New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-14
THE pEpUBLIC UNDER EMPIRE.

THE REPUBLIC UNDEh EMFIhE'
Agitation in France is not over; but it is
fair to say that Napoleon is confronting the
force of public opinion with the powerful
plausbilitv which is native to his dynasty.
That plausibility is the science of Kings, and
sometimes the detestatiOn of the peoples, but,
such as it is, it is the imperial lifelong habit.
From the day when the Emperor convinced
himself that it was inexpedient not to for
swear himself and that he could best repre-
sent the average propeusities and intelligence
of France by maintining in his proper person
the fatalistic and divine right of usurpatlon,
he has practced the black art Of Empire
To know how to put peoples asleep, to
keep them down as by spell, to ruin
while he amuses them, to make the
poor pay for their poverty, while they
shout "Vive Napoleon to chain up courage
and make intellect convenient slaVe-thls
is science worthy of Nostradamus and Cagll-
ostro besides 1t is to employ the general sell
fslmess of q great people to keep it in subjec-
ton. and to make use of some moral cOwardce
in the popular nature to fight imperial battles.
Not for the first time in the history OF the
world are nations ruled by Juggling.
The versatility of French experience Is
marvel. 1t has run the gamut of monarchy in
all forms; has passed every spasm OF anarchy
except that of popular death; has de-gradu-
ated-so to speak-out of the republic in every
stage, and has returned to empire to undergo
the process of being kept scientifically under
thumb. France has been returned to her cradle
with bayOncts to watch her; and in time she
has been suffered to walk her own way within
narrow bounds and under guard. Her great
men share her prodigiOus versatility. What has
not Mr.. Louis Napoleon been since the day when
he wrote socialism-what changes in his own indi-
vidual constitution contemporary with those of
France has not NJ. Theirs observedi How
long has it been since that astute servant OF
several masters, Prince Napoleon, protested
the conviction that the mission of Napoleon J..
was to prepare his country for emancipation,
and that the republic only will harmonic
"with France" NJ. Olivier, once half-radical,
awaits the republic while he serves the mon
archy. NJ. ROuher once favored strong repub-
lie, with the motto Of liberty, equality, and
fraternity, and Senator Guerroniere held out
for republic not established on the vainglory
of cOnquests. while tho Prince of MoskOwa,
also an Imperialist, ayowed his belief i'll the
healing virtues of pure liberty. 1t is curious how
the ideals of political health which these gen.
men have entertained have sunk back into tho
hypochondria Of what the Emperor calls strong
government-goy ernments plus the doctor and
minus the cure. The straightforward men in
France have not developed into numbers. The
public life of the Empire is sophisticated by
the general, but happily not inconyertible fraud
l., I'll Ia. Oil n1t
adapt themselves TO q potential crookcdness.
There is hope, however, in the inconsistency
of France. The ex-republcanism which abides
the Empire predicts a return of liberty The
lcgions who have changed their coats can
change them again, with a greater satisfaction
after having survived the enforced spell and
probation of tho Empire. The mass of these
men cannot in their hearts be deceived
rs to the measure of the Emplres
sincerity. To us it seems that the in
trinity of the Emperor is not in his compre-
henson, but in his born want of vital and
courageous sincerity. In fact, it is not given to
Empires to represent the sincerity of popular
will, since they exist by obscurity and ignor-
ance, and only perish when people are wise
enough and brave enough to assert their sim
cerity. We have no permanent faith IN Tho
icperial plan Of reforms just revealed. In
concGIiDg them, Napoleon has surrendered his
least valuable and defensible outworks with
the intention of corruptng his besegers. The
real ground of reform has not been carried.
1t is back of the laws and the legislatures that
France suners-suflers prefectship, gerryman-
dering and Misrepresentation. The measure of
Napoleon's concession is the measure of French
representation, and the measure of French sat
isfaction is about the same. The reforms
granted by the Empire are but an induction
to the study Of its general fraud.