The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-12-04

ouo SuouBut UeStuuiHB buouiu Oe iuAue
by allowing n portion of customs dues
to he paid in curr ency.
! The Speech OF Louis Napoleon-Com-
ments OF she Press.
The speech OF Louis Napoleon, de-.
liyered before the French Legislature at
the opening of its session on Monday, is
we'll calculated to attract general atten-
ton. as it promises number of impor-
tant reforms. The following are the
opinions expressed of it by two of our
New York contemporaries:
The French Legislature hos opened,
and the imperial oracle has uttered words
of cheer and warning. Not easy is it to
establish liberty, remarks the hero of the
coup d'etat and the ex-president of the
republic. Society, lately threatened by
its revolutionary ill-temper, has rallied,
however, upon its common sense, and
condemned its exaggerated angry pa,-
sions. All this has but operated to show
the solidity of what his Majesty is wont
to call the edifice established by suffrage.
Nevertheless, it is imperially imperative
known. Order, says the Emperor with
dignity. I will answer for; help me,
Messieurs, to secure liberty. Between
those who would change all and those
who would grant nothing O glorious
course may be pursued. Help him,
Messieurs, by all means, to secure
liberty. Let us hope. too. that his glori-
GUS conservatism will lean to that virtues
aide of those who hope to change all,
rather than to those who would keep the
empire in condition of imposing ruin
and suspended failure.
What else the Emperor says, is in COM
pliment to liberty, science and progress.
A man Of brains, though he wear II
crown, could not fail to respect the for
midable advance of human affairs COM
pretended in the facts that America has
abolished slavery; that Russia has freed
her serfs, and that England, in her own
way and time, is rendering tardy, though
we fear circumlocutory justice to Ireland
The Emperor adds, what mankind at
large may feel comfort in hoping or be-
lieving. that the bishops are meeting Mt
Rome for wise and conciliatory purposes.
He recognizes, moreover. the great vnlue
to tue world of the Pacific Railroad, tho
Mont Gents Tunnel and the Suez Canal.
From this passage of his speech, we
have but one point to single ont for COM
| tucut. LII uSClhEluB tuhG Illh N6W w OrlQ
has abolished slavery, the Emperor ap-
parently has forgotten that Spain has
not. But we take to ourselves all the
compliment which his Majesty means to
pay to the republican progress which has
survived the Intervention in Mexico, and
which has sent ont our peaceful Mr..
Seward to visit the places sncred to the
,nisfortnnes of Maximilian. Spain may
take warning by his Majesty's fattery,
and render homage to emancipation and
the steam engine. by letting Cuba go.
The rest of the Emporor's speech is
of signal value and meaning. It is in
fnct u grant OF many of the demands
make by Franco, and q realization i'll
good part OF the programme of Prince
Napoleon's 8 speech. Municipal elections,
communal councils, new prerogatives to
the Councils General. and wider suffrage,
are to be allowed. Primary education
will be developed, justice will be made
cheaper, the war tax will not be so bur
densome, tho savings bank system will
be extended, and other smaller mea-
sures are promised. But the opposition
has properly complained that the EN-
peror has not approached the root of oil
evil in political France. He has not
promised, 30 fur as we can see, the re.
form of the eciroumscriptions; he has not
made his satraps amennble to the civil
courts; he has not made his procedures
less odious. We might speak of further
evils; but France will, we doubt not, be
disposed to accept half loaf as better
than no bread, pending further change
in the health of the Emperor and the
temper of the empire. IN Y. Tribune.
The address delivered by tho En- peror
will be read with deep interest. It Ger.
tuinly conveys the impression that he il
acting in good faith; that he sincerely
desires to crown the edifice mt last; and
that, with the cordial CO. operation of the
Legislature, be will gladly give to France
all the freedom that can be enjoyed
under monarchy resting on the basis OF
universal suffrage. His declaration that
"between those who would grant nothing
and those who would change all, a glo.
rious course might be chosen" was di-
rect appeal to the third party, who,
holding tho middle position between the
devoted imperulists and the irreconci.
ables, have in their hands the decision