Let us change the scene, for a passing glance at
the progress of the, political game among our nearest neighbours. Eight millions is the amount at which Louis Napoleon's officials are pleased to estimate the return of votes for the Empire on the Sunday and Monday. The Ministerial journals, the Prefects, in short the whole motive machinery, of the Government, was employed to arouse the electors to "rush to the poll " ; and the report is, that they did rush to the poll accordingly, with "enthusiasm." As before, the utmost facilities were given to those who purposed to vote " oui " ; the obstruction to the voting of " non " went so far as to impede the printing or circulation of cards bearing that monosyllable. Even to abstain from voting was to brave danger- ous displeasnres. The weather was adverse to the plausibility of the Imperial reports about enthusiasm—for it sent floods of rain and storms of wind. Nor were any crowds seen at many of the voting-places in Paris. Somehow or other, the eight millions crept into the ballot-box without showing all their numbers in the streets. Still they were in the box • for the officials found them lying there "with enthusiasm." And thus Louis Napoleon has obtained the suffrages of the French people. It is of no use to deny the fact. Certain it is that if he has not the positive wishes of the whole French people, at least he has the sufferance. If the French people has not given its own vote, it has suffered others to give the vote in its name, and has not pre- vented that procuration. The vote of the army, which has a sub- stantive importance, was probably, more positive. "The Emperor" is continuing his military and naval reinforce- ments. The reduction: of 30,000 men is followed by the calling out of 80,000 new conscripts, the entire levy of 1853; and the Times discloses the fact that the Gendarmerie, (which is even more of a military police force than our Irish Constabulary,) already
i
25,000 strong, s to be greatly augmented. Two more screw line- of-battle !Ships are ordered at L'Orient, and a screw frigate. The redactions, therefore, are but the farcical pretence which we sup.. posed them.te be. - It Was not to be expected that Louis Napoleon would alter his course ; no man's acts have been more consistent with each other. Leopold. of Tuscany may alter his course, when he restores punish- ment of death with unusual severities, and introduces, as he has just done, the police surveillance which is continued in all other parts of Italy. But as the Patriot party of Italy, of whom some new move has been discovered in Florence, continues its labours — as revolutionists, like Morosini and Morelli at Bologna, continue their faithful silence even under punishment,—as Austria con- tinues new prohibitions, like that of arms to the people of Vienna, Without finally extinguishing the source of her fears,—so Louis Napoleon perseveres in his own course, of which the marked inci- dents are so well known; a course as yet scarcely more than be- gun, for he has not yet donned the Imperial diadem, which is to cover so many machinations in his busy secret brain.
