The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-03
G Fl A r L E S T @ N.
TUESDAY MORNING, AUG tEsT 3. Lac
The crisis i'm Franco.

The cry OF" can imminent crisis" in Eu
rope has 80 often reached us since the day
OF Sadowa, that the cry of "wolt !" from tha,
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 conflicting 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 contending nation
alities. The philosopher and the stat es
man find much in these affairs to interest
and instruct; but whenever they venture to
give their speculations the form Of prophecy
they are apt to find themselves quite as much
at fault as the rest Of US. The imperial
Sphinx Of France seems destined ever to
affie the conjectures and confound the au-
guries Of the shrewdest. Contrary to the
anticipations Of the world, he kept aloof
from the Austro Prussian war Of 1866 So
again the year after, though yielding 10
his eager marshals so far as to make a great
show Of warlike preparation in the Lux
embourg affair, the difficulty was amicably
adjusted, and Napoleon once more gained
bloodless victory.
Still, during all this time, and before tn at
time, and since, Notwithstanding all these
smiles OF fortune, Napoleon has not felt Sc
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, Republican-all 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 mercurial Partisan populace-
precipltate revolution. True, the gov
ernment professedly holds its title from the
pIe6'scite, 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 bayonets, with
view to 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 and success
full reign and a 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 O pre-.
tence of yielding to their demands for an
increase Of liberty, as when in November,
1860, he granted the right Of address, or
in January, 1867, the Emperor announced
that he was about to set the crown upon The
edifice Of liberty which he had reared
Liberty of the press, privilege Of public
meeting, right Of Interpolation, &c., tAes
were q few Of the glittering generali.ies that
were yielded-a mere sep to the democratic
French Cerberus-not the light Of liberty,
but mere tgnis tatuus 1t was known at
the time, that the decree Of January 10,
1867, just referred to, had been made in
opposition to the entire ministry. This, 50
far, looked we'll for the Emperor's, good in
tentions; but when Rouher and his reac
tonary colleagues were retained in the Cab,
net ana nothing ever came Of the new priv
ileges that had been nshered in with
80 great o flourish OF trumpets. ahe d;aoor-
tent increasedaaaaa, was famed into fams
by heavy taxation. onerous oonscription
and manipulated ballot boxes, until on tho
occasion Of the recent popular elections
there were signs Of disaffection so wide
spread as to cause serious alarm. That the
outbreaks were net mere sensational news
paper rumors, as some would have us be
iieve, 10 best proved from the effect these
events have had on his Imperial Maisst,
himself. Although he had heretofore uni
formly opposed Parliamentary Governmen,
I'm she English sense) and ministerial re
sponsiblfity, no has now yielded the latter
ae least OK these two; the ministers have
sent in their resignation, and @ new Cabi
net, more liberal and more in conformity
with the will Of the people, is TO be con-
struoted. It is unfortunate that this act Of
political libersl'ty was accompanied by the
prorogation Of the Corps Legislasif. 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 E"peror's message proposing the new
privileges was at first hailed as an unmixed
boon; but now, since 1t he's been more
closely studied, many contend that with ite
many antiquities IL may turn out to ae Of
no more real worth than The of quoted
enlargement Of popular liberties OF Jan
''uary, 1857"
The Emperor, Of course. Ia 10th that fha