Year: 1870

Our latest news FROM Paris does not In any


material sense alter the situation. There is


really nothing new In some quarters much


has been made Of the workingmen's strike at


Creuzot, and Of the visit to the scene Of strife


of President Schneider. Much also is made Of


the nterception of certain Belgian journals.


Less is made Of the fact that M. Rochefort has


been summoned to appear on Saturday to give


evidence in the preliminary investigation
which is now going on in reference to the
shooting Of Victor Noir by Prince Pierre Bona
parte. In our opinion this last is the most
important piece Of intelligence, although we
have again to say there is nothing new touch
ing the general situation. Things are very
much as they were, and in ell likelihood they
will remain so until Prince Pierre is put upon
his trial, which, it is said, is to come off in
few days.


Although we do not feel disposed to make
too much of the latest news we do not deny
that the situation is grave. It was always our
opinion that when the Emperor really under
took the crowning Of the ediice with the
statue of liberty he would experience trouble.
1t was our opinion at the same time that the
Emperor would not undertake this task until
he had completed his preparations and felt
by foresight and wisdom and wealth and
almost unlimited power. The course Of
events has justified our opinion. When the
proper time came the Emperor yielded 80
far and gave the people voice in
the country. II the new liberty was
by certain parties somewhat abused, it was
not so abused as to make the Emperor halt in
his progressive policy. The late general cleo
ton clearly and unmistakably proved that the
people had faith in the Emperor, and the
!Senatus Consult,m proved that the Emperor
had neither swerved from his policy nor lost
his faith in the people. If there was delay in
convoking the Chambers it was not because
faith was broken on either side but because
the change was radical and caution was neces-
sary. All the old servants Of The empire were
committed to policy that was dead New
men were needed for the new policy: but
where were the new men to be found?
Therein lay the difficulty, and the difficulty
necessitated delay. During all this time the
Emperor was abused by the extneme men of
the Left. Yet not one single backward step
did he take. Rochefort was duly elected by a
section of the Paris electors, and though the |
Emperor could with justice have taken the |
advice of his friends and pronounced the cleo |
ton invalid he permitted his bitterest and in
some respects his meanest and most unprinci-
pied enemy to return to Paris and take his seat
in the Legislative Assembly. In no one direc-
ton was there any backing out. There was
selfsacrifice, but there was no tyranny. The
issue during all these months has been calmly
awaited, and in justice to the Emperor it must
be said that in spite of very extensive abuse of
privilege there has not in one single instance
been abuse of power. That a crisis has
arrived we will not pretend to deny but we
will say that but for the rashness Of the En-
peror's cousin the crisis would not now have
been fact.


AS matters now stand, no matter how
brought about, it is undeniable that the
Emperor has much trouble on hand.
Rightly or wrongly, Rochefort is power.
AS nearly as may be he represents the old
republican sentiments sentiment which, not
wthstanding the glories Of the first empire,
the experiment of kingdom under both
branches of the Bourbons, the failure of two
republics and the success of the second |
empire, still lives in France. The question of |
the hour among the French people is not
between Bonapartism and Bourbonism, not
between Imperialism and royalty, not between
the claims of the heir of hundred kings and
the claims of the heir of one successful soldier;
it is between republicanism and monarchy.
Rochefort unfortunately, we think, represents
the former; Louis Napoleon represents the
latter 1t is this which gives gravity to the
situation. 1t is this consideration which more
than any other induces many minds to regard
the situation as doubtful The trial of Henri
Rochefort, despicable as we consider him, and
the trials of the Emperors cousins, little as we
esteem them, will separate France into two
great divisions between which the gulf will be
broad and deep, and both of which will feel
keenly and express themselves strongly. The
one division will stand by Rochefort the other
will stand by Louis Napoleon. The former
will mainly represent republicanism; the
latter will to man represent monarchy.
Until the trials have been concluded we cannot
well tell how much gravity there may be in the
situation. Circumstances which have proved
so powerful as to make an end of factions for
the present have arranged the French people
into two great hostile divisions; and he would
be bold man who would venture to predict
with absolute confidence which division is to
come forth from the struggle triumphant


On all hands it is felt and confessed that
much depends on the army. If the army re-
mains faithful to the Emperor, the Emperor,
of course, will remain master of the situation.
If the army goes over to the people the Em-


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