, 1870-05-16

Edward [.nbouI0yo on the PlebiSci.
tum and the Future OF France.
To the Editor ef The chicugo Tribune:
During the late war Mr. Ed. Laboulsye, a
member of tho Institute Of France, and the
author Of the ''History Of the Unitod States, ~
became well known through this country. He
has always been considered as one Of the most
liberal writer's OF France. His views on the
political situation in Franco are certainly enti-
tied to great weight In tho following letter,
directed to q friend, he resumes the impor-
tance Of the vote which was taken in Franco
On Sunday last, on the ple6lscstuna:
G1Ar1osr, Versailles, April Is, 1870
Sn: I am very sensible OF tho confidence
which you p1aced in me. II I have not an
swered your kind letter soopor it is because
was waiting for the form Of tho plebiscltum.
It would have been difficult for me to express
IN opinion upon question which was not well
known. To-day can give you my opinion,
although admitting that the problem is diff
cult, and that the best minds must hesitate
before b deciding upon it. I sm decidedly op-
posed to abstentation. Experience has
taught us in all times and al countries, that
when party stays away from the polls it
abdiratea.
When one wishcs to have a legitimate innu-
once upon the dcstinies OF his country, he must
have an opinion and bo always ready to act
| At the ti1na the whola Of France is going to
pronounce itself, it is not advisable that tho
Liberal Conservative party should hide its
banner and desert the battle-deld,
| Therefore, ono must vote les OF No. Ny
opinion is to vote yes, teiutoA hesitatiug in tho
least and, therefore, my rcasons j: II one take
! the plt1iscitum as it ia proposed, it is not
doubtful that tho Liberal-C Conservative party
approves of all the liberal reforms which have
been accomplished since 1860. How could it
not approve Of t2 It provoked them They
| belong to it. Does the Same pnEty approve
| wholly Of the new constitution given BY the
Ssuafus Co,,s1illunl Of 1870? I doubt it.
There is more than one article which does not
seem to no either liberal or democratic
enought; but, On tho other side, to reject the
new constitution because it has for US some
defects, would be 10 rofusa or to adjourn the
umeliorations, "a visible progress. As
wo arc forced to accept it as q whole, let us
take what is offered to us, and let the progress
Of to-day DO used to secure tho progress OF
tomorrow. This il the true political spirit.
Let us not forget what tho wiso Daunon said:
| you only mako alse Of it," One can make good
use OF the constitution Of 1870; therefore let
Us utilize it instead Of loeing time in upneccH-
sary discussions.
But it is said al will bo proca1ious, as tlle
Emperor reserves to himself tho right Of mp
| peal to tho people, and that from one day
|
In theory, this is true. In fact, it is impossi-
bio. The experience Of the last twenty-eight
| Years is enough to demonstrate it. Since 1852
I the Emperor has always gone forward towards
liberty. And why so? Because he has no
| other ppwer except what has been given to
Linn bT the people. II wc1l-framed laws bring
liberty in the Institutions can ono believe that
| the French people will bo foolish enough to
t1amplo upon such acquisitions, and to destroy
q government which assures tho moral and
material welfare Of the countFs
| The iufaltible means to reudcT all pkebtsct-
| tun inoIensiye hereafter, is to scatter educa-
| ton aud individual liberties. To decentralize,
| it il to establish the government OF the coun-
| try by the country. ..
Lot us make good use Of the, present, and
| tho future is ours.
There ia another reason which should con-
troll the action even Of those who do not like
tho new constitution; it is the way the e1-
henists put the question.
For them, No. OF abstentadon, meana
revolution. This character, given to the nega-
those who do not wish for q revolution: I
am one OF these. haro always asked
for liberty, and have never asked for anything
! else. believe that whom q government is e.
iabliehed and accepted by the majority Of tho
country, it is the duty Of every good citizen to
submit to the national will.
70 ask for liberty BY all legal means, is the
olutions, to seize every occasion to EN-,
barrnss or destroy Tho government
which one prefers, Is not tho
act Of good citizen, but is the criminal act Of
fanatic. AL hienls Of liberty must come
together to resist such undertakings None
must forget that II, for the last eighty years,
Trance could never establish durable liberty,
il is because she never had the energy to resist
the violence Of parties.
1 1ae !E1e :,as como 10 Impose upon them it's
supreme vii. The acceptance OF the .plebis-
ciium Will have this advantage, that nobody
viii have right to doubt that France wishes
for liberty, al no price: She tctu haze REQ
i4i;ou. There is, sir, tho opinion to which
have come after long reflection Yours,
] En- I,ANoU1.aYE.