The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-24
THE UNION.
EUROPEAN Correspondence.
PARIS, May %, 1886.


acIose. The Chamber Of Deputies will adjourn on the
lOth, and the Chamber Of Peers probably week OF
ndays afler The debate on the budget was ANNA
sd on account Of the collateral questions raised; but
the sums demanded were, IN general voted with great
alAerity. M. Thierss amendments on the estimates
Of the expenses incurred by the armed Intervention
IN the affiirs of La Plata and Montevidso was
thrown out by large majorityj but the gifted ora
or statesman and historian appealed from the vote
Of the Chamber 10 the sense of the public, by pub
ishing the reasons which had urged him 10 propose
he amendments in letter addressed to the Consti-
Talionnsi the Naiiossl, and the Steele. Appeals TO
the press and the sense Of Vic public, instead Of the
Chambers, have latterly become much more fire.
quent and seemed 10 augu nothing good TO the sta
ls ggo and the stability OF the present government
The revolution Of July was made by the press; but
since that powerful organ Of public sentiment
the pslse OF free nation-has gradually lost its in
auence. II was shsckled by the laws Of September
Of which, unfortunately, M. Theirs himself was the
originator then, by degrees, disresarded, LAS II had
no longer the power 20 speak its true sentiments and
al last having lost It's power, dlsconsdered. The
frat sep toward restoration Of the people-the
French naIion-is therefore, TO give the press re-
ipectable position, which can only be done by the
opposition editors having fixed programme, and
defending in various guises and forms the same prn-
cples This q. 10 which the opposition ought 10
have done long ago; but unfortunately they lacked
the organizing spirit OF subordnation. Each Of the
proud spirits who felt mission, led his own wing
into the thiekest Of the fight; but there was no con-
oerted plan Of action, and the unity Of purpose in
the administration prevailed against them II is not
quite year since some sort of a union took
place between the legitimist opposition and that
Of The left. The object ofM. Thers's last movement
TO unite The efl and right with the left centre. II
he succeed in that the ministry Of the 29th October
may yet meet with serious embarrassments, unless
succeed to strengthen itself at the ensuing cleo.
ions.
NJ. Theirs has quilted his special opposition TO
the foreign policy Of M, Guizot not that he has
dropped il, but he considers IT, from this day. but
coordinate branch Of his great movement against
"the whole system" by which France has been
governed since 1880. Il was on the occasion of the
ATE wicked attempt on the kings life, which the
Journal des Debais very foolishy ascribed TO
secret conspiracy Of many branches, instead Of TO
the moral and Intellectual arrangement Of an obscure
person. that the Constitutional, M. Thiers's organ
took up the lash, and in series of articles which
at time when railroads were less numerous, and
shares less abundant, might have produced crisis;
but IN lS46 merely produced a sensation that led
people to think and reflect which il forced ministers
10 fall back behind their entertainments. The argu-
ments on both sides showed that the constitutional
principles on which the dynasty Of July lie estnb-
hshed admit of different interpretations and that il
snot only this or that detached policy of the ad-
minstration, but the very fountain Of constitutional
power which, in its present FORM is laid bare TO the
attacks ofthe opposition "The king" says the Con
sttutionnst, tsnd the article was too powerfully
written to supPossan one but M. Theirs hmself
could have been the author "descends into the ranks
Of parties, and by that nueans becomes identified
and, IN the eyes people, Responsible for the
OF an unpopular or international administration
and IN consequence royalty becomes uncovered"
M Guzot, or some pen not much inferior to that Of
M Guzot, replied to these attacks with much and
spirit. II asked The question; whether the king, in
q constitutional IL b., Cd
tratve talents and great diplomatic skill, such no
one will deny to Louis Philippe, must hide his light
behind bushell Whether talent in king, when
brought to bear on the administration of constitu-
uonal government, becomes an unconstitutional
thing! "The constitutional king of M. Theirs, ~
opined the Debats, 'must be equal to zero, or he
deranges the constitutional functions of the govern
ment" The obvious dialectics of this argument was
nevertheless accepted by the Constitutional, and the
proposition hercely maintained that even such a
royal zero would be more the spirit of constitu-
uonal freedom than government in which royalty
alone Is the counting figure and all the coordinate
powers ciphers, which merely enhance its value. "The
present ministers said the Constitutional, not
the ministers ola constitutional government they
servants Of the king dependant the breath of his
nostrils." The Constitutional contained even Ian
guage much more hostile than this; but which re-
frain from repeating, the National and other lber
al papers repeated it only matter of historical
record afraid lest it might give offence in quarter
where Its editors had not many friends as the
Constitutional. At last, it is said that the king
slgnhed himself his desire that the controversy
should stop, md the Journal des Debas accordingly
ceased its fire.
But this was but the commencement of M.
liners great movement, which was followed up in
The Chambers, and carried on with bitterness
which we have not witnessed in the celebrated au-
thor of the History Of the Revolution since 1881 and
1882. The organs Of the extreme left, the National
md tha A.
M. Theirs than for him, believing him too far den-
uhed with the present dynasty to advocate his &C
cession to the ministry,) have given up their old
grudge, and not only freely opened their columns to
Nj. Theirs arguments, but consented generally TO
cooperate with him, at least in his personal oppos
lon to M Guizot. I'M. Theirs succeed to unite
the French liberal press in great phaanx which,
instead Of wasting its strength in a thousand petty
attacks on thousand small things, will move with
but one will and with purpose in but one direc-
ton, concentrating all it's forces the removal of
the obstacle which il may find that way, he will,
II not immediately, at least ultimately, succeed in
giving new direction to the public affairs Of our old
allies, the French people The movement is so inn
portan for the political position in Europe, that it
might indeed be called historical one. Il has been
viewed in this light in Germany, in Belgium, Italy,
and Spain, and everywhere encouraged the hopes of
me liberals. Nj. Fhers, placing himself at the head
OF the liberal opposition in France, becomes once
more of European consequence. He rises from the
mere, comparatively humble position (humble for
such talents as M. Thiers) of u ministerial candi
date to that of the leader only OF the French
uon, but ofthe progressst party in all Europe. Al
ready his course has caused corresponding move
ment in the Rhenish provinces, as the uncomprom-
islng satire in regard to Russia Of the Constitution
mel has already been copied in Vienna and Berlin.
DO not expect that NJ Theirs will have majority
for his views either in the present expiring Cham
Der, nor in the next one. With the present electo
raj system, and the whole power and influence Of the
government brought to bear on il, majority OF
from sixty to eighty is not 80 easily But
M. Theirs will prepare party for eventualities,
which wilt be strong and capable, because discip-
lined; IL will have an ackno wledged statesman for
leader, and command at all times the respect Of its
opponents. That party, il il shall not defeat the
ministry, will at least check its course ard fatigue
and harass it in detail. In proportion "a such an
opposition makes itself the honest interpreter of the
national VOWS, it will be backed by the nation OF
lsrge which, in turn, from the fact Of being repre-
scented in the Chamber, will take courage and re-
its efforts toward electoral reform and the fran
ohisement Of the industrious classes. The ministry
viii thus b, made sensible TO the pressure from
without, and by that means, the barricades which