The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-16
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1869.
PEACE IN PARIS.


A o,n,r despatch from Paris states that the
CITY is now perfectly quiet, and that all signs
of uneasiness or excitement have at last dis
appeared The London Times regards this
result as the only one that could reasonably
have been anticipated, when the people APP
peared to be Indifferent and the military force
was immense. The disturbances which oc-
CURED few days ago in the Montmartre dis
trct were certainly portentous, especially
when the old revolutionary device of a barri-
cade was resorted to by the leaders of the dis
oontented But they lacked organization, and,
above all, opportunity; while the immense
force at the command of the Impe-
rial Government served to quell all
attempts at a rising as fast as they
were made. The people of Paris are ready to
combat the empire with the ballot, as was
shown by the votes polled at the recent cleo
tions for members of the Corps Legislatif.
The bullet is a more formidable weapon, but
like the sword, it is apt to rebound, and fire.
quently infcts a greater injury upon those
who resort to it than is sustained by those at
whom it is aimed France has many griev-
ances under the empire, but life is not made
insupportable, although personal liberty is
practically unknown. BY all the ingenious
devices in the use of which he has become so
skilled, Louis Napoleon contrives to amuse
the people of his capital. So long as he can
continue to do this, and at the same time Sc
cure a nominal majority at the polls, his posi-
ton is comparatively secure.
But this last requisite to security is fast dis
appearing. At the election for members of
the Corps Legislatif held in 1868, the Govern
ment candidates polled $500, 600 to 100000
for the opposition. At the recent election
the vote stood about 4, 1000, 600 for the Govern
ment to nearly 3,500000 for the opposition
giving the empire a ma ority o. only 800, 0OO
When we take into the account the vast
patronage of the Government through the
agency of the military and civil services, the
actual majority of the unbiased and impartial
voters of the country was clearly against the
imperial regime, and long before the next
sextennial election the nominal Government
majority will be swallowed up Then France
will doubtless again be in revolutionary
ferment. BY resort to an adroit system of
serrymandering, the legislative districts have
oeen SO carved out as to practically dis
franchise the opposition voters in all sections
of the country except the large centres of
population, like Paris, Lyons, and Marseilles
Although the Government majority was less
than seven per cent. of the aggregate vote,
the Imperial candidates returned number two
hundred and thirteen, while the total of oppo-
sition candidates who have been successful is
but seventy-seven, of whom thirty-fve are
classed as Radicals and forty-two as Indepen-
dents If the boundaries of the districts are
to remain as at present, the chances are that
at the next election the Government will be
able to secure clear majority in the popular
branch of the Legislature, even though it |
should stand in minority before the people. |
This result would be only less disastrous to
the security of the Bonaparte dynasty than |
round opposition majority in the Corps Legis-
latif
But six years must elapse before the next |
general appeal to the people, and six years
constitute a long period in the history of
France In the past, Paris has frequently |
decided the fate of the country The Gov
ernment, in the first election, held on thu
3Oth of May, polled only 1898 votes, while
the opposition rolled up not less than 23o, jl5.
With the prevailing sentiment of the capital |
in this state, the death of the present En-
peror would precipitate a crisis, and render
the chances for peaceful succession of his
only son extremely doubtful.
TIE KNIGHTS T,EHPLAR