The New York herald., 1870-03-14
FRANCE.


Premier OIlivicr's Speech the Electoral
s,yssem-OGaciai Ca adidatcs and Admiaisira-
tive P0weT-Chuilenge 10 the Opposition
@Pr0ve Your Slrcngtb's-Cavour,s AnthoF-
icy.
In the debate in the French Corps Leglslstif on
The subject OF official candidates. raised BY NJ
Ernest Picard, the views OF the Ministry ex
pressed ny NJ. Emile Olivier who premising that in
a matter so important and delicate perfect frank
ness was in the highest degree desirable proceeded
to say
We are asked whether the government doei or
does not persist IA the system of ohic'al candi-
dates, ro reply to that question II must be con-
stdered both III theoreucai aud practical point
or view. To begin with the practical. What
has been the attitude OF the government during
tie recent electonsr Those of your colleagues. .wao
compose the Cabinet are profoundly Impressed
with the conviction that all men who are borne unto
power by puoitc opinion find In tnefr hands an ad-
nlnstratiye power OF inca,cuiable extent OF which
tney ought ucver 90 make merely 10 continue IN
power. They are convinced that the administration
lustce, ali the puoc services, ought not to be ap
as penalties 10 be visited on the dI4adected. They
believe that 1t is the mperious duty OF men wuo
respect themselves, aud VINO have always on their
lips the word Derty, to regard the administration
as neutral force at the service OF those who sup
port as well OF those oppose them Such is the
rnilng idea which VIII govern our acts. II should
ever wfuly forget II, we authorize the members OF
this Assembly to recall these words anu TO condemn
US by them. (Tfes beii.J what have we to do up to
TINS time In the recent elections we ordered the
celye how difficult 1t is. not TO observe neutrality,
Dut to guard ourselves from the charge OF not hay-
Ing observed 1t. II there are anyfacts IN connecnon
with the late elections winch are open 10 criClcism
you have the opportunity OF pointing out
at the time when the returns are verified. As my
honorable colleague Count Daru said We have re-
memDered in power what We have always main
tanned when In opposition. Now what was 1t that
we foundsto be repugnant In the electoral system
then IN 0rce2 In the rst place the pa'yic patton of
Ise Dsagdstyates IN political elections. We have put
an end 10 that; we nave sought to preserve TO popu
lar magistrates their judicial character and to The
jAes de DafL who are IN direct familiar contact Win
the people Of their districts In order to 40 tnat
be extended should 1t become necessary |
70 do SO: Tres oten) We regretted, in |
the second place, that the muues enierng !
TOO ardenty into the connlct should have thereby
compromised their character as communal Magis-
trates. Have We now forgotten its Are we not pre-
pairing a plan OF decentralization wnicn has pre-
cisely for Its object to remove from all the represent
atives OF authority the immense temptation which
is offered to them by system OF centralizations We
have pursued and We shall pursue q course OF organ
spreading throughout the country the spiriT which
anmates those at It's mead, Will impose upon all who
may succeed us the necessity OF respecting the prin
ciples which we practice III the lace or thus con-
duct one has the right TO say to believe taat
have maintained the system Of official candidates
We have openly abandoned IT, ana we have been
the more daring III SO doing that we were convinced
that our conduct would not meet the appreciation
ol those VINO think the adoption OF an electoral
system diiereut ron what already existed Ii
likely 10 weaken or destroy the power and the rights
OF The Assembly which have the honor to address
what did say when urged upon the ministry not
10 continue the stem then force but to prefer
that which we have now adoptedY said that with
liberty OF election the greater number OF tue mcm
bers who sat IN tns house would be returned 10 t;
that consequently the action OF tue government
would only give rise TO attacks, denuncat0n5 and
doubts ut later period. We were listened To-;
sti regret H.; but no one can dispute my right to
repeat wnat have said before and TO affirm the au-
thorIty oil a chamber with which, we have often
already proved, we are disposed TO associate our
selves. The practical aspect OF the question being
thus disposed OF. Will examine It's theoretical bear
ings. My honorable friend the Minister OF the lnte
rlor has not said anything winch Is contrary TO tnese
principles Is not the prominent feature OF the
cent trans[ormation effected by the Emperor the
creation ID the goyernmene by means OF its funda
mental machinery OF the principle OF ministerial
responsibility Formerly the cnief OF the State
found himself IN direct relation aud contact with
The Assembly and the country. The system Of Official
cand dabes the consequence OF tins position, The
direct Intervention Of the chief OF the State implying
to the country through the medium OF his Ministers
.sIhiE man Is my friend; that man is my enemy
There was always this inconvenience ihe SYSTEM
that the defeat OF candidate was direct defeat OF
the chef Of tue state The party Of the government
has more right than the opposition party TO make
use Of the Administrative centralizatlon and lts
favor to procure the triumph OF Its candidate. But
1t mas ike the party OF opposition, right through
its chiefs TO avow and to declare ita candidates.
(.oud assent from many benches but cries Of ''No''
from the Left hear that proposition Is denied.
Will quote some authorities which the opposition
viii not reject. This IS what NJ. jules Simon mas
said:--
demanded that the government should in elections
With absolute mpsrtan that should in some sort ignore
,nins perfect police n the places where the elections are
hs yon know ssvs mot shared those views " s9s I'D
opinoc and add that 1t Is proper should do 80 raise
seversi candidates ons another contrary
the policy Complies frnnknss " the right OF every
aee~son OF sas government would sucs TO change the
character Of universal suffrage and that tho electors we're
d,rscIsn OF preascs iScn should tsspar of.uniyersa
..i.y make any d.eI..ions q chooses sad shss
se!yss respect truth and liberty.
M. Ernest Picard--'That is only personal
by iacts. Then, again, NJ. Thlers, who suppose
is also an authority with the opposition, as with
everybody, said IN memorable spcech:-
TO my mind government. has perfect right to nsve ts
because always had profound for the nature
OF things and when see invariably produced under all
evident THAI all periods all free countries govern
had its preferences and has asays made
IA nohinr out opinion which attained power. This
oppion aaining power hs: no, ost sae g Inherent IN
ID >. opuious Of ending Itself aad promoting ts sx
tension.
could add many other testimonies. Tcould quote
Cduofty nett as CGstDlt 34fef-ail concur n the
conclusion that In free country the ministerial
Darty and it's chiefs have the right TO declare their
candidates that they have not the right to place
their service the administrative power winch ID
mtrusted 10 their heads. f7res 6teflJ VIC Will per.
severe in our present course, because We Will not
We know 100 well tnat our cplef strength IN tnls
country rests in the feeling OF security which may
be Inspired by our word and our loyalty. IN order
tnat no doubt may bo possible IN eacn partial eiec-
tion We have not indicated and we VIII not indicate,
which are our candidates. We shall leave the coun-
try free TO follow its inspirations, and we shall
leave 10 ils own initiative the task Of sending US sup
porters. In all the departments Committees are
Iorneu whIcb nave baen called, and which | may
call, without any epigrammatc Intention, ''0fnolal
epmpAnees % the 9RP0aanon.n How often