The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-05 00:00:00

PARIS CORRESPONDENCE.

SUNDAY.
The complexities of French politics accumulate almost

,00 rapidly for my brief chronicle. It was expected that

this session would be a mere formality—devoted to nothing
more serious than the verification of the deputies' powers,
and involving nothing more troublesome than a few rows
over some of the prefects' sharp practices. But
impatient France will not wait. The cry for
change has gone out, and all parties are now
busy less with verifying powers than with bracing
themselves up for the great constitutional battle
which looms in the distance. The interpellation of the
Tiers-Parti, Left Centre,or Constitutional Liberals—which.
ever name the moderate Reformers may finally choose- --is
becoming a great fact. One hundred deputies have
already signed the demand for liberty to question the
Government on its domestic policy with a view to
securing the more efficacious control of the country in
its own affairs. This success has surpassed the most
sanguine expectations of the Moderates. We first heard
that seventy, then eighty, and filially that ninety deputies
would join this movement in favour of constitutional
government. A hundred have already signed, including
several Imperialists, and in particular M. Nogeut Saint
Laurens. Altogether the Libertd is sosanguine as to believ.L.
that the interpellation will receive the support of not less
than 150 deputies—a clear majority of the Chamber.
A meeting was held yesterday at the Palais Bourbon
of most of the deputies who have appended their signatures
to this demand. More than eighty were present, and the
proceedings lasted three hours. The object of the meeting
was to decide upon the reforms which the Third Party was
to pronounce for. The more advanced of the reformers went
in for drawing up a list of all the changes needed—aboli-
tion of official candidates, establishment of Ministerial
responsibility, the election of maires by the municipal
councils, &-.c. Another section, however, preferred to do one
" thing at a time, and to take the most important question
first. Let us obtain the responsibility of the Ministers to the
representatives of the people, they argued, and the
rest will be easier." This course was strongly supported
by M. Emile 011ivier, amongst others, and was finally
adopted, only six voting for the plan of submitting the
reforms en bloc.

It seems almost impossible to believe that an interpella-
tion so supported as this is could be rejected. Indeed the
only chance of its being rejected is by preferring another,
which is now being signed. The Imperialists are turning
Reformers, and are coming out with their interpellation.
They evidently see that great changes are coming, and
that they might as well have the credit of them as be left
out in the cold, whilst the honour of reform is carried off
altogether by the Left Centre. M. du Miral, one of the
Vice-Presidents of the Corps Ldgislatif, has, therefore,
drawn up the following demand :—" We, the undersigned,
wish to interpellate' the Government as to the necessity
of strengthening the institutions of the Empire by
developing the action and powers of control of the Corps
Legislatif by means of-1. The restoration of the address.
2. A more liberal and practical organisation of the right
of interpellation. 3. An extension of the right of amend-
ment. 4. The election by the Corps L6gislatif of its
President and Vice-Presidents." These reforms are of
less magnitude than those which would be supported by
the Moderate Liberals ; but still they are reforms, and con-
sidering that they are being advocated by aVice-President
of the Chamber, and a number of the Emperor's firmest
supporters, one conclusion only can be formed. A change
in the system of government is inevitable. Indeed, what
with the Imperialists, who have got up this interpellation,
the Moderates, who have signed that got up at M. Brame's,
and the extreme Radicals, who will support anything
calculated to give annoyance to the Government, the
Reformers of all shades are a vast majority in the
House.

The last two sittings of the Chamberhave been occupied
with an exciting debate, in which the honours fell to M.
Jules Simon. The reporter of M. Justin Durand's elec-
tion in the first circumscription of the Pyr6mses Orientales
had taken it for granted that the validity of the return
would be admitted as not giving rise to any serious
objection. But the Government deputy—for M.
Durand was an official candidate—was wofully
disappointed in thinking that be could secure his
seat thus easily. On Friday M. Jules Simon made his
appearance with an immense collection of documents
under his arm, and forthwith he went to work to prove that
M. Durand's election was null and void. His bundle of
documents contained nothing less than numerous charges
of corruption, substantiated by many witnesses, and
were so serious, he argued, as to demand, at least, delay
and a profound examination of the means by which M.
Durand secured his return. The revelations of M. Simon
were, indeed, a curious story of the doings of an official
candidate in the provinces. The voters had been both
intimidated and bribed. One local paper actually threa-
tened that all the electors who voted for M. Emmanuel
Arago, the Liberal who opposed M. Durand, should
be transported to Cayenne. Votes were bought
for five and ten francs each. Open house was
kept, at which the free and independent electors
were supplied with meat, wine, &c., ecc., gratis. Yes-
terday these revelations were continued by Jules Simon,
amid tremendous excitement, the Left making the utmost
of their great opportunity, and the Right fairly
unable to meet the facts. There was no help for it ; the
corruption had been of the grossest character, the election
could nut be pronounced valid, and it was accordingly sent
back to the committee to be inquired into again.

It is said that the Emperor will agree with the opinion
of most of the Chamber that the functions of deputy
cannot fairly be exercised by one of his own personal
servants. lie, therefore, will leave his chamberlains to
decide whether they will choose to keep their seats in the
Corps Ugislatif or remain in his service.
Mr. John Stuart Mill, who has been in Paris some little
time, has had a narrow escape. He was assailed with a
sharp attack of cholera, but a remedy was had in time,
happily, and your illustrious philosopher is now safe.
It has been said that the Empress will not go to the
opening of the Suez Canal, but the Patrie comes out with
the announcement that her Majesty positively will go,
leaving Corsica for Constantinople, and then to Egypt.