New-York tribune., 1877-10-13

Tomorrow is q day big with imp )rtance Tor
the immediate future of France The election
for the new Chamber of Deputes, throughout
the Republic, will decide whether the brizcnly
arbitrary attitude of the Government Is suf-
fcient to intimidate the large class who while
bitterly resenti1g 1T in their hearts. seek the
maintenance Of order at almost any price, or
whether they have courage enough to stand
side by side with their indignant brethren ana
set upon the Government the brand OF agencfai
pubic condemnation. The Reaction VIII pnt
forth its whole strength aided by all tne local
machinery winch has been worked even Le-
yond its legal powers, III order to suppress
freedom of debate the earnest ana courageous
element in the Republican party viii do 'he
same thing and the balance will be turned ny
tine hands of those who, while they may an
ticipate trouble in either case, imagine thai The
greater disaster always comes with change.
hlacMahon has discovered. after all, that h's
first manifesto was premature. Even II itS IL
cons stencies had not been s1 clarlnS, the re-
MAJ ikable State papcr-aS We may iruly eau u
which Theirs bcducathed to the natlCn,
would have equally stripped 1t OF authority or
Influence. The second manifesto, issued on
Thursday. shows that the Government Is Sc
rioIIsly alarmed When it d,sccndS 10 eXpld-
nation. the change Of tone, by contrast with its
former utterance, has thc character of an apoi-
oy. Its appearance is carefully timed to
make an impression upon that class which,
rs We have said, will decide the fate Of the
election. 1t promises order and peace IN re-
turn for support anG threatens new crises ana
conflicts in case The Republican mliOrlty Is re-
turned The coratcr-mGnifesto Of the Senate
rial Left cannot entirely ne ltraze the eiie"
of MacMahon's appeal. IT the Republican
porry of France stands firm and unterliied, Il
will owe its success to the palpablc blunderS
of thc Government ard the magnificent ar-
Y;,ignmeat of Theirs. Were the latter shli
alive. we should not doubt the return of an
increased Opposition tomorrow; but between
Gr6vv and Gambetta there IS a gap which can
ONLY he filed. at this moment, 10y the most
exalted patriotism and the rueSt loyalty 10
principle.
Since the act of the 9th Of May, the peopl'
of France have Mt been allowed n days
rcpose For five months they have been har-
asscd thrown from one phase Of excitement
into another, tempted by the Government TO
openly resist the Governments and have only
escaped a violent crisis by the constant excr-
cjse of n srlf-iestraint which seems like the
development of new virtue "Ordcr and
peace" is tue final bait which MacNlahon
holds out to them, and il might be swallowed
without hesitation if lie had not taught the
people to distnst him 50 profoundly. Ii viii
still tempt many. The elections tomorrow
will be held under the pressure of every tech
nic.h restraint which the Government can dl>-
cover, or invent with any show of legality;
there Will be arrests at the latest moment
intimidation, persuasion and the maj 'ri'y il
France. thus treated as a factous minority
must be abundantly satisfied il it barely sue
cccds in returning its former number of Dcpu-
ties The friends Of free and Just government
the enemies OF reaction and despOism, the
sympathisers with a great nation in Il iatefu
crisis, will unite in the prayer that tomorrow
may bring light out Of dirllncSs