, 1869-12-31
THE NEW FREHCH MINISTRY.

Emile Olivier. who has besn charged by
Napolsuu III. with the responsibility OF
forming d rew Ministry, represents in tho
legislative Body the Department Of the
Var, Of which Nice is the chief town BE was
one If the Paris Representatives in the last
Chamber, bnt was defeated for reelection
in his old district, which hid chosen hin
Ms an opponent Of the Empire, bat rejected
him by large majority when running as
the government candidate. He WIS the
first member Of the Opposition to conceive
the possibility Of r.conciling the Empire
with liberty, aud he separated himself from
lis associates two Sears ago on that ISSUE
He was. and, We 1elieve, still is, proprietor
Of the I'rtSst, hssing succeeded Emile do
Girartin when taat veteran editor sold his
interest in that paper and established tho
If1erfe,
1t is dificnlt for foreigner,
eren when wiring within faw
miles of Paris, to understand party
divisions in Franc, and English journals,
usually we1.inforned, make frequent mis-
t4kes; but it setms clear that Olivier is
seeking to be at the head Of what is called
"a Liberal dyn.stic party" formed by
coalition Of "tle Right Centre" or moder-
ate supporters Of the Empire, with the
Left Centre q moderate opponents of the
Empire. The two Centres united to elect
n Schneider President Of the Legislative
Body, the extreme Left voting torM Gresy,
and the extreme Right for II Alfred Le
Rou1. Schneider received only l5l votes
in chamber composed Of ooo membe1s,
1.ut many members Of the extreme Right,
or ul1ra- InlH1ia1ists, could be counted upon
Oh ali important questions by
Ministry which should enjoy the Emperors
confdeure End dispense the government
patronage. On the other hand, the e1-
trene Left is composed Of members repre-
aeIting all shades Of opinion from Repub-
1icanlsn1 to Orleansism, and uniting in Moth
i, hut hostility to the Empire. Estimates
Of the relat,yestreng,h Of the Right and Left
wigs vary; together they count l39 votes,
the remaining two members, Rochefors and
Rsspal, forming party by themselves,
in which they pesceably play, for the
amusement Of the populace Of Paris, The
psr.s Of Eobcspierro and Narat.
The latest foreign journals contain a
synopsis OF Ollivier'a programme It de-
cIares that it is the duty Of the national
representatives to put into shape the nn-
tioral wishes; that the first Of these wishes
is the establishment Of Parliamentary gov
ernnvnt, and TINT such government in-
tiles free press, free elections, homo
ctncous Ministry, and ncompact majority.
I, promises q number Of reforms Ito re-
pal the law Of public safety, under which
too large power ever person and property
is given to the Executive: TO ALLOW no pub
lie functionnry TO receive moro than ono
l.: 10 salary; to deprive officials Of the in
n,ul.its they enjoy fsuni legal prosecution
for their actions; to institute an inquiry Us
to the best meA1s Of girirg self-goycrn'
sneut to the commune, the canton and the
,5epartment-aIayoss, pending that inves
tigntion, to be appointed from members ol
tbs Municipal Councils to introduce, ant
l.1.ss to passage before lha dissolution o.
Tie Legislative Body, q bill fixing the limit
Of electoral ci.cumsuiptious and guasaatce
iug freedom Of election; to provide for th'
trial l,y jury Of offences hy tho press, ant
to improve the laws touching popular Cd
Gcation.
These propositions were, according +
l,ttc1s from Paris, "too Parliamentary !
Please the Emperor, and they met wit
strong opposition from tho Empress. o.
tie other hand, it is said that while the
satisfied the Right Centre, they were cor
sidcred Insufficient by the Left Centft
which demanded local ee!f-government. {
trce, ard c]eartr assertion Of n,inisterii
responsibility to the Legislative Body. Tt
appointment Of Olivier may mean that u
Emrcrc1 has consented TO try the Oilirit
rscgsu1ane, OF tAst it has bee
modified 1y its nntkar. The reporte
refusal of the chiefs Of the LIE
Centre to tnte Office under Olivi
Is consistent with either supposition, but
tic chiefs Ct the high: Centre hesitate.
must be becausc the programme has BET
moai6ed, in an Anti-Liberal sense.
1t is, however, necessary for Olivier
c.nci!,ste the support Of both Centres, in {
der to secure bare minority II he fail to
this, be mus. give way, for hc cannot Fl
l,s.:.s ulou The Reactionists Of the Right, n
upon The Republicans Of The Lett, witho
+&c.ifcing the fundamental principle OF
l-,:..lcs existence.