New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-01

| PAPAL GOVERNMENT.
IFRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
| PARIS, April 9.-The right of discussing the Adj
dress, that is of discussing the foreign and homo
policy of Government which had been granted as
due privilege to the Corps Legislative a few years
before, withdrawn by the famous January letter
of 1867. Discussion of the Constitution by any body
had been previously forbidden by high solemn
Senatus consultum. Under quite a variety of titles
and pretexts the home policy of Government and the
Constitution have been the constant subject OF as
cusson that began last week. and is still going on IN
the Chamber.
| Naturam expelles furca, tamen usque recurret
1T mala perrumpet furtim fasudla VlculA 49,
Where there is will there is way Inc VIII
| grows even holder and more animate IN forcing
free way; and it is yet more remarkable to note
the new recruits who walk therein-members OF the
majority and even ministers following more or less
willing and timidly in the forbidden path opened by
the Ministry. If NJ Thiers despite the Presidents
attempt t., arrest him, lays out pretty complete
programme of constitutional REFORM Minister kouher
needs must after him. though he travels under pro-
test Three years ago and less the President would
have saved him the palms. not by attempting TO stop
NJ Theirs but by stopping him short at the outset
Times have changed since the fall of Richmond
which take have not for dead date, but for an
associate sign and cause of the change. Nothing is
more evident on the slightest study OF comparative
poty than the solidarity of the old and new world
in this regard.
All ways lead to Rome. II does not much matter
what nominaly is the question before the House. the
debate is constantly colored by and turns more or
less directly on the election question. That is the
predominant question henoeforth till the Sst of May
with ministers, members, and the thinking part Of
the nation.
was speaking of Thiers's programme of Constitu-
tional reform. A prominent feature of this pro-
gramme set forward by the skillful old Paramenta-
rian with great force of argument the RESPONSE
blty of Mnisters-the drectest contradiction to the
Constitution of tho Year Eight, reGdited by Louis
Napoleon in 1852 and the absoutest negato9 of its
essential personal quality. After protesting against
the discussion Of such propostion-which is strictly
illegal as per Senatus COnsultum aforesaid, and
which he had already been trapped into protesting
against and discussing few weeks ago in the Sem
ate-M Rouher, with his usual cleverness and Sin
CERTIFY" rejected and in his manner, refuted il. But
in fact come near TO ministerial responsibility
so near that many think the Emperor will, by
Seaatas Consltum or Plebiscits himself propose TO
formally admit it despite his radical aversion to such
sacrifice of his personality. As in that curious letter
narrating his evasion from Ham, of which sent you
translation the other day he mimcs bis uncles let
ter to his uncle Joseph Of February s. 1874 and init
mates that he too. like tho great Napoleon.
was up TO the Roman heroism Of lodging
i'll luck by suicide, so now many think
that he may mimic the dcie additi0Hnel Of
1916 and crown the odifce" with ministerial reSpon
sbity-after the elections. II 10 notable that the
rumor is IN the ar-not much for the sake Of the
rumor as for the change OF AIR. Meantime, whatever
may be the slowly maturing purpose Of the Emperor,
ministerial responsibility terminates from the stu
ation,7 and is close on TO frutago by tho forcing
process Of things. When, few weeks ago. IN
the great Haussmann debate, the majority
seemed menacingly waverng In its fdelity~
Rouher, it is well known, in order to bring
them up to the mark, emphasized his argu-
ment of coax and scare by private declarations TO the
recacitrant that if lac could not carry their voices
ho would resign. Mr.. Rouhers career has furnished
abundant instances in proof that his word is as good
only as his Mexican bonds but in this case he might
have kept it. At any rate it is apparent that how
ever armed with robustness Of cheek and triple brass
no Minister could long hold his place the talking
bench against majority, and that even with large
minority OF Left and Center Left he must keep it by
q quite different tenure from his present holding
And so the impending elections. which menace
some increase of the Left and formidable augmen-
tation of the Center Left that is of Conservative
Liberals are the absorbing preoccupation of Govern
ment.
One of the points abOut which the battle RACES
fercest is the system of official canddatures Minis
ter Focade, less brilliant but calmer and ADLER de-
batter than Rouher, while defending the Central sys-
TEN surrendered important outposts. He formally
announced that henceforth-with discreet qualifica-
tions-Government admitted in principle and would
to considerable extent. observe in practice, at
tentive neutrality. Hitherto there have been but
In, or.f,i made
fects and their subordnaes resist by all the count
less and forcible means in their control the preten
sions of independent candidates, However sincerely
ardent and proved their dynastc devotion with, if
possible, more zeal than ayowedly Democratic or
Oreanistic opponents.
Although bribery in the manner we or the English
practice it, for election purposes is nearly unknown
in France; although no INSCRIPTIONS partisan
has ever pretended that the administration here is
guilty of such Wholesale bribery and corruption
as each OF the great patriotic parties that dispute
principles and the spoils with u.s. through their most
acceptable organs constantly charge upon the other
although, in fine, Plaquemne, and New-York and
Pennsylvania-if tho most respectable organs
Of either party are to be believed-aro but
another evidence that in this, as in all de-
partments of human activity. American enter
prise" far outdoes the plgmy efforts of eifete
Europeans, 1t still remains sadly true that the purity
of elections in France is considerably on the wrong
side of perfection IL is not from any better will in
wrong-dong, but from the exorbitant superiority OF
its machinery-at once inclosing the whole country,
and working with the incest detailed accuracy, COM
prehensiye and concentrated to a degree undreamed
Of with us-that the French administration can
bear on the elections with an influence far more
effective than the worst iOf American Presidents
could hope to exercise. This is formidaby strength
ened by numerous peculiarly French conditions, the