The New York herald., 1869-06-18
FRANCE.
More About the Observation-Disclosures of
Thers-Jules Favre and His Defeat-The
City vote-past and Present Election Fig
ures-lIinister Wasbburne at the TuiIeries.

Thiers-Jules Favre and His Defeat-Tht
| City VOte-past and Present Election Fig.
ures-lIinister Washburne at the TuiIeries.
PARIS, May 81, 1862
devoted the whole OF my last letter TO the great
election just closed. 1t would be unfair to your
general readers to repeat the dose to the ex-
tent, yet as faithful chronicer cannot omit to say
few words on the absorbing topic OF the day.
never saw Paris, high and low, so completely ne.
wdered as it is since the results Of the recent
struggle are made clearly known. The overthrow OF
0rleansts, legitimists and republicans in lump the
demolition Of Theirs, the downfall OF Jules Favre.
the reputation OF Emile olivier at Paris. These are
all stunning events, but nothing compared to the
fact that revolutionsts and socialists elected In
their place. How bitter must be the reflection Of
Thiers, the most brilliant statesman OF France to
find himself at seventy.two years of age thrust
aside for an unknown, brehess lawyer at the
Paris bar yclept Gambetta. Just to think that
in all France Theirs only got some thlryseven votes.
What punishment for the brilliant but mischevous
man. twas Thiers by his intrigues and history of
the revolution who upset Charles X. 1t was
Theirs, by his opposition and history OF Napoleon
l., who overthrew poor Louis Philippe. 1t is Theirs,
by his incessant and able attacks on the Emperor,
who has done more than all else to impair his pres
tge at Paris. But, verify he has sown the win
and reaped the whirlwind All France turns its back
on him. What morall II he gets into the new AS
semby he must crawl in by favor OF the revolution
lists, who despise him but want to use him. He may
assail the Emperor with Is usual vigor and eo-
quence, but 1t is only his prejudice and animosi-
ty he uters for no longer he boast Of speaking
the opinion OF France or Paris. 1t Will be curious
to see what course he Will take now. All the harm
wish him Is that he may finish his career before
the reyolutonlsrs get into power, for he would be
one OF the first TO go to the guillVtine.
As for Jules Favre his indignation and disgust
must equal that of Thiers He Is the ablest man at
the head OF the republican party OF France and,
doubt was waiting impatiently for the day when
Napoleon III would step out OF his way and let him
he christened the Second President Of the third
public Of France. To his horror he finds himself
dropped at Paris and ignored everywhere else. A
socialist, like Bance is put over his head. What
course Will he take now, for his illusion must be ter
ribly shakenS
AS for the Emperor he has far better reason to be
satisfied than the most brilliant OF his opponents.
He has carried the country by vote which doubles
that OF the opposition. The lower classes OF Paris
have veted against HIM, but they have also voted
against the Oreanists, egltimists and republicans.
II is curious TO note the figures OF the different
elections for the Assembly In Paris since that date
Four years after the revolution OF 1s4s and while its
horrors were still remembered Paris gave $4,000
votes for the government candidates and $4,000
against. At the second election, in 1857 Paris voted
III, 600 for the government and 101000 against In
1863 fifteen years after the revolution Paris
$1,000 for the government and lag. 600 against In
1862 when all about the saughter5 OF 1S4s Is forgot
ten, the Parislans vote $4,000 for government and
229, 600 against Happily, Paris is no longer France
Happily, a man governs her who allows Paris to
vote az II pleases but suffers not minute OF dsor.
Ger. "VOte you please, throw somersaults ride
veocipedes, amuse yourselves, my chdren,u
says the Emperor blandy: "but more BARR cades,
no more throat-cuttlng while am in the Tuilerles
1hey perfectly understand each other, Is proved
by Paris voting against Napoleon en- nosse; but not
shout. not blow, not an arrest. have been
RED away too Tar again by this extraordinary cleo
lon and have LETT myself very little space to talk OF
anything else.
Our new Minister, Mr.. washburne, made his debut
at court on Sunday, the 23d inst. The Emperor
treated him with marked attention. Two OF the
imperial carriages with outriders In front and rear
brought hin TO court and carried him home. The
Minister made fecitous address, and the Emperor
responded with his usual TACT After the formalites
were over Napoleon entered into animated con-
versaton with the Minister, and talked great deal
OF the United States. He made numerous inquiries
about the Pacific Railroad, and said he regarded the
achevement as one OF the remarkable events of the
century Alter leaving the Emperor Mr.. washburne,
according TO usage. was presented to the Empress.
Her grace and aifablty greatly captivated the
member from Illinois; and no wonder for the En-.
press is quite amiable without making an effort
General DIX leaves the 5tn of June for home but
more of MIN IN my next.
The English Press on the French Elections.
The London Economist Of the 5th comments as fol.
lows upon the French elections anG their result
Looking at the French elections as we should look
at the English elections by the light OF the majority
| they return 70 either party, we may be right In
thinking that the difference between the present
House ana the last ls not very material. so long
the Emperor has an absolute majority II may seem
70 matter little whether the opposition numbers
towns have declared against the empire the bulk OF
the population may be taken TO be well satisfied with
It's continuance. As we look down the list OF mem.
bers elected, we no sooner leave Paris behind us
than we come upon one official name after another.
The effect this produces upon the eve Is certainly
decsive but II we proceed to analyze u by the light
OF certain acts which do not appear on the surface
the whole question bears different aspect Itisno
enough to say roughly tnat the opposition numbers
only 80 many votes In the whole Chamber, and
that the rest adhere TO the government. We may
say this In England though we are sometimes told
mt n ouf fge eyf
| that OF the English counties. But the reason why
,he same measure cannot he applied 10 France II
that tue French vote IL not representative. IL Il
SHOWN by the Partisan correspondent OF the Times
| lwho must not be confounded with It's Paris CORES.
pondent that while In the Chamber there may be $50
supporters OF the government 10 100 members OF the
opposition, the number OF votes given for the Official
given TO the opposition. Thus in the Chamber The
government Is In majority Of five TO two-in the
country u has only majority OF five TO four. Our
readers Will ask with surprise how there can be
such difference. The secret lies In the skill with
which the French government manlpuates the
constituencies. glance at the returns SHOWS US
that the elections OF France are not regulated by
what we may call the natural, or at least the hered.
itary, divisions OF counties and boroughs but by
scriptions. Paris. for instance does not return 30
many members as city but II comprises 20 many
Each OF the Departments Of France is divided, &C.
cording TO Its population, into certain number Of
circumscriptions, and each crcumscription returns
one member Now IT rests entirely with the govern
ment TO decide what shall be the limits OF eac cir
transcription. Shortly before each general election
an imperial decree Is issued altering and defining
these limits on a principle which seems arbitrary
! but which no doubt rests on the experience OF
every maire and pretet. Thus there was O gen.
eral election in November, 1857, and In the May
| preceding II the circumscnptions were fixed
| bv decree. There was another general
election In October, 1853, and II was preluded by
change OF circumscriptions In December, 1862. We
! need hardly enlarge on the advantage which this
rover OF packing the electoral bodies gives TO tho
government But the way In which that power IL
exercised cannot fail to affect the results Of the
| voting. We ind, for example that In 1892 the
| inNna a Ia and Or