The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-15
FRENCH IMPERIALISM.
Its Gradual necline-The Grand Crash Gould
Not have been Postponed Much Longer.
Ar..u Annl ~. - A.a. Ala.N Nnl

Not have been Postponed Mnch fonxer.
The New York Commercial Advertiser has the fol-
lowing pertinent article:-
There is no mstaking it, Napoleon's downfall
could not have been averted many years
longer, even though this war had not occurred.
The tide Of French public opinion was steadily
setting against him. paris is France; and what
has been true and doubtless always will be, to a
certain extent; that is to say when the priesthood
do not exercise an undue influence through the
country. Such being the caSe we may Judge from
her capital what has been the feeling OF France
toward Napoleon. Here is the vote OF the city suce
For The Gousrnment - For The Opposition.
1852. 1872 900 1852. $4,000
1857 ITO 600 1857. 10l 900
1868 ............. SO 900 1868. 1000
1865. ............. $4,000 1869. 100000
The vote on the Plebiscitun1 in May last was not
vote for or against the Government, but merely
upon some proposed reforms, with view as Napo-
leon !claimed to enlarge the prerogatives and
liberties OF the people. Yet the balloting on the
PlebiScOnl in Paris showed the following results
Yeas. 200 Nays ...........15 .15j,OOO
From the above figures It appears that Napoeon's
popularity has been steadily declining in Paris that
when he proposed additional "reforms," to use his
language, the people voted against them by large
In 1862 his majority, on direct vote, was 5000. In
1869 the majority against him was 145,000. In 1852
the Republicans and Oppositionists comprised about
one-third Of the voters OF Paris. In 1869 they
posed nearly four-ifths of them. And this decided
change in political views has taken place where Ma
poleon was best known; where he has lavished most
of his improvements" and where one-fourth of
the voters have been his employees.
We learn from Tenot's valuable book, viz
paris in December, $751; that like changes have
taken place in the large Cities euch as Lyons, Mar
seilles, Bordeaux, Nantes, Dion, Mines, Saint
Rtienne, Montpelier, Havre, Lille Strasburg, Rouen,
etc. II we lock- continues the above writer, at the
composition OF the Assembly Corps LegislatiD since
1882 we find surprising Though not corresponding
losses in the number OF the Imperial or Official mem
bers OF that body In 1851 the first election for de-
putes under the Empre) the Opposition counted but
five members out OF two hundred and ninety, or one
ffty-eighth of the whole in 1868 they had twenty
two members, one. thirteenth OF the whole In
1869 about seventy. members, probably one
third the whole, including the first orators and
statesmen Of France.
From these and other similar facts which we
might collate there space, 1t appears that the
people of France were ripe for republic when it
was pronounced; that in the villages and cities
which mainly comprise the intelligence of France,
strong desire for the restoration OF the republic had
resulted from growing conviction of the wicked
ness and deception in which the empire originated,
and in the injustice and mismanagement which have
attended it. And such being the case we have
more faith in the stability of the republic now pro-
claimed than is expressed by some of our contem.
poraries. Though springing up in the night, as it
were the people have been getting ready for it for
years. And we have confidence that it has elements
of permanence; that following the lead Of Jules
Favre as opposed to the madcap Victor Hugo class
of men, the French people will now successfully
solve the political problem OF France.