New-York tribune., 1870-10-04
THE INPERI4L RING.


Now that the utter weakness of France is
exposed the world naturally asks how such
degradation has been brought about. In half
century the most military nation in the
world has so changed that she cannot win
even one battle in campaign; the most dar-
ING belligerent the world had seen since
Frederick the Great, has become too weak even
for self-defense; a people that warred furiously
for twenty years has so lost its organization,
that one campaign has settled Its fate. The
most victorious nation of sixty years ago sue
cumbs to the weakest of the enemies that then
confronted it. BY what road has this degra-
dation been reaChedY
The answer is plain. Imperialism. France is
ruined now as it was exhausted i'll the early
part of this century by the vices of iresponsi-
bic rule. Louis Napoleon has been the most
absolute ruler in the world spending money,
making war, imposing taxation, and all ac-
cording to his own personal will, all with
out criticism at home. But although he re-
ceived an enormous sum yearly for his private
purse, and had his palaces maintained at the
public cost, he was still in debt and so cramped
in his resources that an unexpected call for
money Udu lO Dt ultl ny d nNN loiH VI d
of propeIty. The immense fortune yearly
placed in his hands was entirely spent in buy
ing the cooperation of some men who could
make his position hazardous, and in securing
the silence of others who had got hold of COM
promising secrets The absolute Emperor of
France has been the servant and paymaster of
any rogue who could manage to spy into his
affairs.
But the money paid such men was the least
part of the cost to France. All the men who
aided in the coup f6tdt received not only i'm
mediate but continued reward. They and
others like them held the positions of COM
mand in the armies, of power in the country.
One and all they grew rich by stealing from
the Treasury. Haussmann, who spent $780,
100000 in identifying Paris against the wish
of the people who were to pay the BILL is
specimen. His enormous wealth is drawn d-
rectly from the taxes of the citizens. Gen.
Lebpuf, who was the Emperors Chief of staff,
and when this campaign opened Commander
in Chief under the Emperor, forced the Chasse
not on the army because he could control the
both of the gun and of its cart
ridge. He did this when its defects as a weapon
were well known, ana he ulu III ny an unuls-
guised course of oppression and fraud AL
though there were about fifty breech-loaders
known to the world when the French commits
sion sat in August, 1866 there were only three
guns presented to it, All of them were new.
all of them offered by men IN the commission.
and the gun chosen was that one backed by
Gen. Lebeuf, President of the Board! One
of the other officers had the shrewd-
ness TO save himself by Withdrawing
his gun in haste; the other more
obstinate, expiated his boldness in dis
grace. Inventors could get no hearing. Even
those who had influence enough to reach the
Emperor, gun in hand, and procure his favor
able opinion fortheir weapon, soon found that he
had absolutely no power-that there were those
behind the scenes who not only overrued their
Emperor, but made no secret Of il. AT the
head of this Ring was General LebTuf. In
two contracts out of the many that were made
for the Chassepot and its cartridge, the profits
of the Ring are supposed To have been
4, 600 francs France spent 1GO,000,000 francs
upon the conversion of her old muzzle-l0ad-
ing niles and the manufacture of new breech-
leaders. and i0-day she is clad to find 100000