The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-22
THE FRENCH ELECTIONS.

THE French elections will take place tomorrow,
and as the day approaches the excitement on the
subject increases. In a number of places revo-
lutionary demonstrations of so decided char
acter have been made that the authorities have
been furnished with an excellent excuse for in
terfering: and in Paris Marseilles, Nismes and
other cities large numbers have been arrested
for singing the ''Marseillaisc" and for other
actions which are considered unlawful and dis
orderly under the present regime. The
test that is now being waged sufficiently demon
strates the unpOpularity of the Emperor
the inconsistency of the present system of
government with the principle of universal suf-
frage and the divided character of the oppos-
tion which enables the Imperialists to retain the
whole power in their own hands. A strong
effort is now being made to organize a conservn-
tive third party, which will represent the think
ing moderate men of the nation, and be opposed
alike to the eXtravagances of the Imperialists
and the radical Republicans. 1t is from such an
opposition as this that the Government of NapO-
leon III will have the most to fear, as very
large proportion OF the French people will much
prefer to live even under such despOtism as
the Second Empire rather than to be exposed to
such total Overturning of all law and order as
has always resulted from the supremacy of the
Red Republicans. Republicanism in France means
anarchy, and the demonstrations which have
already taken place strengthen the hands of the
Government, and bring to its support a large
number of citizens who have no sympathy with
Imperialism, and who have as cordial dis
like for the NapOeonic rule as any of the most
ardent Republicans. For these reasons the Gov
eminent is working most earnestly to defeat the
Consttutionalists' opposition candidates, and it
will probably succeed in accomplishing its object
of having majority of Imperialsts in the next
! Corps Legislatf. The rampant Republicans it
| can put down with strong arm, and OBJ
tain credit for so doing, but if the
| COnstitutonalists and the Republicans
should outnumber the Imperialists in the Legis-
lature, the former would exert restraining
effect on the latter and their united efforts
would, in many instances, force the Government
TO make disastrous concessions. The trouble is
10 organize powerful third party of this kind
for there are SO many contending parties in
France, each with policy of its own, that it is
difficult TO induce even the thinking men of the
nation TO surrender their pet schemes
| and unite upon a definite line of
policy. In this division of the opposition has
! hitherto been the strength of Imperialism, and
! the present indications are that this strength
will not be seriously impaired by the elections to
come off tomorrow. If the Conservative Con-
sttutionalists, however, by any means gain the
ascendaney, the Emperor will receive the most
decided check he has yet experienced; but if he
has the wisdom to take advantage of the situa-
tion, and make such concessions as are required
by the moderate, law-abiding, order-lovng peo-
pie of the nation, the circumstance may in the
end turn out TO be the most fortunate that could
have occurred.