New-York tribune., 1869-05-22
FRANCE.
TIE ELECTIONS.
rrrou orR own CORRESPONDENT


PARIS, May 7-COmpared with one Of our cccto-
raj campaigns, the one in which France is now en-
gagged Is remarkable, to a newcome American OBJ
server for the restrictions to which its tactical chiefs
and grand army of voters are subject TO one whose
observation covers the preceding electoral periods
under the imperial regime the comparative freedom
OF action permitted to them is more remarkable.
Such progress has been made toward a truly free
practice of universal suffrage that the starting point
seems now more distant than thedesired goal OF the
thirty political daily journals Of Paris there is hardly
one-hardly one Of those even in the Government
interest-that does not publish, III edto-
rails or extracts. matter with impunity which
six years ago, if by any curious possibility
il could have got INTO PRINT, would have brought
down swift penalty of fine, imprisonment, cOntsca-
ton and perhaps deportation, writer editor print
er. and proprietor Dynastic Liberal and even Minis
terial newspapers are preaching doctrines now which
their writers then were loud in dcnOuucing mady
revolutionary In fact and for the needs Of the
nai0p ministers themselves, with the Emperor at
their head have gone over to the third party In
sooth not only does Government openly patrorize
semi-indepcndcnt candidates, In some places, but
what is most significant and amusing scmi-ndcpen-
dent candidates. in places affect to deprecatc
such patronage. Minister Magne Of the Treasury
! has indeed issued a circular to lis numerous
army of subordinates throughout the country afec-
tionately ADVISING them to put themselves-for cleo
tioneering PURPOSES a the disposition Of the pre-
feet" in their respective departments. But this is
secret circular knowledge Of whose contents we owe
TO the ndiscretion only Of dscontented official
! recipient. Per contra, we promised a beautiful
public circular TO his subOrdinates from the Minister
of the Interior '-hich will breathe into them the
finest sentiments Of liberal mpartiality, and which,
for the rest will have its grain Of sincerity For M
! FORBADE de Ia ROquette is far more sensible man
! than his predecessor Pnard, and-let alone his ex-
cusable ambition to become the Ministerial leader
of the next Chamber, vice Rouher, proprietary
spokesman of the obedient majority of the just
pired Corps Legislative. is aware that times have
! changed.
We have public meetings of three kinds, besides a
| form of so-called private meetings none OF which
were possible ten years ago. and all of which are now
put to daily and nightly use for elect0neerng pur-
poses 1t was not possible in 1863 for an independent
candidate to obtain permission to assemble twenty
one electors in his own house; it was not possible
for him, or any known politician, to obtain per-
mission 10 address public audience anywhere, on
any subjects II was barely possible for central
electoral committee of thirteen to function awhile
most cautiously here in Paris but all its members
came presently to grief trial. and, Of course condem
nation.
Socalled private meetings are held now under
| these among other restrictions Take the instance
of NJ. Theirs He has hired for the campaign the
large apartment lately occupied by NJ Berger
making it legally bis domicle, virtually the Head
quarters" for his party in the district. Hither he
invites, by personal notes to their address, as many
persons as he chooses and the rooms can hold say
200 or 800 night, and makes his stump speeches al
them In the course Of fortnight, in this way, he
can speak to an aggregate audience Of most respect
able multitude This is one Of the methods Of stump
ing a district Some of these private meetings IN tho
provinces held in large barns or workshops, number
as high as 1900 auditors-each one Of whom, as
said, must by the terms of the law. have received
personal invitation signed by the gentleman wh'
has temporarily elected bis donlicile i'll said barn o
other building.
In earlier letters have had occasion to speak ai