Year: 1869

OF the details Of the elections Just completed
In France, our information is sufficient to
enable us to forecast the actual result and to
warrant some little speculation on the probable
effect of that result on the future policy of
the French government.


1t is calculated that at least seven and half
millions of the French people have voted-a
fair representation of the thirty-eight millions
which constitute the population Of the empire.
Of these seven and half millions four mil
lions have voted for and three and half mil
lions have voted against the empire, or, which
is the same thing, against Bonapartism The
opposition in Paris has worked with will,
and in spite Of the presence in the midst of
them of the terrible and increasingly and
universally active machinery of the govern
ment the opposition in the chief city of the
empire has won complete success. In each
of the nine circumscriptions an anti-govern-
ment candidate has carried the day. This,
however, is not ALL Among the opposi-
ton candidates the extreme men have in
almost every instance been the popular favor
ties. Not one imperialist has been returned.
M. Theirs is the only man, not republican,
who will represent Paris in the new Chamber;
but of all the moderates M. Theirs is the most
opposed to personal government. M. Olivier
is, perhaps, the only statesman in France
whose cry is liberty under the empire; but he
was defeated two to one, and compelled to
seek a constituency elsewhere. The anti
Napoleonic spirit which now controls the Paris
electors could scarcely have been more con-
spicuousy revealed than it has been
in the success of such men as Gam
BETA and Bancel, and in the large
number of votes cast in favor of Henri
Rochefort. M. Gambetta has no higher claim
on the French people than that which rests
on his famous speech for the accused in the
Baudin conspiracy trial-a speech which, if
he was then sincere, marks him out as
dangerous foe to the government. M. Bancel
is violent ''red" of 1S49, without any modern
claims. M. Rochefort, as all the world knows,
owes his popularity to the Lanterne, which he
has carried over Europe, rejecting in carica-
ture the worst aspects of Napoleonism. Revo-
luton, not reform, seems to be the wish of
Paris, and all this in spite of the countless
and costly favors which Paris has received
from the bounteous hand of the Emperor. 1t
is most unkind cut, but it has been given,
and Napoleon has no choice but TO endure it as
best he can.


AS it is with Paris 80 it seems to be with
all the great cities. Lyons, Marseilles, Nantes
and, other cities have responded to the call
made upon them with an enthusiasm which
Paris has scarcely excelled. The opposition,
in fact, on the part Of the large centres of
intelligence has been pronounced with an
emphasis which has in it no dubiety and which
ought not to be mistaken. Of the smaller
towns, Of course, we know comparatively
little, but it is the general opinion that the
elections even in these have swelled the ranks
Of the oppositionists. The departments are
less under the influence of the strong popular
impulse of the moment; but 1t is now notorious
that in almost every department heavy vote
has been cast against the present system of
government. According to several well skilled
statisticians, the government has lost nearly
one-fourth of the departments and well nigh
one-half of the total electorate. One elector
in every three has probably gone against the
government.


Is it rash to conclude, with these facts
before US, that the empire is failure even in
the hands of such man as Napoleon? 1t ia
not, we think, rash to say, with the London
Spectator, a journal which though keen is
usually judicious, that "the brain of France,
which, in spite Of temporary fever, is still
stronger than the body, has condemned the
empire, condemned it furiously, condemned it
with needless words of shrl insult" Ii this
language is too strong it is surely safe to put il
in this form, that, when after years of personal
and rather benevolent and successful govern
ment, too, Napoleon gives the French people
chance of expressing their sentiments, they
have not said "we are satisfied, but have
said something totally different-''we want q
change" To put it in another form still, no
impartial reader can go over the words on
which we base our opinions and say that in
the event Of the death of Napoleon his son
would be sure Of the succession. 1t Is now, in
fact, more apparent than ever that Napoleon
rules France because he wields the mighty
machinery of the army, and not because he is
the favorite Of the French people. The latest
news which has reached US, although it shows
large government majority, does not alter
this view of the situation. We have claimed
ninety oppositionists. The last official returns
admit seventy-seven.


The vital question now is, What will


Napoleon doP He cannot allow this opposition
feeling to go on increasing year by year In
such tremendous proportions. Something
must be done. What will it be2 There are at
least three things which the Emperor might
do. There are three possible policies.


He may regard this vote OF the French people


as declaration of war, withdraw the liberties