prefects, and nominee mayors, aud
half million of civil functionaries backed by
not much less than half million of soldiers,
the elections of this year sent up nearly
third oil Opposition members of all shades, the
greatest cities of the Empire taking plea
sure in electing ''irreconcilables, or at
least parading them as candidates. Mean
while, the right of public meeting has been
to some extent restored; the press is not only
free, but for the time unbridled, and as the
Times Partisan correspondent saws. none but
Opposition papers are read Is it possible to
believe that when so much has been gained
already by the people more will not be gained
now! What concession hitherto made by the
Emperor has done more than whet the appe-
tite of the receivers? His amnesty was
laughed at; how long will the new Senatus
Consultum last? Short shrift probably will
the elective House give it, if once it meets.
Old or young, the Bonapartes cannot face a
Parliamentary regime; they must crush it or
be crushed 10y it,
But what if the struggle were in the
streets Why, then the chances might be
quite other Whether it be true or not that
at the last Paris riots Mel had given instruc-
tions to fire, and Canrobert refused, saying
that with the Chassepots too much innocent
blood must be shed, certain it is that soldiers
armed with the new rifles, fronted only by
the usual materials of a French insurrection
or revolution-National-G Guard muslets of the
July monarchy, fowling-pieces, and pistols,
with here and there a revolver-must bear
down all before them. Once in the streets,
it is the people, not the ruler, who stand van
quished beforehand. And the question
arises-are they being drawn down there !?
Why are the press laws so utterly silent? Why,
instead of the old vigorous war of warnings
and prosecutions, is every provocation al
lowed to go unrepressed Few persons in
France now doubt that the Paris elec ton
riots were at least half got-up. Is the meet
ing of the House of Representatives delayed
in order that the Parisians may be whipped
up to fever heat by the press, whilst the most
trusted leaders of the opposition are dispersed
and silent, in order to keep the arena free for
some wild rising, headless, aimless, without a
rallying point, without a moderating inAu-
ence? That some such plots are being con-
trived by the dozen, no one doubts; reckless
fanatics will never be wanting to spin them
no, nor police agents to join in and denounce
them.
Yes. good street victory might establish
the dynasty for five. ten, fifteen years per-
haps. But at what price? The struggle
must be one in good earnest. The mere red
spectre has lost its hobgoblin terrors for the
nation. The very 60urgCOiSje of
Paris has learnt to distinguish between a
row and a revolution. For the first time since
forty-nine years the cWeUte8 of the election
days failed to ruiiie far less turn, the current
of public opinion. An amless volley down q
boulevard would rather irritate than. as in
| 1871, COW Paris. The men who must be
drawn into the streets must be real foes
worth getting rid of, such, for instance, as
| that 0UGrier before whom the Cassaguac head
| bravo Of the Empire, lately quailed, when,
,f
| tol alike, and not willing to be simply muir
| dered at arms length with the one or at
| ten PAGES with the other, the 0u0i3e1
| claimed of him in vain duel with two pis-
! tolls, one loaded, the other unlOaded, each
| holding his muzzle to the others temple.
! Grim, wild men these, dangerous TO be left
long at large. TO be successful, the tragedy
| must be complete.
But it is dangerous playing with edge-tools
new ones, too, many of them. What if
| they failed to do their work Faithful though
the army may be, there are, even in this re-
| spect, awkward symptoms. Here is M. de
| Keratry, who commanded an Imperial counter.
| guerilla in Mexico, now claiming for the pro
rogued Assembly - to which he has beer
| elected-the right to constitute itself uncon
voked this very month The new Republican
| dogma that of the abolition of standing
| armies is said to be spreading among the
soldiers themselves, always out of humol
| with their lot. The chance lies between
carnage and failure. The carnage would be
terrible; failure would be terrible. Ant
the chance has to be risled by an old man
enfeebled by chronic disease, not PERSONAL,
cruel-will he risk it Will he not rathe
try some of the old expedients, whicl
served him in such good stead in days gone
| by pa little bloodshed, rather more bullying
oracular speechifylng, vague promises, coup
de theatre, trottings-out of the Libera
cousin Sad it is, no doubt, tha
the tame eagle brought up in Carlton Gar
dens area and the Satory sausages -valuabl
stage properties though they we're in thei
time-will not bear using more than once.
But then the tragedy is given up, and tn
tragi-comedy commences. If the people hav
enough self-contrOl to avoid the streets, the
may sit till they have laughed it out.