New-York tribune., 1870-04-20
TILE PI ERISrITNM.

The ouestion of France is generally the
ouestion of EurOpe-and this time 1T Is the
Plebiscitum. What is the Plebiscltumf ! Prac-
tically. it is call upon the people to vote yes
or no upon a question of which the Emperor
Napoleon is the initiator as well as prOposer.
Rightly, it ought to afford an opportunity for
the free manifestation of the popular wish,
unembarrassed by any despotic formula. But
this is not the Imperial intent in asking do
" the people desire constitutional reforms
(which assure liberty, placing it under guar
"antee of the Empire and dynasty" such,
we fear, is the form of the question which
France is to answer early in May 1t presents
a dilemma which that country is compelled to
answer in strait jacket. In short, the I'M
periaI questi on, like the Imperial machinery OF
election, is adapted for the single end OF Rat
ifcation, and does not imply criticism OF mega
ton.
The French people, unawed by their ubiqul-
tious Personal Government, might desire Con-
stitutional Reforms without Empire, Liberty
without Dynasty, Napoleon without his son ;
but how are they to make themselves under
stood by saying yes or no to the most arDl-
trary of questiOns7 They might wish to have
the Senatus Consultum, on which the question
of the Plebiscitum is based, amended; but
how is this to be done, since neither the peo-
pie nor their representatives can have any real
part in shaping the chapter and text upon
which they are to speakf The Emperor,
first and last, makes the question, If
he does not quite manage the answer.
Napoleon's premier has, accordingly, plausible
rea sons for feeling assured of the result OF q
Plebiscitum which offers to the people no
alternative but Reaction or Revolution" In
this phrase all the despotic character OF
measure which pretends to the most
democratic character is summed up. A
Constitution framed by despot, and
approved by Senate entirely COM
posed of his creatures, is put before
the people-unrevised namended by
their representatives-and this, too, in the
shape of the narrowest question that could be
devised. The new Constitution, so-called, or
rather the old Constitution with the addition
of a new Senatus Consultum, which is thus
offered to France, is offered in this most
imperial, undemocratic, and deceptive manner.
Past figures bear seemingly in favor of the
Empire in the test of Plebiscitum, the two
last great appeals to the people having deyel-
oped apparently upward of seven millions Of
votes in favor, to less than seven hundred
thousand against the Empire. The last cleo
tons, however, showed a great gain in the
strength of the liberal principle in France,
and whether the Republicans abstain from
voting, or vote negatively, we expect to see
falling off from the vote Of 7,oeo,io9, Which
vas gwen for the Senatus Consultum of 1852,
against the 253,14j votes of Republicans. AS
it is, the Plebiscitum is a snare and delu-
sion, and on the imperial part folly, judged
in the last analysis of events. "The Plebisci
"tum," says Prince Napoleon, lis the last
"stage before revolution TO consult di-
"rectly the people is kind of coup d6tat and
I" it supposes dissent between the Emperor
"and the representatives of the people" To
answer Yes to the question Of the Plebiscitm
according to the same astute man, is q delu-
sion, and to say No is revolution.