The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-29
THE PR ESS.
: Friday Morning, April 20. 1870.


Next Thursday the Corsican murderer and
perjurer who occupies the French throne pro-
poses to submit his doings once more to "a
popular VOTE" He proposes to let the people
decide whether they approve his recent con-
cesslons that g almost to the extent of estab-
fishing constitutional government and provid-
ing Tor responsible ministry. What cal be
iairer that that? What would the irreconcil-
able democratic shrekers have the good, pa
ternal, disinterested Bonaparte do? 1t is sure
ly an act of unreasonable obstinacy and gross
lnsensibility not to appreciate the gracious
ness OF HIM who not only gires you Ten uo
lars but enhances the value of it three-'o'd ny
asking YOU with smiling face how you IKE IL.
To he sure il would make some difference in the
feelinos of the receiver of the pecuniary dOna-
tion if the giver had taken the same money
with ten dollars more from him eighteen or
twenty years ago by force, and only made res
ttution of part when court was about to
require him to pay back the whole with fur
Their sum as exemplary damages But of
course there is nothing to remind one of such
transaction in the free, uncenstrained gilt of
qualified liberty by the third Napoleon to the
French people. Being the original source and
the only repository fthat inestinable blessing,
it is an act of free grace in him to let any of
it, be it ever so little, flow to the people.
And this is what all the talk about the pie
biscituna, or, the pebescite means. The EN-
peror having consummated his reforms bv a
sendtus c0nsultum, now submits the matter
to the people, and asks them to vote on the
9th OF May. But there are always grumblers,
and even in this case there are Frencnmen who
do not hesitate TO look Louis Bonaparte's gilt
horse in the mouth and to make audible and
most disagreeable criticisms ON what they see.
They call attention TO The fact that the formu-
Ia OF the plebescite is couched in such tel ms
that the French people in sanctioning the
reforms for their own benefit also sanction
the Empire and the Napoleonic dynasty.
Tney say that the perpetuation of his pow
er and the descent OF the imperial crown to
his son are what the Emperor really wishes to
insure by his eleventh hour conversion to lib
erallsm. They Indignantly protest against re-
cevng from the bloc -stained nands of Bon
aparts what he has no right to give, especial
ly when he ha rpeis his prop ,sed restitution
OF stolen gool, Win SO onerou, conditlon
as that he imposes when he requires of the
people guaranty of the stability of the throne.
So there are some voters whose hearts aie
untouched by he unmixel philanthrophy OF
the third bonaparte, and who will either
throw blank ballots, tor the sake Of avoiding
the appearance Of voting against liberty, or
take the responsibility OF acting boldly against
that false liberalism that is defiled by an in
fusion Of Corsican imperialism. Those who
vote mo- will be mostly Republicans, but
with them will voteithes "legltimlsts"- rem.
nant OF the adherents of the house OF Bour-
bon, who hate Boneparte not because he is a
tyrant but because he is a usurper. Still the re
is probability that the affirmative votes will
be an immense majority. The experiment OF
1852 shows how strong centralized govern
ment can control the ballot box through lis
agents. The army voted then, as it votes
now, and of course it's entire strength will be
exerfed for the Emperor at the polls as il
would be on battle field. But the liberals by
refusing to vote or voting "no" will prove to
the third and last Napoleon that there is still
an element in the French people that he can
no more conciliate than he can terrify.