The republic., 1851-06-14
Affairs In France.
rronrIos CONSCIOUSNESS OF tn. nrrusLrc.I

You will remember that in my last gave
outline of programme to be followed by the anti
Republican party in the struggle upon which We
now entering. Ii had only been darky sha-
dowed forth, and those who had heard of it at all
treated it as a chimera and myth But
living fast here, and the events of day bring
forth such astonishing results the morrow, that
the mysteries and hints Of week ago almost
tangible realities to-day. At the date Of my last
letter it seemed probable that the question Of revi-
sion of the constitution would be taken up in the
Assembly, be discussed in its proper order, and
brought to successful conclusion, with compare
tive quiet and dccorum. But we can no longer
lay that nattering JUNCTION to souls. On the
23th of this month the Chamber becomes legally
competent to entertain the question of revision,
on that day it enters its third year. and by the
constitution the Assembly only discuss revi-
sion in the last year Of its existence. In prepa
ration for this parliamentary tournament all par
ties and all fractions of parties ranging them
selves side or the other, for or against
vision. The Legtimists have held formal meet
ing, and have decided to vote for revision,
total and immediate; their motive is openly avow
ed-to pave the way for another and better const
tution--a constitutional monarchy. All the shades
of monarchsts take sides with the Legitimists-
most practical sort Of fusion, worth dozen ideali
| ties like the scheme proposed some months ago.
The Republicans, nettled at this development of
the evenings tactics entrench themselves in that
article of the constitution which requires three
quarters vote upon bill of revision. This cond-
tion giving the entire control of the issue to the
minority, may perhaps become the starting point for
| making direct attack upon the constitution, and
| setting the country more afloat. The ma
jorty, taking advantage of the pressure from with
out, falling back upon the Of petitions with
which the chamber will be inundated, may perhaps
vote that simple majority or majority Of two
thirds shall be sufficient to decide the question.
! Upon any such overt act this the Republicans
promise to fly to arms and the barricades; the ma
orty, with the cabinet, the President, and. as they
believe, the whole country their side, the Pc
tions will appear. to indicate, will descend to the
street in their turn, and then the grand battle the
last final issue between the republic and the trad-
tional monarchy will be fought and decided. The
Monarchists count on cxterminating the republic
and leaving none to tell the story OF their defeat.
They count on the hearty support Of the provinces,
every one by that time will have lost all conf
dence in this trustless iaihess republic, and will
be doubly convinced that the only government that
endures, the only power that has chance of exist
and stability is the monarchy that they have
lost, and which consequently must be restored. So
the majority, thus supported from without, will
make somebody king, or declare somebody en-
peror, and thus the republic will be dead and done
Tor.
As said, this scheme, which some weeks ago
seemed like menace from underground, without
foundation or responsible author, has been aoquir-
ing form and consistency during these latter days
Party lines are tightly drawn in the Chamber.
Noses have been counted, and the Mountain, num-
bering considerably than quarter part Of
the House, make faces and fling taunts at the over
whelming but impotent majority, which ia keeping
back its retort for favorable period. 1t will
be short, but of deep meaning. " What we can't
do ioih the constitution we'll do ,oittout it," In
the mean time, the temper of the Assembly is be-
coming daily bitter and more bitter; the debates
give foretaste of the parliamentary storms which
to succeed; the orators lose sight of
the subject in hand in angry, personal recrimina-
tions; the press wakes fierce, denunciatory,
lutionary, and the people, the subject of this elo
quence and patriotisn, beginning in their turn
to catch the current humor of the time. It pretty
clear that France is more launched on a sea
of uncertainty. The future is so doubtful, and the
recurrence of this state of perplexty at the seooa
Presidential election is suggestive of difficulty
at every succeeding term, that good many per-
sons are wavering, good many we'll wshers to
the republic hesitating which of the two to choose
1t is certainly painful situation, uncomfortable
dilemma With SO little experience of the advnn.
tages and privileges OF a republican government,
abused and violated the constitution has been by
the monarchists in power, with many souvenirs
"of the golden days of oldcn tme," of kings
that chased the stag at Versailles and Fontaine-
bleau, of emperors that hunted the enemy at
Arcoc and Austeritz, of palaces that Illumincd
the Seine and shut out the night from its bridges
and parapets, of courts that glittered with cpl
grams and diamonds, and, above all, kept up
healthy demand for gloves and haberdashery one
need hardly be surprised that the radical question
of the form of government, when once by circum-
stances like the present it becomes an open one,
should be seriously debated, and the merits of the
! subject closely sifted.
But it that the minority is not to be left in
quiet possession Of the article requiring three
| fourths vote One of the y-laws of the Chamber
declares that bill, once lost, shall not again be
brought up until after interval of ak months.
Thus, proposition for revision presented to the
Assembly, and defeated, in the present attitude
OF parties it is to be, is dead letter for six
months This would not do at all. MIR. Morin a
Bonapartist, has undertaken to get over the diff
Guilty. He proposes to cancel the by law in ques-
tion, and substitute another to apply directly to
| reysional propostion-n that bill, though
lost, may be again brought forward in thirty days
The motive of this is, to wear out the opposition;
to bring forward the bill month after month"; and
throw the Mountain into the odous position of ap-
pearng to resist the very plainly expressed will of
the country. 1t ia believed that sufficient num-
Der to turn the scales may be brought in this
way. committee are examining Mr.. NORM IS
proposition, and will doubtless report favorably.
One hundred and forty Republicans have signed
an engagement to oppose all projects of revision.
One hundred and eighty to one hundred and eighty
! three firm, unwavering opponents, would render
the legal revision Of the constitution of 1s4S impos-
| sible.
| The interest that Napoleon has in all this does
not appear at frat sight. The game seems to
be in the hands of the Legitimists, and to the adj
| vantage of Henri V. But the President is not the
man to lend himself to any scheme involving his
own retirement and anybody clsc's succession.
Still the absence of any apparent motive has ex-