The Evening Telegraph

VOX POPULI.

M. Ollivier, in the debate in the French Legislative Chamber on the arraignment of Rochefort, fell back on the people for support. He declared that the Imperial Government did not dread revolution, and that it had other cause for its sense of security than was afforded by the possession of a loyal, faithful and courageous army—the irresistible moral strength which is imparted by the assent of the nation. This sounds remarkably well, or rather would so sound, if France had heard these words for the first time on this occasion. But it becomes a very interesting question as to whether the loyalty, faith and courage of the hundred thousand armed men who were held in readiness to pounce upon Paris on the day of Victor Noir's funeral were inspired by the moderation of the masses, or whether the moderation of the masses was not inspired by the loyalty, faith and courage of the hundred thousand armed men. "The assent of the nation" in the United States has one meaning, and in France it has another. Here the words will bear a literal interpretation, and no tyranny or iniquity is endured unless the people either prefer to endure it or are too apathetic to overturn it. But in France so many appliances in the shape of legions of loyal, faithful and courageous armed men are brought to bear upon the expression of the popular will, that a minister merely stultifies himself by rolling the words under his tongue.