New-York tribune., 1870-09-24

t
this awkward fact, said: "A very important thing for
the OF the great yqtation to which Savoy is about
to be called s to have az the head Of each commune
syndic thoroughly devoted TO the French anneIauon or
1t s he who should give the impulse and preside at tne
electoral operations syndic still devoted to PIEDMONT
or having Swiss leaning ,ofH be altogether o OF pace
such OCCASION" This was, indeed good sense anu
the Government took that all such unmanageape
syndcs should be "out OF place" before the important
occasion To quote the newspaper, "a great pur
cation" took splace, after the style Indicated by the o
lowing circular
"The Governor Of Anneey: Considering that NJ,
syndie OF the commune OF -, does not seem 10 Ia ~ the
cepted fav0rably the consequence OF the treaty vi e
path OF March last: considering that u Is phaad ~
under the present circumstance to have AT he 1. ~,
the administration of each commune men deVoIeu W 'o
at is decreed, T. M - present syndic Of the com
mune of =. is dismissed from his functions. It'll +,o
az. The municipal counselor lis charged nhtl iG od
commune.
"S. Tie above will be transmitted to NM - and
"Annecy, April, 1850. . W,
The voting took place the 22d and 23d OF APRIL
before which time the syIdcs and ether officers 1haNhg
been thoroughly purged) instructed that IN order
for the voaton to have happy result" 1t was neces-
sary ito enlighen the voters" They were accordingly
ordered TO explain to these gentlemen that 1t Is no
longer a question Of prOn0nnetng upon preference
bettcoen France and Piedmont between France and
the treaty of March a. and that can no longer belong
tO it," And II an nqustive voter should ask what then
the question about, the answer Is officially lr-
nished they u Dote for or against customs conc
pih SDt-erlaHd! This stupendous falsehood needs a
word of explanation There had been for long tiIne
movement in Northern Savoy for the establishment OF
commercial zone or free belt along the Swiss frontier,
and it was actually represented the Sayoyards that
the present election was to decide whether they would
have it not As there overwhelming majority
in favor OF the measure, which would be very adVan-
ageOus to Savoy il calculated that this would draw
ont full vote, and vote all one way, and the fraud
was carried so far that the ballots actually printed
in the following form
BULLRTIs DE NOTATION.
La sayoie veutelle etre reunie Ia Francei
Oui At Zone
This was excellent device, for 1t acted both as
bribe and threat and contributed TO make the vote
large one which, on account the moral effect in the
eyes of Europe the Emperor held TO be very important
Another shrewd scheme devised to give sort of
religious aspect the coming transfer. The cures were
enjoned TO bless French fags with all possible cere-
mony, in every commune receiving the coors from the
civic authorities the church door, and then all the
houses were TO be decorated with them, the Sardinian
flag being of course carefully suppressed This it will
be remembered before the election, and while Savoy
was still sardinian territory But all the proceedings
assumed that the transfer already complete. and
that Universal Suffrage" in this mere sham
as indeed il was Here is the Official programme OF
| the fag-blessing:
"The syndc Of Bonneville notifies that the Communal
Council will assemble at the benediction of the flags
| which the Imperial Government has presented to tue
| Commune that this religious ceremony will take place
Sunday the 22d, at O'Clock, "a m: that the eortege
will leave the Hotel DE- vile 70 go 70 the church Al the
diaey precede the opening OF the rns In the morning
and national colors The nag Inscribed zone and France
will be hOsted upon tho front OF the Hotel de Niie Al
inhabitants invited TO decorate their houses with
Hays Of the coOrs'
With religious and simple people like the savoyards
this little ceremony naturally had great effect espe-
cay when was coupled with the earnest e1hortations
Of the clergy.
The fraud would not have been complete, however,
without a little direct intimidation. The English OBJ
server whom have Ealready quoted went TO Bonne-
vile in Savoy after the election at Nice, and was sur
prsed find that the town which, less than month be-
FORE had been the hot-bed OF antFrench feeling was
covered all over with French flags With some trouble
he found slopkeeper whom he had known In March as
furious antannexatonst, and the poor fellow con-
essed having Just voted in favor Of France as an act
of sefpreservatOn "What could do I" he said, "the
concierge la vile brought two tickets this morn
ing with message from the intendant that II did not
vote them it would be the for He also asked
where INV French flag was. and advised me- If valued
| my liberty to show without delay" The English
man tried to find Non ticket but none could be had
'No printing house here would venture to print one"
said the shOpkecpcr you would have TO get them from
Geneva" Proclamations and appeals against annexa-
ton were forbidden TO be printed, and were torn down
whenever eeen Intendant Guy addressed warning TO
! eyndies and others in the following language:
You will take that official proc amations, mani
fesoes, and notices are presefyed a 10
qttired authorization, 1iH be Immediately torn dooh
| The same invaluable officer conveyed, in circular
from which the following passage is extract at
| an enticng promise and an awful warning:
g. float In nf md
generous IDEAS will not remain sensibe to this mani
festaton of the symPathies Of people he VIII restore
| ton which they will have caused him
am rong negeUeIy Saoog SiH 6e & redueed , 70 iMpo
| (signed) "T. GUY, Intendant"
One more specimen Of his official circulars TO subord
nate authorities. and we have done:
SIR Upon the 22d inst all the SsyOyards cOnvOked
IN determine their destinies consider II useless to in
& anon tbe importance Of the solemn act which your
countrymen shall take part Your mission, Sir imposes
upon you duties new obligations greater even than
those which your devotion 10 the common cause has
donbtless dictated Profit by the influence which your
t services given you over the country people, In
OrGeI c 70 Sacbe to their vote Of the 22d and 2sd April
1sG0 Let them be put upon their guard against the in
fuence OF those men, who, unable % carry out their
criinai aileps ieotid ioish 70 Huolve them in their
TaW Let understand that those coqnsels are per
dous, those patriots false, who say 1t is all over and
IL ia useless 70 vote AbsentatOn is always the act OF
bad citizen To-day IL will be still worse 1t will be
irreparable fault There mus be an Immense majority.
The unanmity OF the bulletins must show Europe that
Savoy altogether French at heart and that the ex
genccs Of politics are perfectly reconeed with national
You will give a striking proof of your devotion TO
| Savoy by conforming to these Instructions
"In addressing myself TO you with full confidence,
| OsinedJ ct. GUY, Intendant"
The opposition was not allowed TO form committees;
the mails were opened TO seize their circulars letters
were stopped and TO crown ALL persons suspected Of
hostility 10 the annexation scheme deliberately
dropped from registry and so denied the privilege Of
ouun ta hard IN