Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-05-18
Yes or No 4?

Napoleon Ill. is sharp. He has his mock
liberal theories of government, to use as
quacks do sugar coating for pills. When he
wants to establish Napoleonic dynasty, he
knows the dose is better one for people liv-
ing in the nineteenth century, so he propo-
ses liberality of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
reform, and elevation Of the masses. He no
doubt thinks that these liberal movements
will make his doses Of hated monarchy pala-
table. OF course there had to be a good
deal of this sweetsOme coating in 1851, when
he caused himself to be elected President OF
the republic for ten years, and more of it
when that was to be followed by graceful
restoration of the empire, year later.
1t has been the design OF Napoleon to set
tie the foundations of his empire firmly by
some means. The many volcanic tendencies
of France could not be ignored, so he sought
means by which to do this. Hence he has
always chung to plan Of having the people,
at least in form, sanction his usurpations.
In his recent address to the voters, calling on
them to vote Yes on the plfJiscitlnm he was
careful to tell them that it was by voluntary
use Of their franchise that the reins of gov
ernment were given him, and also that he
was now willing to submit to them whether
his successor should be upheld in a like man
ner, and other questions of government set
tied in this way.
This is plainly a flank movement on the
part of the French emperor. Last May
there arose opposition movement which
threatened his throne, but wisely he did not
Withstand it then, knowing he had best bide
his time. So, to the discontinue of his enc
mics, he granted more liberal measures even
than they asked for, separating by this the
ranks Of the opposition in the recoil, instead
of consolidating them, as Louis Philippe did
in lS47 The result was the formation of a
new ministry with NJ. Olivier at its head
In the months that have passed since then,
this ministry has been working into his
hands, a willing and vigorous instrument
toward carrying out his designs. In it were
two notable cases of opposition to his plans,
howeyer-MM. Daru and Bufit, who resign
ed while ago.
The object of the recent voting on the pie
lative branches of government, especially the
Senate, to legislative work simply. leaving it
to the emperor to make propositions of
reform, etc., and to the people the right of
saying whether proposed reforms shall be-
come the law of the land. 1t is illiberal and
despotic.
The election took place Sunday, the Sth of
May. 1t is a sad commentary on the morals
and condition of France, that so important a
political question should be settled on Sun
day. 1t is a natural outgrowth of the inf1del
literature and philosophy of that perturbed
empire. If such a fragrant violation of
divine law by nation passes into history
UNPUBLISHED, it will be contrary to the general
history of such events.
No one could doubt that the Emperor's
wish, backed up by half million bayonets,
would be confirmed by the voting masses
Yet there are results that have surprised the
most astute Statesmen The army, Tor one
thin, ,aUef large vote against the ple6is-
e,f1rl, and that after many Of known opposi-
ton sentiments had been sent away to Alge-
ria. When bayonets get to think, they are
most dangerous. As long as the soldiery of
any despotic power acts as does machinery,
moved and stopped and charged by the mas
ter's hand, all may be well but when it
ceases to be machinery and becomes men.
intelligent, thinking, acting men, that power
may well look to itself And this the vote
in the French army a week ago last Sunday
demonstrated. The vote in the army was
not an exception to that adverse expression.
Ever since the usurpation of 1852 the senti-
ment of France, as manifested by balloting
for members of the Corps Legislatif, has
been growing against the Empire. The vote
stood then, for Senatus Consultun, Empire