The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-24
The Roman Question in the Frene:. Cham.
her.

The French Chamber of Deputies is the
great arena where tie champions periodically
strip for words combat, The French have
made no mean name Gin the worlds proad
field Of Sattle," but their most distinguished
"heroes in the strife" must be looked for on
the floor of the Corps Legislatif. The debates
in the two Houses of the English Parliament or
in the American Congress of late years, rarely
attract much attention, 1t may be because there
are no giants in these days. But we oplne the
reason for the exceptionally brilliant displays
of elouuence In Paris is to be sought as much
in the fact of the restriction of public debate
as in the genius and talent of the French
statesmen. The censorship lends zest to the
discussion. NJ. lie President SCHNEIDER con-
trolls the Chamber, and NAPOLEON controls
SCHNEIDER. Members are kept strictly to the
point under discussion, and that point must
never be the government of His Majesty the
Emperor of the French. "Interpellations" are
permitted; q member may ask for information
on this or that point of public policy; and
these skilful masters of wordy fence watch
their opportunity to give home thrust, when
ever there is the least opening in the crirass,
or ministerial gaucherie in parrying tho spirited
assaults of the opposition.
In considering this subject it is proper also
to say that in France alone is rhetoric and
eloquence-oratory-m special study, as
was the case by the old Greeks and Romans.
Hence they have the best speakers and most
polished writers of modern times. The graces
of style and flowers of rhetoric, and the blade
of satire, sharp and polished, are all laid under
requisiton by the French debater, and are not
deemed incompatible with the most profound
knowledge of history and diplomacy, or the
highest craftsmanship.
On the second of December NJ. JULES FAvRE
opened the debate on the Roman question, for
the opposition he was replied to by Messrs.
MousT1ER and RoUEER for the government,
and by NJ. THEIRS for the old regime. all three
in favor of the Pope. JULES FAvRE spoke for
the opposition, we said, which, in this instance,
happens to represent the liberal party, both OF
France and of Europe. NJ. JULES FAvRE,
however, did not speak on this side because 1t
is liberal, but simply because the government
was on the other side. In the contest last
Spring with Germany, FAvRE, GIA1s B1zoIN,
PICARD, and the rest of the cleft in the
Chamber, and NJ EMILE DE GIRARD1N in the
Liberte. were indefatigable in their efforts 10
bring on q war to prevent the unity Of Ger
many, notwithstanding it was popular move,
and therefore in the interests of liberalism.
These gentlemen appear 10 take their cue on
questions of public policy solely from the side
of the government Their one object is oppo-
sition, and all these several questions are by
them viewed as so many engines to be used to
hurl missiles at the Emperor.
| JULES FAvRE assails the Emperors policy OF
intervention, and demands the evacuation of
Rome. NJ. THEIRS assails the government
from the other extreme, and can only sec sal
vatiou for France and peace for Europe IN
going back twenty-five years, to the period
when LOUIS PHILIPPE was King and NJ THEIRS
his prime minister He scouts the Napoleonic
principle of accepting accomplished facts.
France ought to have kept intact the sove-
reipnties of Parma, of Modena, of Tuscany, of
Naples and Sicily; ought to have preserved
Venice and Lombardy to Austria, and Ger
many divided as she had been for half CEN
tury.
NJ RouuER, speaking for his imperial mas
ter, said that France will not permit the Italian
Government to interfere with the Pope. The
Emperor's policy being thus explicitly put
forth by his authorized spokesman, Euro
peau conference on the Roman question was
rendered impossible because useless. The de-
bate, like all that have preceded it, during the
past fifteen years, before that august assem-
blage, has been mera sound and fury, signify
ING nothing.