Year: 1863

Napoleon III. and His Prospects.


The Emperor of the French, we hear from
good authority, intends issuing manifest to his
people, calling upon them to support, at the
coming elections the candidates known as those
Of the government This step would be most
unusual one, and would certainly betray great
uneasiness on che part of Napoleon. We.a'so
hear that M. de Persigny, the French Minister
Of the Interior, has announced to the journals
throughout the departments that those advo-
eating the cause of the opposition would be
punished. These proceedings go to show that
the Emperor is in dread of the elections as like
ly to increase the number of those deputies who
so sturdily and ably oppose his despotism.


He is aware that the failure Of the Mexican
throughout France, which feeling is Of course
increased by the sufferings consequent upon the
almost total cessation Of commercial relations
between that country and the United States.
His opponents take advantage of these circum-
stances, and do all in their power to increase
the discomfort which Napoleon evidently deems
80 menacing How greatly will the displeasure
Of the French people be increased when they
receive the latest news from Mexico. Manifcsts
from Napoleon and repressive measures against
the press on the part of his Minister will then
be unavailing, and the voters, spite Of all, will
give Their suffrage to the candidates who are
known to be opposed to the government of the
Emperor. His Majesty will find his actions
hampered by any accession Of power to the OPP
position, and his prospects for the future will
certainly be the reverse of cheering. He also
finds himself in a great dilemma as regards Po-
land. Austria, 1t is now well known, will not
side against Russia in this matter. As par
ticipator in the occupation Of that unfortunate
country, Austria's sympathies are with Russia;
and though she seemed, when the insurrection
of the Poles first broke out, to lean towards
them, and evinced a willingness to act with
France in forcing from Russia concessions for
the Poles. she has now changed her policy, and
seeks to obtain peace merely on the basis
that all thu Powers concerned-Prussia, Russia
and hersell-may keep their bold upon Poland.


Napoleon must await the answer of the Gar
with great anxiety. Should that sovereign be
firm and show disposition to curb the Poles,
spite Of the menaces Of France, what will the
Emperor do? Will he dare to 20 to war with
Russia alone and unaided or will he retract
his demands end step down from the pedestal
he had placed himself upon as the redresser of
the wrongs of Poland. To do this wonld ex-
hibit him in sad light to Europe. 80 attentive
now to his every movement To make war
upon Russia he would certainly have to aban-
don his schemes for conquest on this continent,
and herein would be loss of prestige which
bis enemies would not be slow in commenting
upon. Decidedly Napoleon's prospects are far
from bright. His assumption of the title,
"Defensor of wronged nationalities," he will
find it hard matter to carry out, and his
present failure will be all the more bitter from
the fact that at first he was SO successful in this
character. The coercive order Of M. de Persig-
ny, who persecutes the French press with such
bitterness, will surely not add to Napoleons
popularity in France.


We, however, have not the right to upbraid
H. de Persigny. In the South newspapers are
dcalt with In as summary q manner as the
French Minister ever betrayed towards the
most noted Orleanist journals in France. while
at the North we are fast drifting into similar
course of conduct. We are waiting with anxi-
ETY. to ascertain whether the obnoxious mea.
sures we refer to will be countenanced by the
administration. or whether, as we suspect, they
are the acts Of individuals with moro zeal than
discretion. We do not believe that the people
Of the North will, like the despot-rdden
French. submit to any undue pressure upon the
rights and freedom of the press or Of individu.
ais and hope to see the government speedily
disavowing all actions which tend to such q
| consummation. The government needs the
sympathy of all classes and must by its actions
deserve that sympathy, without which it will
find 1t most dinicult matter to struggle sue


cessfully against the troubles which this wicked
rebellion has brought upon the country. The


people must respect the government, and have
every confidence in it, and not be taught by
the hasty and unrefecting actions Of zealots OF


III tempered individuals to oppose the admins


tration. III judged repressive measures always
create o determined opposition--s fact which
Napoleon III. is finding out to his cost. We Sc
riously hope that our administration will moi
incur any such results, and that to one and all
may be allowed that liberty which our glorious


constitution guarantees.
The REBEL PRryATEERs AND SECRETARY