FOREIGN NEWS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 701, 21 April 1852, Page 3

FOREIGN NEWS.

FRANCE. There are many predictions that work their own fulfilment. In like manner, to have a strong faith in one’s destiny is half the battle of life. Louis Napoleon is reported to have a superstitious notion about his star; and certainly' the events of his extraordinary career are of a nature to strengthen his belief, and to make him do and dare many things which he would not attempt unless supported by so invincible a conviction. It was his belief in his star that guided him to attack the throne of Louis Philippe from the barracks of Strasbourg. It was the same idea that impelled him to invade Boulogne with a handful of men and a tame eagle ; and that led him after the events of February, 1848, to step into the arena, and carry off the crown of victory from all competitors. The same conviction has impelled him in his long and arduous struggles with the Legislative Assembly, and has probably caused his last defiance to that body to appear as prudent and wise to himself as it appeared imprudent and unwise to the lookers on of Europe. But circumstances are rapidlv justifying the President in the conviction of his own high fortunes which he has so long felt and acted upon. Events no longer creep in France ; they march —or gallop. The luckless Assembly, with scarcely an honest statesman within its walls, pays the penalty both of its want of principle and of individuality of will ; and the President with whatever degree of rashness he may seem to proceed, uniformly comes out a conqueror in the strife. His greatest foes serve him even more effectually than his friends; and every succeeding move in the mighty game narrows the issue, and points him out as the inevitable winner. Nothing, for instance, could have be-n devised more fortunately for his cause than the inquiry originated by his opponent, M, Baze. That representative of the people, foreseeing that the day was close at hand when the President might attempt to imitate the example of Oliver Cromwell, and of Napoleon, thought it expedient to moot the question of the power of the Assembly to call out an armed force for its protection. It was straightway discovered—what every body knew—that the Assembly had the undoubted right to call out its own army ; and it was also discovered—what scarcely anybody knew, not even the President himself—that, although the Assembly could summon an army to protect it against the assaults of foreign and domestic enemies, the power of naming the General remained with the President. The Assembly has thus been egregiously checkmated, and the friends of Louis Napoleon are consequently in high spirits. The President himself has been so elated as to make a speech to the officers of some regiments recently arrived in Paris, in which he has, in terms by no means ambiguous, declared what his own intentions are in case of a final rupture with the Assembly. “ If ever,” said he, “ the day of danger should arrive, I will not do as the Governments which have preceded me have done; I will not say to you, * March 1 and I will follow you,’ but I will say to you ' I march 1 follow me !’ ” There can be no mistake about such language, and there can be as little mistake that the President will be supported by the army in case of conflict . Genera! Magnan, the Commander-in-Chief of the army of Paris, anxious to ascertain the sentiments of the Generals under his command on the embarassing question raised by M. Baze, summoned a meet-

ing at his house, at which most of the MajorGenerals were present. They declared, with significant unanimity, that, whatever orders might be issued by the Legislative Assembly, they could not constitution-,illv obey any which were not issued by or through the Minister of of War. Under these circumstances it is scarcely surprising the Assembly should awaken to the conviction that it is playing a losing game. Temerity, not timidity, is the policy which events indicate; for Louis Napoleon, however much he might be inclined to act tardily and warily, is compelled to act br Idly by the very blunders of his adversaries. The succession of events is now so rapid, that it becomes doubtful whether, after all, the year 1851 will not see the catastrophe which "was not expected until 1852.— Illustrated London News.