New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-18
Large Negative Vote in the Army



all parties. Republicans and others of Il
opposition are surprised by the number
opposition votes, for they expected not mo
than 100000 or 6 900 600; but though sa
dened they are not discouraged. The lar
opposition vote in Paris was also une
pected, but on the other hand the gre
numb-r who voted "No" in the arm
equally surprised and alarmed the Empero
The only man entirely content with ii
result is Olivier, whose vanity persuad
him that the majority for the plebiscitum
ratification of his administration, but ii
true meaning of the vote is far differen
The Emperor's proclamation demands yes
q new proof OF Frances confidence in hin
self, and the means of facilitating the tran
mission of the crown to his son. The gre,
affirmative majority, SO far as it was N
fraudulent, was vote for the empil
simply.
OF course, large fraction voted yes undo
the lead OF moderate Liberals, who tried I
believe that the plebiscitum meant only a
approval OF the recent reforms. Anolhe
large fraction voted yes under the fear G
plots and revolution. At least two million
out of the seven must be credited to the al
my. to civilian officials, to persons VIII
committed, directed or were Indirectly de
pendent upon the government. The rest
say four million. was made up partly b
fraud and coercion partly by votes of tn
bourgeois and peasantry.
Napoleon is, no doubt by choice, bu
always for the powers that be-. In any case
the peasantry in the small towns and vii
lagos must vote as they are ordered by the
Mayors and other rural iunctionaries. o.
actual force and coercion on the day of the
vote, there was less in 1853.
The government Systematically applied
every means OF silencing the opposition and
driving the affirmative voters to the polls
The opp osition press all over France has
been prosecuted and seized; journals not
seized were refused Transmission through
the postotnce; subscription to the funds OF
the opposition committee was treated as a
crime; printers were arrested for printip Q
negative ballots; agents Were arrested for
distributing them; the opposition commit
tee rooms were invaded by the police and
searched, and papers found there were
seized.
Since the publication of the official re-
port on the alleged plot no journal has been
allowed to publish evidence in disproof of
it. The Rdppet was seized for printing q
letter from Victor Hugo, proving Beaury to
to be police spy. The lMdrse.Uaise was
seized for doubling the existence of any
plot. The Steele and L'AUe31ir were seized
for the same offence. From last Thursday
to Sunday-the day OF votiug-thesc papers
were seized every day. The provincial news.
papers suffered the same fate. Five prose-
cutions were Instituted in one day against
the Rdppel alone, and its editor was sen
fenced TO yearsjmprisonmeut for printing
single article by Victor Hugo.
The system OF official pressure by Pre-
fects, which Olivier was pledged to aban-
don, was never more energetcaly nor uD-
scrupulousy enforced. Projects were sum-
2noned weeks ago to Paris, and promised
complete immunity for all efforts they
should make in behalf of The plebiscitum.
Nevertheless, the affirmative majority is
wholly rural. Paris gives nominaily 600
negative majority, but counting absten-
lions, it is really 10000. In Rochefort's
district, following his counsel TO abstain,
gives 5000 yes, Is 900 no; 20, GOO abstentions.
The next three most important cities are
Lyons, Bordeaux and Marseilles, and returns
from these are; Lyons, 22,O0O yea, SO, 0OO no;
Marseilles, l3, 600 yes, 81, O00 no, 10 coo alb,
stentions; Bordeaux 5000 yes, 1900 no;
SGG0 a5stentions.
The cities next in rank vote no with scarce
an exception. st. Eteune gives 10 600 mega.
tive majority; Brest, 5000; Celte, 500; Dion,
200O; limoges, 5000; Montpelier. 1900, and
1000 abstentons; NantZ, 5000; Mines, 6CQO;
Toulouse, 5000.
BY the Emperor personally, the failure TO
get S,O0O,OOo, is felt as a blow; but the vote
OF the army is still a greater blow: for. if |
the army abandons him, all is lost. Its vote |
was managed with the greatest care. No
soldier was allowed 10 attend political |
meeting. The whole army votes in bar |
racks, colonies presiding. Every mans vote |
is known. The opposition vote puts black |
mark against his name; STOPS promotion, is |
surely followed by punishment; neverthe-
less. out OF fewer than 10000 votes there |
are 40, 900 noes.
The navy gave 5000 noes and q, 900 yeas.
some OF the regiments gave an actual ma
jority of noes. it is reported that two regi-
ments at Vincennes, following Rochefort's
advice, refused to vote. The soldiers at one
of the barracks insisted on watching the
vote, though they were threatened with be-
ing shot for holding an unlawful meeting.
In the garrison of Paris the detection was
so serious that General LebOuf wanted to
march several regiments out CT the CITY,
but the Emperor refused on the ground
that this woule betray fear. After {. short
delay. however, the severest measures will
De taken with those regiments.
Some part of this huge system of terror
aud fraud will be exposed by interlopers.
and The security of which the opposition in
the Corps Legislatif will demand. The GOV.
eminent Will oppose any investigation, but
it can not stifl2 questions.
The first result OF the plebiscitum will be |
the reorganization of ministry.
The Emperor's personal power is so far
enlightened that he may dispense with
concessions. Some of the official papers are
illed with rumors of new names. Olivier
is to remain, but Rouher's return 10 power
is only a question of time. The portfolio
will probably be offered to Gerarding as The
price Of his usefulness.
Disturbances in Paris since the vote have
been absolutely Insignificant. Every Re-
publican Journal counseled quiet, and such
disorders as occurred were confined to
emote quarters of the city, and were the
work OF police agents and other criminal
classes. An enormous military force was !
displayed, and the police were massed
ogether, and though barricades were
ullding in the presence OF both, no effort
vas made to stop them until they were COM :
,leted. Then they were attacked, but
Nobody defended them. A few Republicans
n one case, were cheated into joining in
his absurd performance, but the police,
nth the greatest efforts, failed to continue
disturbances beyond the second night. =
Nothing now is heard of the plot that has
one its intended work of adding half Z
million or q million of votes to the Emperor's
majority. Verdier, one Of the Grand Peret's
hlef witnesses. has returned from Belgium L
nd surrendered himself a prisoner. he de-
lares that the whole statement attributed
} him is false.
The liberal press deplores the fresh degra. j
alton that has been Inflicted on France by
le Plebiscitum. The work of reform and
rogress has all to be begun over again. and
Lys the Temps, France knows what it has
ttiied-a lie In forty five articles. Declares
,e Rdppet: mot one man in hundred
nong the peasantry knew Or cared what
as the Senatus Consultum. 1t was not 4
lbished in the papers they say, and they
,uld not have read it had it been.'
The official report on the plot was pla-
rded in every manner; the Senatus Con- l..
ltum, which was to be voted on, nowhere.