The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-15
THE FRENCH ENIPEROR's SPEECH.

THE FRENCH E1IPEROR'S SPEECH.
From the NJ y Times.
The message of Napoleon to the French
Legislature, which was telegraphed to us
Tuesday, shows the profound influence that
has been produced by the late elections
They have in fact, compelled the EN-
peror to announce his purpose of establish
ing reforms that are tautamoun to a change
in the principle on which he has hitherto ad-
ministered the Government.
The Senate has yet to consider the ques-
tions which he has proposed but this ''con-
sideration" will amount to little more than
an agreement with the will of that power
by which the Senators hold their places. If
he be really willing that they should pass
into law. the Senate will be ready enough to
assent. If, at any period of the time at
which they are under consideration he
desires their modification in any way, the
Senate will be equally ready to assent And
if, at any time, he is pleased to let the Sena-
tors know that he desires the rejection of
his own propositions, they will be happy to
register his will in that direction.
The vital point in the scheme which he has
formulated, is the proposition to give the
Legislature the control of the budget This
is the fundamental symbol of power in all free
legislative assemblies. It has always been
practically withheld from the Napoleonic
Legislature, and the Emperor has always been
careful to retain it in his own hands. While
he held it, he could control the entire action
of the Government. Of his own motion he
could proclaim war or peace He could in
crease the army, augment the public expendi-
dures for his own ends, and, in short by con-
trolling the Treasury of the nation, could
establish its policy upon all points of admin
istration. No matter how servile the Legis-
lature may at this time seem to be, when its
members find they can control the budget,
and through it the Government, there will
arise among them new feeling of response
bility and independence. The people, too,
will be able to hold them to more Strict ac-
count, and the popular will must become more
imperatively dominant.
The power is one which the Emperor would
never resign if he did not see the impossi-
bility of permanently upholding the present
system.
As for the other changes he proposes, they
are all in the direction of liberal reform. The
proposition to permit the Legislation to elect
| its own officers, who have heretofore been
appointed by the Emperor, will give the body
much greater freedom and independence.
The simplifcation of the methods of dealing
with "projects of law" will facilitate the pas
sage of public reforms. The submission to
the Legislature of commercial treaties is an
| important extension of the powers of the body;
| and though its existence heretofore would,
beyond doubt have prevented the adoption
| of some most advantageous treaties, such as
| the commercial treaty with England, yet, as
| republicans, we must have more faith in
the general wisdom of the Legislature than
| of any Emperor. The extension of the
right of Interpolation" doubtless provides foi
the removal of the cumbersome machinery
which is now required to be set in operation
before deputy can bring any question to the
attention of the Legislature. We know of nc
method in any Legislature so discouraging
and complicated as that in the French Legis-
lature. 1t gives the Government full power
| to dictate what matters shall be discussed by
the Deputies, and thus in any emergency
| gives the Emperor control of the action of the
| Legislative body Next to the control of the
Budget, the freedom Of interpolation is the
most important step towards legislative indie
| pendence.
The astuteness, if not the duplicity, of Ma
poleon, in working his way out of political
difficulties such as have lately arisen in
France, prevents our indulging in very lively
hopes of the passage of any measures Of re-
form that will seriously limit his personal
power, or interfere with the absolute supre-
macy he has heretofore retained in the Gov
ernment of France. Again and again has he
promised reforms and liberties in the past
few years, and once and again has he deceived
the people. But the indications from the
recent course of affairs are more dntermi-
nate than anything we have heretofore had,
and it looks lately as though the 'logic OF
events" had become more powerful even than
the Emperor.