The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-17

have great dislike to that form OF government
sThe Emperor replied NJ. Olivier, certainly was
somewhat prejudiced against parliamentary gov
eminent as in the condition in which he found
France he did not believe that 1t would do any
good to the country. But when as in 1867, he
thought the time to practise 1t had come, he was
quite ready to play the part of constitutional
sovereign. He had many qualifications for such
role. in spite OF his position and the Mace he had
for years held as the arbiter OF Europe, Napoleon
ILL., was a wonderfully modest man. very distrustful
of his own Judgment anxious to regard all sides
OF a question, and, strange as it may SEEM
quite as good friend TO liberty as those who ac-
cuse him loudly OF having been a tyrant. All
] see that this astonisbes you, and you are very
likely thinking that the author OF the coup d,etot
could hardly be friend OF freedom. But vet it
was 80. Let me explain myself You can hardly
judge better OF the condition France had got into
after lS4S than by what you see now. II you take
any interest in French politics you must be aware
that no one il very much in love with liberty in
France just at the present moment. What every
one wants Is IA sabre and firm and strong hand
to WELD it, ready to strike fearessly, nay, pitt.
lessly, II need be. Stop the first man you meet In
the street and ask him what he wants IN politics,
and You may be sure the answer Will be "A strong
government, which should be certain OF long dura-
ton, which would give us time to work and grow
corn and wine, and sell our goods and earn back
all the savings we lost in the war; That is what
everybody except few fanatics, wants in France
at the present moment"
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC AND ITS PROSPECTS.
Your correspondent suggested that it seemed to
him that republican form of government would,
if definitely organized, adopted ana recognized in
France, give all the required security aud lu-
sure the preservation OF order and liberty The
most firmly seated and strongest as wel as freest
government on earth was the Republic of the
United States.
81 do not dispute IT," replied NJ. Olivier "but
then in America the conditions are entirely differ
ent from ours. You come OF stock trained to the
exercise of freedom and with you all parties Join
in respecting the government in the long run,
however bitterly the men actually in power NAV
be opposed Many men are no doubt intensely
hostile to General Grant and wish he were not
President; but now, that he is a second time chief
OF the state, they would never dream Of dsobeying
his orders or endeavoring to turn him out OF the
White House by riot in the streets OF Washing
ton. The very idea ofsuch thing see makes you
invountarily smile But here there is one continual,
effort to overthrow, not only the men in power,
but the whole fabric Of government. Nothing
fundamental Is accepted by all men in French pol
ltlcs. LOOK at the recent elections In England.
A month ago Mr.. Gladstone and the liberal party
were in power; now Mr.. Disraeli and the conserv.
atives arc in ONCE and every one submits to the
verdict OF the elections. No one calls the consti.
tuition or the crown in question any more than
any one does your own constitution and Republic
when Presidential election takes place in the
United States. There Is one reason why we cannot
follow your lead. Then there Is the question of a
standing army which you in America can do with
ont, but which we regard in France as absolutely
necessary to our existence as q nation. THEN with
us whenever Republic has been proclaimed it has
always led to street fighting and all kinds of pop
ular excuses. in fact, Republic can only exist
for any time when supported by all citizens Or at
least, by an overwhelming majority. When say
supported mean actively supported as with you
in the United States, where the vast majority OF
citizens would take up arms in defence of the Re.
public against internal Just as readily as against
external enemies In a word, the Republic has
never been able to obtain what we Call q sane
tom from the people in France. l consider that
the Empire had obtained such a sanction by means
of the two pl66iScites, especially the last one, in
whichnO pressure was exercised on voters Moth
ing can be established in modern France
WITHOUT PLEBIsCrTE.
When the Emperor after the coup d'st0t was in
Identified for what ne had done by On enormous
majority, it was said that people voted through
fear or because they saw choice between the
Empire and utter anarchy. But there was no
official pressure in 1870, when my ple6dscite took
place. Against that it was urged that people win
always vote for the est ablished government, and
that the 900 votes were given in great mca-
sure for the reforms had introduced. Very well
Then, If the republicans Orleaulsts believe that
let them now appeal to the people under the Re.
public, as we did under the Empire, and II they
have republican or Orleanst majority should be
the first to swear obedience to the government
established in virtue OF such majority, and scrl-
puOus to serve under it as the only legal II we
were to have plebjscite now I am very confident
the Empire would have an immense majority Of
votes. The number would be, in my opinion
roughly speaking, as nearly as possible as fol-
lOws:-
Republican votes Observation-Disclosures. 100000
Oreanlst. 1000, 900
iPerlaiis'' o'ooo,ooo
To this your correspondent ventured to object
that republican candidates had for the last
two years past had overwhelming majOriIies at
nearly all the elections which had taken place in
France. M. olivier replied to this that il was
quite correct that the republicans--or rather he
said, the radicals-had had the majority; "But
that will always be so" he added, sat elections
under such government as the present. The
election Of radical candidates is simply protest
against the monarcnical Tenderness and the cleri-
calSm OF the present government, 1t sounds like
paradox, but yet can assure you that 1t is true
that just where the republicans have now large
maJorities at the elections to the Assembly we
should have equally large majorltes for the En-
pre- If a plGbiScite were now taken. Ger
tain districts of Parts always returned
members OF the opposition under the
Empire, but when my plS9isette took place, in
May, 1870. those very districts gave the Emperor
large mat2Ttles. Tfe people have the greatest
possible dihiculty-nay, it is quite impossible for
them to fairly grasp the difference between one
candidate and anOther--but they see very clearly
the dlneronce between one government and an
other"
''NAPOLEON III.
would be on the throne or France now II he had
lived" added NJ olivier. al DO not entertain a
doubt about it, You ask me what think are the