The Sun. — 1870-11-14 (London, England)

ANOTHER PROPOSED PLEBISCITE. TOURS, November 10.  There is serious talk here about applying to the whole country the Plebiscite which has been so successful in Paris. It is even said, on good authority, that the Dele-, gation at Tours has made up its mind, and that the pigeons bearing the proposal are on their way to Paris. The advocates of the pl6biscite maintain that the arguments which led to its adoption in Paris apply equally to all France. There was an en-eute in the capital, and excesses are committed in the southern cities. The armistice is rejected ; it is necessary to continue the war ; the assent of all France should be gained before embarking in such an enterprise. It may be as well to translate part of the article from the Patrie, which is the leading advocate of the plan.:— The armistice, says the Patrie, has been rendered impossible by the unjustifiable pretentious of Prussia, and the election and convocation of a National Assembly have become equally impossible, so that France finds herself thrown back into the vague and provisional condition which she has been placed in since the shameful capitulation of Sedan, and the abrupt revolution of September. At the same time it is indispensable, under pain of death and suicide, that France should have a regularly constituted Government, empowered by the nation to repress the enemies of the interior, and to speak in their name to the neutral Powers as well as to Bismarck. The Go vernm en tof National Defence must propose to France a plebiscite, couched in some such terms as these. "The French people recognise the Government created on the 4th of September, 1870, and give it full powers for internal administration, and for treating with foreign powers, and especially for concluding a peace, on the condition that directly after the conclusion of this peace a Constituent Assembly shall be elected by the nation." The result of the Paris vote leaves no doubt of the result of the vote of France. The Government of National Defence will be recognised by an immense majority. Strengthened by the authority thus given to it, the Government, henceforward regular, will easily dispose of the resistance now offered, and which before the expressed will of the people will probably disappear of itself. Marseilles, Lyons, Perpignan, and Saint Etienne will be once more in order. In the present situation of the country, the election of an Assembly, very difficult with an armistice, would be impracticable without. Under the most favourable circumstances the task of collecting an assembly would be a lengthy one. How much wiser it would be to adopt a plan by which in three days the whole nation can be consulted, and at the end of six days MM. Favre, Trochu, and Gambetta can speak with the same authority as the Ministers of Queen Victoria or the Czar. The only objection to the. plan is this—would Prussia allow the invaded departments to vote on the pldbiscite ? The Patrie believes that she dare not refuse in presence of the suspicious watchfulness of Europe. As for Alsace and Lorraine, Bismarck will undoubtedly refuse to let them vote. But when your friend in Greeco or Sicily falls into the hands of brigands you cannot pause to consider the most orthodox means of delivering him ; you do the best you can to save him. The provinces may well entrust their deliverance to the Government which said, " Not an inch of our territory," The Government must have the sanction of the country. It will be obliged to ask France for fresh sacrifices of men and money, and it must be authorised to do so by France itself.  These are the pleas of the-plebiscite. Englishmen, as a rule do not believe in such expedient; but in this special instance there is the argument that the Germans would be able to exert much less influence upon the plebiscite than in the choice of a Constituent assembly. The special objections—not speaking of the general pleas against a plebiscite—are also strong. It would distract the atten tion of the people from the business of prosecuting the war, and so long' as it appears that hostilities are to proceed, it is desirable that nothing should interfere with them. Moreover, the opponents of the plebiscite urge that there is no reason for any extraordinary appeal. Some cities in the South have displayed considerable rowdyism, and even mutinied, but in no other part of the land is there the slightest opposition to the Defence Government ; considering that the Ministry took office at a time of unparalleled confusion and depression, the obedience to their decrees has been wonderful. It is urged, too, that the mass of the people are likely to mistake the complex vote of confidence which it is proposed to submit, for a simple decision of peace or war, and vote accordingly. One way suggests another objection The peasants voted " Oui " at the last plebiscite and got repaid by the most fearful sufferings. They will in future be careful of saying " Oui " too rashly. We shall see in a few days whether the project will come to anything. The reports of fighting in the Loire arrive constantly. It appeared a fact that the French have triumphed in one small engagement. They are certainly pushing forward and events of importance are impending. Of details there are as yet none.  COUNT: BISMARCK ON THt