, 1876-01-08

made o burden to him it he happens to
offend some member of the immense army
of public servants who are the cogwheels
of the colossal machine which the Minis
ter of the Interior can move with a touch
Of his pen. Even the professional men of
the cities often find their prospects made
or marred by the covert influences at the
command of the Government. Hence
changes of Ministry may closely affect the
daily life Of nine Frenchmen out of ten
by radically altering the tone of the orders
sent from Head Quarters. We, on the
contrary, may go through life without ost-
ling against any more formidable repre-
sentative of the Administration than the
humble official who bids crowds "moye
on" It is no wonder that every Party
in France should be passionately eager to
get the command of a machine which
shapes social as we'll as political existence.
Nor is it any wonder that the opponents
of the Government should seek to cripple
a power which they canuot get into their
own hands, or that the Ministers should
strive to keep what they possess.
1t would be easy to win a verbal tri-
umph over NJ. BUFFET by quoting what
members of his Party wrote and said
about Capitalization and personal freedom
while they felt the heavy hand OF the
Empire. They were never tired of prais-
ing our municipal and national institutions
they drew subtle parallels between the
despotism OF the CESARS and that of the
BONAPARTES they were certain that we'll
ordered freedom was a cure for Socialism,
Radicalism, Republicanism, Revolution,
prI oil DtbOp forn,- ~ yClitIopl nuil O,I
they limited that if France would only
place herself in their keeping they would
set her free. Well, she is in THEN keeping.
The Constitutional Royalists have at
least as much power as they possessed in
the time of LOUIS PHILIPPE yet they are
governing France in pretty much the
same way as the Empire did. The Press
is Just as much fettered as it was then,
and in those parts of the country which
are in a State Of Siege personal liberty is
as much at the mercy OF arbitrary
power. Journals are suspended or sup
pressed at the prompting OF Projects
or the dictate Of Generals. Public meet
ings are as carefully regulated as they
ever were, and they are often prohibited
altogether. Projects are as heated par
tisans as they were when NJ. DE PERsIGNY
was at the Home Office. Mayors continue
to be chosen because they promise TO use
their influence against the enemies of the
Government. The pettie8t rural police
man is still a political agent, and in few
months he will be told to canvas for
votes. The only thing needed to complete
the likeness to the Empire is a ruler ready
to break oaths or laws, plunge into great
wars, and steal back into peace for the
sake of his dynasty /; Ministers to whom
France was a farm, yielding rich harvests
for them and an official class demoralized
by the example set and the orders given
in high places. The tone of the public
service is better than it was then but the
machinery is almost the same. Nor would
there be much difference if M. GAMBETTA
were in the place of M. BUFFET. Another
set of commands would be sent along the
official wires, but that would be all.
Nevertheless, it would be unreasonable to
blame M. GAMBETTA or NJ. BUFFET for
failing to come up to an English standard
of consistency or liberty. In Opposition,
they declaim against the tyranny of the
Government because it brushes their politi-
cal hopes in Office, they prize the power
of the Government, because when they are
fighting for life they cannot afford to fling
awav the most effective WeaDon in their