The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-05-15
The Piebiscitun1.

ING floOlSClIuYM.
!. The telegraph informs us of the mos
y overwhelming triumph in France. eve
achieved at the ballot box, perhaps, in an,
country. A majority of five and a hal
millions out of a vote of about eight mil
iions' Is something bordering on unanimity
ana certainly anything approaching unan.
unity In a country like France, where
revolution is supposed to have its head
quarters, and the " Irreconcileables - make
SUCH noise, is truly wonderful.
The present Emperor has held the reins
of royalty for some eighteen years. in the
lace OF orieanist and Radical. Raised to
the throne upon the tide of enthusiasm
which his uncle's name could at any time
set In motion among the French people, he
mas devoted all his energies to develop the
prosperity of the country while CONSOLE
datng his own power, and assuring the
perpetuation of his dynasty.
If We may judge a man by his success
Napoleon III. has certainly brought eminent
abilities to the accomplishment of his three
fold task. France of to-day is far more adj
Vanced In power, in prosperity, and in that
glory which the Frenchman 80 much esteems
than 1T was at the commencement of the
present reign. Life aud property are there
more secure, political relations are less
threatening, agitation and discord more
nrmly depressed, and religion more re-.
spected than before. The power of the
Emperor, at first based on the shifting
SANDS OF popular enthusiasm, has planted
ies foundations in the solid earth, and been
aoie to resist the shock of every tempest
More and more firmly has he secured his
seat on the throne, until he bids fair IN
transmit it in safety to his soma nosa;.
ollity which would have been scoffaa a.
but a few years ago.
inls last manifestation of popular will in
30 unmistakable and so overwhelming tbot
'ne must pause to scan it's MEANING T.
ms the France of red bonnets and barri-
'ades' OF the torch and guillotine Is tia
o'ien volcano, awaiting an old mans
ieaeh TO burst forth in fury, and consume
III Ills works. majority of Eve and n
aii mliilons In favor of his measures. in
hoorsement of his achievements. in COM
hehoatlon of his reign, and therefore in
pprooatlon of his dynasty, does NOT look
luon hke that. 1t looks rather as though,
to tell, a spirit of stability,
with the existing order Of
hings' mad come over that mercurial neo-
ie' replacing the restlessness which has
nafacterlzed their social existence f,r
lore than century past.
- we look for the means which baya
''n employed by this successful states
an TO accomplish such a result. to what
lall we principally attribute it, France
20 'i''o greater warriors before for sove-
gus anu sunk in the scale of prosperity:
So. men ior leaders, and degenerated in
'osehce under their leadership; better
i"I oetCer men, for rulers, and ter
lna1ed their rule and that of their race in
'ou ana carnage. What has this man
ne tnat the others did not doY
one Shing, at least, we know that he has
ne TO which they had no recourse. He
appealed to the popular vote he has
reduced the ballot box.
Formerly Paris was France. novv - a
oeher cities are nothing more than in
graz portions OF the nation, estimated az.
olng TO population. When Paris snote
'io' ana anarchy, through her qannins and
- cn'ottes, Lyons and Marseilles resnord-
IN similar tones. Ali was then confu-
j. mere was no way of knowing the
,onal will. Fear swayed the uniformed
i'lVudes. They knew not what to do.
10 was no head, no concert, no know
80 Oh their own strength, and the evil
) spread with no one to quench their
fagration.
nee the day of popular voting, all thah
hanged. The cities are influential now
in proportion to their votes. In tbis
election, for instance, Lyons, Mar