The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-03
CHAR ES TON.
TUESDAY MORNING. AUGUST 8. 1861
The Crisis In France.

The cry Of 'san imminent crisis in Eu
| rope has 30 often reached US since the day
of sadows, that the CRY Of "wolf!" from that
quarter begins to be regarded with much
Of the old proverbial incredulity. There
are, Of course, on so broad field Of heter-
ogeneous and often conf. .cting interests as
is represented BY the map Of Europe, al
ways many disputes, now between monarch
and people, now between Church and State,
and again between rival oontending nation
slities. The philosopher and the states
| man find much in these affairs to interest
and instruct; but whenever they venture 10
give their speculations the form Of prophecy
they are apt to find themselves quite as much
ct fault as the rest Of us. The imperial
Sphinx Of France seems destined ever to
battle the conjeotures and oonieund the au-
guries Of the shreWdest. Contrary to the
snticipations Of the world, he kept sloof
from the Austro, Prussian war Of 1866. So
again the year after, though yielding 10
his eager msrshsls so far Is to make great
show Of warlike preparation in the Lux
embourg affair, the difficulty was amicably
adjusted, and Napoleon onoe MOI gained
9 bloodless victory.
Still, during all this time, and before tn at
time, and since, notwithstanding all these
smiles Of fortune, Napoleon has not felt ss-
cure ON his throne. The opposition to his
rule in France was neither small nor con-
temptible. However wide their divergence
in all else, the several elements Of this op'
position-Legitimist, Orleanist, Liberal and
Red Republisan-an might at any time
unite against the Emperor's Government,
and taking advantage Of some temporary
tumult-and such need never be wanting
with The merourial Partisan populacs-
precipitate revolution. True, the gov
ernment professedly holds its title from the
ple5weite, the same authority whose depu-
ties compose the Corps Legislatif: And
although the latter comes much nearer
being true reflex Of popular sentiment,
the ballot boxes have always been too
closely watched by imperial bsyonets, with
. view 70 securing good government ma
jority in the law-giving body. In spite,
however, Of all the genius and tact Of Ma
poleon, in spite Of brilliant aud success
full reign and large, obedient and well
drilled army, the talent and patriotism Of
the opposition have made themselves more
and more felt with each succeeding year.
From time to time there has been pre-
tenoe Of yielding to their demands for an
increase Of liberty, as when in November,
1850, he granted The right Of address, or
in January, 1867, the Emperor announced
that he was about to set tho crown upon ihe
edi6os of liberty which he had reared.
Liberty Of the press, privilege Of public
meeting, right Of Interpolation, &c., these
were few Of the glittering generslities that
we're yielded mere sop 10 the democratic
French Cerberus-not the light Of liberty,
but mere ignis .fdtuus 1t was known at
| tuo tiue, tu6t Ino ucoroo VI Souooiy ~,
1867, just referred to, had been made in
opposition to the entire ministry. This, so
far, looked we'll for the Emperor's, good in
tentions; but when Rouher and his reac.
tionsry colleagues were retained in the Cab
net and nothing ever came Of the new priv
ileges that had been ushered in with
80 great flourish Of trumpets, the disoon-
tent increased and was famed into fame
by heavy taxation, onerous eonscription
and manipulated ballot boxes, until on the
occasion Of the recent popular elections
there were signs of disafeotion 80 wide
spread as to cause serious alarm. That the
outbreaks were net mere sensational news
paper rumors, as some would have us be
lieve, is best proved from the effect these
events have had on his Imperial Majesty
himself Although he had heretofore uni
formly opposed Parliamentary Government
lin. the English sense) and ministerial re
sponsibllity, he has now yielded the latter
/ at least of these two; the ministers have
sent in their resignation, and new Cabl
: net, more liberal and more in conformity
with the will Of the people, is to be con-
structed. 1t is unfortunate that this act OF
political liberality was accompanied by the
propagation Of the Corps Legislatif, look
ing much as if the Emperor were afraid to
trust that body without we'll trained minis
terial leaders, suoh as perhaps may turn
up in the next session. The Liberals are
furious at this duplicity, as they term it
The Emperor's message proposing the ne"
privileges was at first hailed as an unnixed
} boon; but now, since it has been more
closely studied, many contend that with iis
many apb'gui'iesi it may turn ont to be OF
no more real @Srth than the oft quoted
"enlsrgement Of popular liberties of Jan
, ''uary, 1867"
, The Emperor, of course, is 10th that the