The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-05-24


was generally expected, resulted in n
large majority for the Government
about 100000, it is supposed, out Of q
vote of 8,500.O0O. This is ths ninth
plebiscite which has taken place in
France, and all with the same result-an
enormous majority for the party in
power. It is safe to say that. with the
existing highly centralized ndministra-
tive machinery, no other result is posi-
BILE. All questions put by the powers
that be to the. people, whatever they may
be in form, will be, in fact, leading
questions-tliat is, the answer to them
will be suggested beyond the possibility
of mistake. The radicals say that the
imperial arrangements in the present
case put the result beyond doubt, apart
from the general tendency. of the country
people to fall in with the ideas of the
maires, the sous-prefets, the gems
d'armerie, and the gardes champetres.
But then it must be admitted. also, TINT
the performances OF the ''irreconcila-
bles" in Paris have not been without
their influence on the agricultural mind.
The peasants intellect cannot grasp
Rochefort, and Flourens, and Paschal
Groussett. The moderate liberals, ho "
ever, even the most moderate OF them.
such as NJ. de Muzadc, of the Reoue des
Deuc Alonties, are seriously alarmed by
what has happened, and hold, and not
without show Of reason, that the pie
biscitary confirmation makes tho reform
illusory. It throws the legislature iuto
the background, and renders it possible
for the executive at any time to reduce it
to total insignificance by an appeal to
the people. as the Emperor is the sole
Judge when this appeal should be made.
The Emperor's reputation for shrewdness
will probably now rise again, az he has
evidently hit Oh a device which gives
him most of the advantages of consti-
tutional sovereignty, and mono, or next
to none, of its inconveniences.
The Emperor of the French made the
following speech, on Saturday, in re-
sponse to an address by Schneider, on
behalf of the Legislative bodies, upon
the result of the vote on plebiscitum:
S1Rs: Receiving from your hands the
result of this vote, my first mpulse is to
express my gratitude to the nation which
tins renews to me for the fourth time in
twenty years, the signal evidence of con
fidence. Universal suffrage, the ele.
ments Of which change INCREASINGLY,
nevertheless accomplishes it's purpose
always. 1t has for its guides its tradi-
tions, certainty of its instincts. and
fidelity Of its sympathies. The plebisci-
tum had for its sole object the rntifca-
ton by tho people of constitutional re-
form, but amidst conflicts of passion,
aud in the struggle with its opponents
its purposes became greater. Let us not
regret that the adrersurics of our insti-
tntions have made u question between
the Empire and revolution, for the M
ton has settled the question in favor of
that system which guarantees order and
liberty. Today the Empire is strong,
but it will show its strength by it's node
ration. My Government will execute
the laws without partiality or weakness
1t will not deyiute from the line marked
for it.
Respecting NIL rights of its subjects it
will protect them ull, aud all their inter-
ests, without thought of dissenting votes
or hostile man0nvres. but it Will also
cnnse the national will to be respected,
and will hold it above all controversy.
Freed from constitutional questions
which have kept them apart, its best
spirits will now have but one purpose, to
rally around constitution which the
country has sanctioned. Honest persons
Of all parties will now unite in efforts to
soften asperities of partizan passion, to
preserve social interests from contagion
Of false doctrines, and to augment, by all
lawful means, the grundenr and pros.
perity of France. We shall labor to diff
fuse instruction, to simplify administra-
tive measures, to introduce into tho code
ameliorations in favor of the agricultural
interest, aud to develop public works.
We shall give our time to the reduction
and best distribution of taxation. Such
is our programme, which, if realized, will
increase the process Of civilization.
l thank yon, gentlemen, for the aid
you have given me on this OCCASION.
Votes which ratify those Of 1913. 1851,
and 1852, reaffirm your powers, and give