The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-30
Plain Talk in the French Legislature.

The liberal deputies seem to gain boldness will
every debate. In the discussion of the Mexican
question NM. THEIRS and FAvRE have used Inn
guage which must have seemed to many Of thel
colleagues little short of flat treason M. TH1ER.
said in his peroration:
''Dare speak Of the Chamber? II it did moi
resist, that was from sentiment respect-tht
consideration due to the government-to the chic
Of the State. Hear. And I draw this lessor
from it, that no greater service be rendered tc
the chief of the state than to resist him ON certain
occasions. [Cheers on some benchcs1 I have
always beeh among those who in France have
sought liberty under q monarch; but there are two
species The first, where prince governs through
ministers, but without consulting them-in fact,
respectful and devoted ministers, but concerting
and arranging with them, they deferripe to him
with respect, and, in case Of difference, supporting
themselves on public opinion. This latter is the
ono to which have devoted myself for more than
| forty years, and the one wish for my country;
and am sure that the true friends of the govern
ment will desire that it pass as soon as possible
from the first form to the second.
An interruption by the Presdent gave him the
chance to reiterate this sentiment with added
| force.
Jules Favre's speech was even more telling. He
was very feeble and committed grave impr1dence
in speaking at all. But lhe obeYed controlling
sense of duty and Within half an hour after the oc-
ministry have reason tp be thankful that ho was
not in full health. The few sentences which he
able to utter were fairly scorchng in their sever
ity. he accused the Government Of living to tho
Legislature about the object OF the expedition, and
afterward about its progress; Of cowardly treache-
ry to Maximiian; Of having held confident Ian
guage when it knew thaEsuccess was hopeless: of
having caused the death Of its protego, as well as
that Of many Frenchme1.r
AT this point occurred!one of tho most remarks
Bile passages OF the discussion. M. Fayre was
speaking Of an article nfan official journal:
"And when it appeals TO the Divine right I reply
that the fate of the hunIblest child of France who
dies obscurely on foreign soil in the performance
of his duty is more worthy Of sympathy than that
CT prince who perishesin defence OF his throne" {"
[Cries of ''Order order!']
The President intimated that persistence in such
language would compel him to call the orator to
order. NJ. Eugene Pelletan cried out: 'sWe esteem
Frenchman more than wo do an Austrian arch
duke" The Duke de Mariner answered: ssNIako
no distinction between Victims" M. Favre con-
tinued
'It is because I Irepel eI distinction that I pro-
nounced the words which have excited the Cham
Der. No reasons Of political necessity can justify
the conduct of the Government during tho latter
period of the expedition Macmillan went on tho
faith Of our promises With our army, and he ought
rienced feeling Of profound afiicton that tfis
unhappy prince was not brought back to Europe
with our troops, 30 that France might have been
sheltered from the Flood that has been split, and
which will fall upon her head" Loud exclama-
tions and cries OF 7"order, order' Applause from
SOs The Prosdent here so far forgot himself as to
say that those words would fall upon the head of
their author in the eyes of the entire country.
M. Fayre's reply to this censure was character
istic:
ssNo person in this chamber, not even our honor
able President whom respect, is entitled to hold
such language to me-to me, who am one Of that
minority which, when 1t was in power overthrow
the scaffold for political crimes, which you have
again set up. Loud expressions of dissent.]
have always protested from this place in favor of
tho inviolability OF human life, and il you had
taken these protestatons into consideration, por-
haps we should not be now deploring tho calamity
that has occurred" [Great agitation
With these words the orator took the arm of M.
Bethmont and walked, almost fainting, from the
chamber. III. Rouher made an excited reply, but
his words are Of no Importance, coming after such
q philippe. The liberalization of the French Gov
ernment becomes more Inevitable with every as
cent Of on opposition orator to the tribune.
Casarism cannot afford to permit free speech, 1t
must either persuade it's Catos to XIII themselves,
or silence them, or prepare to doff the purple
gracefully, The fruiton of NJ. Thiers's hopes may
not be 80 distant as some think.