THE GROWTH OF IMPERIALISM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4260, 14 November 1874, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE GROWTH OF IMPERIALISM.

The Imperialists have to thank tho electors of Calvados for another victory. The Bouapartist candidate, M. Le Prevost de Launay, has been elected by a majority of more than 13,500 votes. We are told that he polled 40,791 against 27,272 by the Republican candidate. And as to the Legitimist, he was altogether out of the contest. This is a great victory for tho Imperialist cause. It is not alone that one more Imperialist member has been added to the Assembly. The event has significance in relation to what is to follow on the demise of the moribund Chamber. It must be read by the light of the Nicvre election. That election electrified the political parties of France, not perhaps even excepting the Imperialists themselves. It had been taken for granted that Imperialism was dead ; it created neither interest nor fear among the other parties. The prospect of the Nievre election did not give a moment's uneasiness to them. There was therefore alike astonishment and alarm when, in May last, the Imperixlist candidate in a Radical constituency headed the poll by about 5000 votes. At first the significance of a loss to the Republican party of about 9000 votes in one constituency was either not recognised or not admitted ; but as the full meaning of tho election in Blay became more generally known, the whole political position was convulsed, and to this day the effects of the sudden discovery of the life and growth of Imperialism are discernible. In fact, the whole tone and character of the more recent discussions and manoeuvres in the Assembly were primarily due to this unexpected manifestation of the -vitality of the Empire. But although the supporters of the Empire felt convinced that what had happened in the Nievre was a true reflection of the feeling of the Country at large, it was open to the opponents of the Empire to indulge the belief that this election was only an abnormal, excej)tional phenomenon; and that, at all events, it would be only necessary to put the country on its guard against the danger threatening France to prevent any imitation of such a strange and unwelcome occurrence ; and it was resolved to crush this presumptuous intruder that "dared to raise his head" under the ban of the "Sovereign Assembly." It would seem, however, that Imperialism is not yet dead.