President Bonaparte has got himself into a dilemma, embarras- sing
and discreditable. The virulent threats addressed to Belgium by Grimier de Cassagnac in the Constitutionnel have obtained triumphant majorities for an increased number of Belgian Liberal candidates in the elections now in progress ; and have in France excited general disgust. They have been disclaimed on the part of Government, in the Moniteur. The proprietor of the Constitu- tionnel has replied by affirming that the writer of the articles was in habits of confidential communication with the President, whose views and sentiments he had correctly expressed. The official " warnings " have in consequence been given to the refractory journal, and it is now liable to be "suspended" at any moment. The public looks with contemptuous equanimity on this "tri- angular duel," and appears inclined„,to believe each of the contro- versialists when he speaks ill of his ei-devant allies, and to dis- believe what he says in favour of himself. But what a miser- able and degrading squabble for the head of a great nation to be im- plicated in With singular lack of judgment, the President has embraced this occasion to pick a quarrel with the daily press of London. He has caused warning to be given to the Paris correspondents of three London morning newspapers that he will hold them responsible for everything offensive to himself that appears in the journals with which they are connected. The injustice of this is surpassed by its folly. The President cannot silence these journals.
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