New-York tribune., 1870-09-05

failed; the SOcialsts, eInDutefch Dy Cavalgnac 4
stern suppression of the attempted revolution in June,
vet poweress alone seduced by the supposed
denoes Of Louis Napoeon political essays the troops
began 10 yield 10 the magic OF name, that the
who bore IL might legally become their leader the
millions Of the ignorant peasanry easily manipu
lated by dexterous agents "a largo number believed they
were voting for Napoleon L. returned from St. Helena)
and even before the election day arrived the increasing
chances of Louis Napoeons carried his
side multitude Of wavering polite natures.
The election was held the 10th Of December lsis
and the result gave evidence Of almost complete union
o ALL other parties against that OF the Republic OF Order
rel resented by Cavagna The latter received l6Ooo
votes Louis Napoleon $4,000 and Lainartne com
paratyey tring number The two monarchical parties
designed maknguse Of Louis Napoleon as an instrument
to weaken the Republicans trusting that his nc0m-
petency would complete the work, and hasten counter
revolution When therefore, the Goth of December,
ne was installed as President Of the French Republic IL
was under auspices seemingly very fortunate because
the hostile influences temporarily held in allegiance
Cavagnac noble Spartan nature had restored France
10 order although the blood he had shed in saving the
country lost the country him. The new President,
with no record OF oense except against the banshed
dynasty took quiet possession Of the realm which an
other had made ready for his hands.
PRESIDENT BONAPARTE.
His policy. after obtaining power. was very gradually
deyeloped He only appeared t0 initiate Cavaignac in
puttng down the disturbances OF January si9 and the
Conservative and Catholic sentiment of France was
certainly with him In sending Oudinot to Rome. This
was in direct opposition to the decision OF the Assembly
vet the Assembly aferward confirmed tho act Mean
while however he made haste to quiet the socialstlc
and communistic excitement among the people, by
furnishing them with abundant work and wages. Since
Napoleons reign ended little had been done in France
for the development OF produetyeness the increase
of facilities of communication, the Improvement OF her
cities There were not 500 miles OF railroad in the
country. Paris, Lyons, Marsees, Bourdeaux, were
still overhung with the stationary atmosphere OF the
Bourbons All this changed as rapidly as possible
system Of internal improvements was planned and put
in execution industry Of all kinds revived, and the
change from the depression produced by the uncertainties
of the previous year felt happy relief by the
whole population All this time, the liberty secured by
the Constitution steadily contracted; the Govern
en rmer and more repressive in its character
the restless movements of factions dealt with more
severely as the mass OF the people became more con-
tented, under their prosperity. Although the point
to which this policy tended toleraby clear 1t
still difficult to point to any act as specially lndca
tive of it, Even the title OF Prince President seemed
to excite no disrust except among the thoroughly
unpopular Reds" extreme Republicans The foreign
policy Of the Government dgnifed but concilatory
Order France important to the other Euro
pean rulers, for the time being than Bonaparte as
President and it easy to avoid any enlargement,
especially the French people desired rest and prosper
ity, not war.
We cannot here recapuate all the steps by which the
Republic was overthrown and the Empire established In
its stead The Prince President steadily followed two
Objects he made himself popular with the soldiers and
the laboring classes and crushed in every practicable
way the intelligent b0urgeOiSie In October, l84o, the
Ministry changed for more inclined to support
his plans the dssensons the National Assembly were
fhTAn fhl
provinces banquets, addresses to the people, appoint
ments OF civil officers grand military reviews. at which
officers and soldiers feasted (as on the plain OF
employed to extend the Prnce-Presi
dents personal influence and gradually famiharize
the people with the Imperial idea. While violating the
spir of the Constitution while advocating or opposing
universal suffrage according to the exigencies of his
policy his speeches were so worded to make it appear
that he was the sole defender OF the Constitution, con
cerned only to shield it from the aggressions of the Ma
tional Assembly.
In January, 1851, a completely Bonapartist ministry
was appointed but the Assembly having voted its lack OF
confidence another ministry substituted. An at
tempt then made to change the Constitution In such
manner that the Presidents term Of office might be ex
tended since an immediate reelection was prohibited
but after very fierce and stormy discussion the p0po
siton failed to receive the requisite majority OF three
fourths The Assembly was soon afterwards adjourned
until November, which gave the Prnce-Preside4t time
to mature his plans. His term would expire the follow
ing Spring; the Prince dc Jonyille already named
as a candidate; the elements OF opposition, although
without combination, increasing in strength, and
the temper OF the French people was anxious and un-
easy In this iuncture, called about him men who
were equally cunning, daring and uDprincpled-Gen
St. Arnaud (whO made Minister OF War in October
1851 Morny, Persigny and Fleury, All Of these ap
pear to have been made acquainted with his plans and
two Of them-St Arnaud and De Morny-were his chief
"
the 18th of November, the proposition to restore uni
versal suffrage was defeated the Assembly the Prince
President and his accomplices determined drue to Ma
pOleOnic traditiOn) to initiate the 18th Brumaire.
THE COUP u ETAT
But the 2d OF December, 1884, not an mitatiOn II
was original in its horror. Before daylight on that
morning, 7s prominent seized, many Of them
being dragged from their beds the National Assembly
forciby dissolved 22O of the Deputies having been
rested and imprisoned the day, Paris declared
in state Of siege. and the people called upon
to elect a President for ten years, with power
10 select his own Ministry, and Government
consisting OF two Chambers, with limited powers. All
legal opposition and protest was crushed under foot
Paris arose against the outrage, and until the night OF
December its streets with blood Entire quarters
of the city given up to murder and plunder Men,
women and children, native. and foreigners were shot
aud bayoneted unfortunately. The greatest pains
have been taken 10 suppress dreadful details but
the number OF persons butchered cannot have been
less than 5000, and may have been twice ~ many
Within the next month, according to the Bonapartist
Graner de Cassagnac 2OO persons were transported to
the penal colonies OF Cayenne aud Africa where the
greater number Of them died.
The blow sudden and terrible that The spirit OF
the nation utterly paralyzed even indignation was
in the deeper Of horror and fear The mask
was removed and the Empire in nearly absolute form
already existed The people knew this when they were
called upon to vote upon the questions proposed by Louis
Napoleon. Public opinion was equally suppressed
throughout the provinces; the alarming socalistc
dangers invented and threatened every promi-
nen man was ordered 10 declare himself instantly for
one side the other the business classes were kept
excited by rlmOrs Of plots and outbreaks the press
Of. muz VIII he