The New York herald., 1870-04-05
The Constitutional Crisis In France.

From our cable dispatches it does seem as
if crisis bad arrived in the course of the
Emperors reform policy. One telegram
which we give to-day has it that the rumor
which has been current for some days to the
effect that s ths Emperor bad a %G9s gp big mind
to issue a SenaSus ConsMtuNa, and on the
merits of the same make an appeal to the
people, was generally believed to be well
founded Another telegram ofa later date has
it that the appeal to the people will not be
made for some little time yet. 1t is added
that the collision between the Ministry and
the Chambers is thus likely to be avoided.
The immediate difficulty has arisen from a
demand made by certain parties that the
Senatus Consultum should be submitted to
the Corps Legislatif for discussion This was
not part of the Emperor's original plan, and
to this the Ministers very properly refused to
consent. The crisis had reached such a point
that Prime Minister Olivier had made up
his mind to ask vote of confidence from the
Chambers, and to abide by the result. If the
later kilograms prove to be correct the crisis
is for the present postponed. At the same
time we have one or two great facts before us.
One is that France is in q condition that makes
continued uncertainty in the last degree unde-
sirable, 80 far, at least, as the Emperor and
the friends of order are concerned. 1t Is the
opinion of many that the Emperor has con-
ceded so much that he has no choice but
concede more The tide has so set in,
they say, in favor Of popular liberty
that the Emperor dare not attempt to
check it. It is the opinion Of the Emperor and
his friends that reform is necessary, but that
while popular demands must SO far be yielded
to there is point at which the Executive
must say, s'Hitherto, but no further" The
extreme party in the Chambers, encouraged
largely by the Orleanists and other moderates
who have no great love for the Bonaparte
dynasty, think that by pushing matters they
can hasten on crisis which will not be to the
advantage of the Emperor or his dynasty.
Napoleon, on the other hand. is fully convinced
that, in spite of the seeming strength of the
opposition, France is satisfied with what he
has done, and that if, on the strength of his
recent oncessions-concession which, as he
says, have come forth at the proper time
from the plebiscits of lS52-he appeals to the
people, the people will stand by him as they
did in 1S4S, in 1862 and on every occasion
since. 1t is our opinion that the Emperor is
right. However these present troubles shape
themselves, and whatever complications may
result in the course of their development, we
have no hesitation in saying that the Emperor
will come out of the ordeal triumphant, more
popular and more powerful than ever. We
say this because we know that rural France
will stand by the Emperor almost to man.
We say it because the order-loving citizens OF
France, the men Of means and the men oi
mark, in their inmost souls detest revolution
and prefer to Shear the ills they have"--if they
have ills-''than fly to others that they know
not Of" Still we hold ourselves prepared fol
general election in France at an early day.