A great many different explanations are given of this Manifesto.
Many hold,—and the Bonapartist papers apparently among them, —that it means a coup d'e'lat in case the elections are not favourable to the Government ; many that it is a mere flourish of trumpets to gain votes, which will go for nothing if the votes are not thereby gained ; and some that it indicates a fixed design to resort to repeated dissolutions. But it is exceedingly doubtful whether the Marshal would get the consent of the Senate for a policy of repeated dissolutions ; and even if he could, how is he to get the money-votes legally necessary for the mainten- ance of the Government, with only a Senate to support him ? The only real alternative is between a coup d'etal, which means an outraged Constitution, and M. Gambetta's alternatives, on se sournettre, ou se domettre.
