, 1877-10-07
THE ELECTION IN FRANCE


will be chosen in France. Since the dissolu-
ton in June the country has been in fer
ment, and Us the day approaches the excite
ment increases. Popular feeling probably
runs higher in France than it did IN the
United States just before our last Presi-
Dental election. The situation there is even
more critical than was tile situation during
the sitting of The Electoral Commission here
On the one side are President MAcMAHos
and his Cabinet, sullcn, obstinate, and un-
scrnpulous; on the other, large majority
Of the people of France, very cautious this
time, but also, it may appear, very firm.
The two parties confront each other as
skilled combatants, each desiring to "know
the others strength, and each fearingto pro-
yoke m exhibition Of it. The MARSHAL
President has, indeed, yentured farther in
this direction than was patriotic or pru-
dent. His manifesto was an aggraration
of an injury already great enough. If it was
intended, however, to drive the Republicans
into indiscretion, it failed Of its purpose.
Their patience has been, in view of the his
tory of French revolutions, the most notice
able fact Of the canvass.
The gravity Of the situation commends it
to the attention of thoughtful men. Tho at
titude of the Marshal is so arrogant that q
peaceful solution of the difficulties is all but
impossible He will not resign, or rule &c
cording to constitutional methods. He de-
mands as the price Of his obedience to 81 tho
will of the people an Assembly organized
as be dictates. This is contradiction in
terms. The election Of an Assembly such Us
he desires would not secure his obedience to
the people, but the obedience Of the people
to him the use Of the phrase s' will of the
people " in such connection is n mere
iuesse in expression. What the Marshal
desires, lie cannot have; what he can hare,
he rejects beforehand. He invites the nj
ternatiye Of popular abdication of sovereign
rights, or comp detat. With q rashness
which only 8 soldier-politician could con-
ceire, lie has made it impossible for either
party to yield without humiliation. If the
Republicans return small majority, he pro-
poses to trample on and disregard it; if q
large majority, lie will undertake to change
the Government in fact, If not in form. The
Republicans, on the other hand, must pro-
tect the rights Of the majority, or confess
that constitutional government has ceased
to exist in France.
The circumstances attending this canvass
show that Marshal NIAcMAHoS does not 1n-
derstand the first principles of Republican
institutions. While working through the
forms adopted in free aud enlightened En-
eland,-such as dissolution and formal
appeal to the people,-he has used the
methods Of Central Africa His proceedings
against GAaDETTA we're tyrannical His
manifesto was an net Of usurpation. His
threat of violence WIS treason. This is not
an affair for p1ebiscite. The people are
not asked to ratify q wrong already. consum.
mated, but to acquiesce in one that is con-
tcmplated. Moreover, the question IS not
solely ono of constitutional Interpretation.
The supreme right of the people to have a
if this is not conceded, the Constitution is
not worth the paper it is written on.
The commotion il France next Sunday
will not, therefore, be without sufficient
cause. The day will decide the fate of the
nation. The voting population is probably
as large as our OWL, since the qualifications
are less rigid and there are fewer foreigners
in the country. The temper Of the people
will be tried severely after tho result is
known, and the conflict between the Execu,
tive and the Legislature begins; but there
is no reason why the election itseu
should not pass off quietly. Local dis.
turbances, however frequent, are moi
likely to be serious. What the result
will be no cautious observer will care at this
day to predict Tho Republicans still boast
occasionally that they will return 400, in
place Of the immortal 1868; but they appear
less confident now than at the moment ot
dissolution. While A1Ac31AHoS's proceedings
against GAMBE1rA have inaamed the residents
of the cities, his quiet working through thf
Projects has won over, it may be, part Of
the country. The issue will be awaited moi
only with anxiety, but with curiosity; fol
the French system Of suppressing inteli
gonce has left the world in darkness as to tht
relative strength of the parties in France.
Mr.. J. D. O'CoSSER, Of this city, the autho
Of that very interesting and valuable handbook
Of Turkey, which has been already noticed ii
TIE TRIBUNE, has Just issued second edition