New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-19

FhANCE.
THE PROJECT PROBLEM AND VI. oLLIvIER-TIlE
7 PRESS AND THE JURY-VICToR HUGOs PLAY
GEORGE SAND.
PARIS, Feb. Al think have said nothing IN my
accounts of the political situation abut the Prefects
but in truth, there has been SO much that is anus
ing, l may well be excused for leaving out few
particulars You will easily believe that after the
full exposure in the course of the debates on the
verfcation of powers. of the corruption IN the
electoral system. and of the part played by the Pre-
fects and subPrefects in that corruption the coun-
try would feel that if the system OF government
was to be anything more than sham there must De
some changes made in the Prefectoral body. Under
the old system of personal despotism. 1t was quite
reasonable for the Sultan in the Iuileres TO nave MS
Pashas in the Departments, and the more they acted
like real Pashas, and the more closely they initiated
their MASTER the more capable they showed them
selves of filling the places assigned TO them IL Is
said to be characteristic trait of Frenchmen that
they absolutely refuse, under any circumstances TO
assume responsibility but when it has once been as
sumed for them by another, they will obey orders
without caring for the consequences. What hesita-
ton the Imperial Projects may have had IN assuming
their responsibilities cannot, of course, say but
can say that they did not show any hesitation IN
carrying out their orders soon as they knew that
they could not be punished for anything they might
do as Projects. They were given clearly to under
stand that the famous Article 20 OF the year VIII pro-
tected them, as well all other officials in France,
against prosecution for official acts, and that
Article IS would never be repealed, so they went
ahead. As / have already fully shown you,
they bettered their instructions, and played such
fantastic knavish tricks before high heaven as suf-
feed to make those angels, Olivier and his minis
ters, weep. There was universal cry OF mingled
shame, disgust, fand rage went up from the press
The Imperialists were covered with modification at
the exposure of that system of fraud which, under
the name of Universal Suffrage, has been made to
excuse so many inexcusable deeds. The Democrats
both the extreme and the moderate-shouted IN de-
rision at the uncovering of the nakedness OF the
paternal Government. and the followers of that
mush of concession NJ Olivier. assured that gentle
man that the only way to convince people he meant
what he was saying any part of 1t, was to dismiss
every one of the offending Projects and put honest
men in their room. But this was q good deal easier
said than done. and though your Frenchman likes
logic there are times when it is best not to be rash
IN putting the first premises of your syllogsm into
practice, unless you are bent upon breaking Your
neck Not to speak of the apparent injustice OF com
ing down with bang upon the Projects VINO had
only shown too much zeal in obeying orders, and
letting off without even rebuke the author of the
orders himself it was reasoned that the acts of the
Projects could hardly be blamed with great severity
while the consequences of their acts the elections OF
deputies) were accepted and approved If the cleo
tons were frauds and the Projects knaves then dis
miss the Projects and send home the pretended depu
ties in other words dissolve the present Chamber and
have anew election, in which there shall be no Gov
eminent candidates, and no pressure brought to
bear OH voters. That would be logical but
I,,alI 70 irc atp he
Democratic party dares so much contemplate
For suppose what is hardly possible to believe that
there should be an absolutely free election in France
Tomorrow / say it is thing impossible to believe
in because there has been real change IN the Gov
emment-personal government being IN all but the
mere name as undisturbed as the day before the
Senatus- Consultum-and it is not to be supposed
that Lous Napoleon would dare. even if it were only
for his poor little boys sake TO risk the consequences
of an absolutely free election But suppose 1t. Sup
pose the whole apparatus of soupureen balot-boxes,
ballot-boxes with double bottoms ballot-boXes with
two keys ballOt-boxes kept all night in the mayors
bedroom. with the accompanying knavery OF stop
ping opposition workmen's pay, bnblngeectOrs with
banquets and promises of new churches and new
roads and bridges &c. &c. &c Suppose all this
done away with, and a universal suffrage as pure
exists in every part of America except in NewYork
does any one who has studied the France of to-day
with any conscience. believe would be returned' OF
course they would not all be alike, all ultraLih-
eral nor even all Liberal but does any one believe
that the present majority would exist any longer
And where would NJ. Emile Olivier be Where, in
deed, would NJ Emile Oivers master be- In fact,
all parties are doubtful of the result that there is
no longer any one who proposes the dissolution OF
the Chamber even in a whisper. Even the extreme
Radicals have ceased to clamor for it, perhaps be-
cause they are tired of calling for reforms that never
get beyond vague promises; perhaps because
they. in their turn, are doubtful whether
the result would be all they could wish.
Yet YOU remember that when the Chamber
was convened, its early dissolution was expected by
many persons of various shades of opinion, by many
moderate Conservatives and by many moderate Lib
erals. and was demanded imperiously by the whole
body of Democrats. The dissolution is ne less
demanded, now, by logic and by Justice. but, If
Olivier stave it of, he will. Why should he
wish it dissolved, OF late it has come round com
pletey to his will, and gives him majority on
every question where he expresses wish for one.
1t is amusing to hear English and French tories
speak of this as NJ Olliviers triumph! NJ Olliyiers
riumphs the riumphs of toryism, not of liberal
ism in any sense. The only people who really exut
in them are the men who dread change. and who
find everything for the best IN this most imperial OF
all possible governments. The majority in the
Chambers is composed of reactlonaries and stand
stills and 30 long as they, in common with goodly
portion of the outside world, were duped by NJ Oil
viers smooth promises of liberalism, they held aloof
from him. and coquetted with his enemies. But
when he lifted his mask for them and showed them
that he merely playing at REFORM they came round
to him as one man. and have stuck closer TO him than
o brother ever since / am sure youiwill acquit me