The New York herald., 1870-05-10
The PiebiscItum-An Imperial Triumph.

rich, racy and full of suggestion. Sunday, as
we had taught our readers to expect was
big day in France-big, not in special centres
only, but all over. 1t was in truth, q political
day. Frenchmen left their homes on Sunday
morning, not for the purpose OF worshipping
God, but for the purpose Of deciding under
what immediate conditions they were to live.
The question to be decided by eyes" or s'No"
was one which came to every mans door and
ALMOST to every mans heart. 1t was, in some
respects, life or death question. How
it was Frenchmen knew. Altogether con-
tented they might not be. But how to
make it better or what was to be their imme-
| date future Frenchmen could not tell. To
halt between two opinions they we're not per-
| mitted. s'Yes" or ''No" limited their liberty.
Napoleon and his rule, or somebody else and
his rule, or, rather, things as they were and
things as they might be, marked the question
Of the moment. With the facts before us we
have no choice but to say that the French
people have decided wisely and well. They
have preferred the known to the unknown, the
certain to the uncertain, Napoleon the Third
to anarchy.
AS our readers know, we have never
doubted the result of the pie5iscite. That
| Napoleon was again to win all our readers
were taught to believe. We did 80 write, not
because we cared especially for Napoleon or
because we specially disliked his enemies, but
because we looked at facts and could not be
mistaken in their meaning. The ground we
| did take stands firm to-day, and facts now
before our readers justify our position
| On Sunday morning we said that some
eight or nine millions of persons all over might
| vote, but at least two-thirds of that number
would 60 for the Emperor. 1t now appears
| that some nine millions did vote, and that
| more than two-thirds voted in favor of the
| ple6iscite, and, Of course, in favor OF the
present regime. Over seven millions have
| said ''Yes." Not two millions have said
| ''No." If this does not mean Napoleonic
| triumph we know not what could constitute
the same. From the antecedents of the En-
peror, and considering the wonderful and far
reaching power which he now can WELD, we
felt convinced that he knew what he was
doing, and that what he was doing he was
doing deliberately and with no uncertain
knowledge ofthe result.
In such shape facts are before us and in
such shape we must accept them. Napoleon
the Third fourth time is proclaimed the elect
Of France, and by majority SO overwhelming
that his enemies inside as well as outside of
the empire must feel that opposition is vain
and useless. The large cities, so far as we
know the facts, have voted ssNo." But this is
only what was to be expected Cities like
Paris and Marseilles and Lyons are the hot
beds of disafection, of discomfort, Of rebellion,
But in France, as in Great Britain and as in
the United States, the conservatism of the rural
districts qualities or checks the radicalism of
the cities. In the cities and the larger towns
| the Emperor has lost but in the rural districts
and among the peasantry the Emperor has won.
Seven millions or eight millions against two
make matters plain and constitute great vic
tory. Gable kilograms dated in Paris at mid
night report that barricades had been thrown
up at one point in the city during the evening
yesterday. It is also reported that their de-
tenders had been charged by the troops.
Otherwise the city remained quiet and in
'sorder."
The question has been raised in more quar-
ters than one as to how far France can vote
without restraint or compulsion. Let any
one look at the vote Of the navy or the vote of
certain military headquarters and he will find
it difficult to say that liberty has been denied
the people at the polling booths. We cannot
| deny that the vote has been managed more in
| the interest of the Emperor than in the inte-
rest of his enemies; for every official in every
city, in every township, in every village, from
| the highest to the lowest, is more or less a
creature of the empire. But while we make
! this admission we cannot deny-no one can
deny-that proof is wanted to con-
vince either of restraint or of compul-
sion. The Emperor desires to rule as
the elected chief of his people, not
| as usurper. His ambition goes beyond him
| self. He thinks of his son and of his dynasty.
| On this last occasion, therefore, unless we
| greatly mistake, it will be found that the En-
| peror has tested France to the core, and that
he has now good reason to take it for granted
that France is with him and with his family
The French people, who are naturally fond of
show, especially of that kind of show which
comes of military success, have not forgotten
the first empire, or the First Consul, or the
Bonaparte name. A Bonaparte once saved
them and, for a time, gave them glory; such
glory as no people have enjoyed in many CEN
turies, and in spite of many faults and many
failures the name of Bonaparte is dear to the
unsophisticated heart of France. That heart
beats in the country, not in the city; hence
the Napoleonic triumph.
1t is our opinion that this vote will establish
the peace of Europe and of the world, and
that if only the life of the Emperor is spared,