The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-14
ssCa Ira!'


are poor foundation upon which to rear
the fabric of constitutional liberty. Power
is too sweet to be willingly relinquished, and
where tile monarch retains the supervisory
control, whatever the nominal form Of the
government, the rights OF the people still
depend on his whim or caprice alone.
The Emperor Napoleon, it was said, adj
mitted the necessity Of giving his people
parliamentary government, and for this pur-
pose consented to the formation Of the Olli-
rier ministry. That ministry framed an en-
cellent programme. There was some hope
OF peaceful reform. But untoward events in
a few days have tangled the whole skein.
Napoleon may once more cut the knot with
his sword.
Chief amongst the reforms proposed by
the French Liberal Government was an ex-
tension OF the freedom Of the press. Only
three days ago the cable brought the tidings
that the law in relation to public prints had
been still further modified. The censorship
of all foreign journals was ..5olished, and
the right to sell all French papers in
the streets was restored This promised
well. In the Corps LegiSlatif also,
more than the usual freedom OF discus
sion was allowed. NJ. Rochefort attack
cd the Emperor with bitter sarcasm, and
was not permitted the doubtful honors of
Tho 1EorcoiUo;co tho
sor of La Lanterne circulated as freely as
though press laws were unknown. Then
came the muttering Of the storm. A men,
ber of the Imperial family, Prince Pierre Bo-
naparte, killed one of the editors of the
Mn,SeR,aise who had visited him to arrange
hostile meeting. A decree was issued at
once convoking High Court of Justice, by
which alone Prince of the Imperial family
can be tried. The opportunity was lost.
Napoleon could have made the people un-
derstand that one who, by the poor accident
of q cousins fame, calls himself an Imperial
Prince, is no more above the law than the
'Red" of Paris or the peasant of the prov
inces Now the question comes, is this
Pierre Napoleon placed so high that no law
can reach him? is be to MAIN and slay and
no man gainsay his will? The verdict of
the High Court will not satisfy the people,
whatever it may be. They desired, with JUS
tice, that the pugnacious noble should be
tried, not as Prince, but as man and
citizen. Nothing less will content them.
In the Corps Legislatif on Wednesday,
motion was made that the Imperial family
should be amenable to the law, according to
the usual form. NJ. Rochefort said that Noir
was one of the people, andthe people should
Judge his murderer, who, though cousin of
the Emperor, must not escape These words
are significant enough; but mark the reply
of the head of the Liberal Ministry. N.
Olivier promised the members justice, say
ing in the course of his speech, "We are
"justice, law, moderation. II you force US
''ue 4ciU be poarer." This plain and une
quivocal threat is Of piece with the Empe-
ror's declaration that he was willing to aug
ment the prerogatives Of the Chambers
without diminishing the authority given
''him by the nation" The Emperor will so
as far as he p!cases, and no farther; but the
opposition is stronger now than it ever was
before. Napoleon may soon have to choose
between government OF armed force and
a government Of the people, knowing at the
same tmo that neither is sure to strip the
republican rose Of its thorns, or to secure for
s'my son" the coveted throne of France.