New-York tribune., 1873-12-17

tjOns.r But tlie elections OF Sunoay last nave
u,dely shaken this last refuge OF confidence.
Thinking their power and prestige Grmer
since the MacMahon seven years term was
voted. they concluded it would be safe TO
order elections for four long standing vacan-
cies in the Assembly Success in these con-
lests was of great Importance ana would have
been of mcaIcul,ble advantage to the Conser
vatiye cause. The Government therefore
SHARED no pains TO achieve 1t. But they nave
bcen beaten handsomely ut every point, and
the Republic gains not only four seats III
tho Chamber but the enormous moral strength
of n sweepinp victory at a critical time.
In the Department OF the hude the two
Radicals elected are NJ. Bonnel, Mayor OF
Narbonne, and N. Marcou, Mayor OF Carcas-
some and President of the Council General
of the Department. The energy OF the
Conservatives WAS of great use to the latter
oentleman. "a we learn from the Courier of
this city that he is now in prison on Press
prosecution, and will go directly from jail to
Versailles. In the Departments OF FInstcre
and Seine-ot- Disc the contest was made re-
markably significant by the withdrawal IN
each district of several opposition candidates
for the purpose of uniting tho full Re
publican strength upon the one who most
fully represented the popular demand
for the establishment OF the Republic, the
maintenance of universal suffrage and mnnici-
pal liberty and the dissolution ot the present
Assembly The result is In the highest degree
epcOuraging AS if never weary oil proving
how baseless are the SANDERS and the fears of
their enemies, the Republicans have again
shown an independence Of the power OF the
Government, q capacity for organization, and
a much rarcr capacity for lf-sacriiice, which
ought to gain them still greater accessiOns
from the middle classes by demonstrating tho
safety of the Commonwealth in their hands.
Bnt the gentlemen now managing affairs at
Versailles are entirely beyond the reach of the
teachings of experience. Some of them are
convinced that the final success OF the Repub-
Gcans will cause society to be roasted with u
basting of petroleum. and all of them are GER
tain that their chances for Office woulo not be
40 good under NJ. Theirs as under Marshal
NacMabon They do not, therefore, see any
thing of divine sanction in the voice of the
neonIe Far from submitting to it, they seem
noi to have lost a moment in taking measures
70 oppose and thwart the popular desire. One
disnatcb from Paris tells us that the Duke
de Brogiie, the Minister of the ln-
terror. has proposed that the Dnke
TAumale be made Inspector General
of the army. If the Minister of War had dis
covered IN the conduct of the Bazaine trial
such pre,'minent military qualities rs to JUS
tify the creation of this place for the Pince'
the proposition might have been easily under
stood but coming from the Interior Depart
ment 1t can only be looked on as Il police
procaution, measure iD the interest OF that
moral order which is the monomania OF the
aristocrstic party. But a stitl more ominous
rtimor is that which We print this morning,
that the Ministry propose to submit To the
Assembly project for the restriction OF the
suffrage, by which 100000 of voters shall be
dis1ranchised This would SEEM at first
thought, hardly credible. in this year of the
XIXth century; but after all il is perfectly
logical, coming from the MacMahOn Govern
ment They are thoroughly convinced of their
own right, and of the error of their opponents.
If the majority of the voters of France disa-
gree with them, then they ought to be de-
| prlyed OF the votes of which they make 80
foolish and criminal a use They have seen
every usurpatiOn, every outrage upon the pop
uar sentiment and sovereignty acquicsced In
by the people in the interest Of order, and
they seem to imagine there is no limit to
their authority. "A long as they are sustained
by majority of the Assembly. The only OBJ
stacle in their way is this exccs-
sively inconyenient and annoying institution of
universal suffrage. If they could restrict that
so az TO control the elections, there would be
no trouble in governing France for its own
good, and in bringing in at the proper time a
King who will make everybody happy This
has been tried once before, and 1t resulted in
the destruction of the Assembly which con-
sented to it and the ruin of the Republic in
whose name it was cOnsummated.