New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-21

n. Ranc has gone abroad.
TIE POLITICAL sITUATIoN-I. THIERs-IHE
PROLOEGATION OF THE president > 70" Hi'''
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
PARIS Auo. As Didsbury would say, before TINS
letter reaches YOU il is probable as things LOOK now
that they will look differently. The dlfheulty OF
answering s. BIS questiOn-What Is the government
Of France S-has not diminished since last wrote
The answer itself, if found to-day, might be lnapt
tomorrow. In all the rich variety of governments
France has known it has archetype. Its already
considerably modified from what II was at It's origin
AS for instance in the composition and disposition
of the disiecta menbrd of the Chamberlain is now
in crisis pregnant of new changes not of violent
ones lust at present, l should says not Of coup
dAat attempted 10y Theirs with the aid Of part OF
1he army or attempted by Gambetta the less revo-
1ntionary-tempered man of the two) as some simple
alarmsts believe as other men, sensational or calcu-
lating alaImiss, pretend or wish TO believe. though
st is so geared and uncOnstituted, il has shown
strength in suppTessing a great rebellion; and be-
cause it is so loosegeared it can bend to changes
Inder which strict constitution would bTeak-de-
SeIop within itself instead of flying all abroad in
exorbitant revolution. But it has distracting ele-
ments Within is subject to disturbing influences from
withOut-is emnently provisional, precarious
Now, ready as they are beyond other people to
expose themselves to the pTmeval state following
the overthrow of what is established the French are
peculiarly inpatient of incertitude. Their passion
both for revolution and fixed constitutions comes,
perhaps from their marked sense OF sentiment OF
FORM Their admirable artistic quality and tendency
10 generalization and subsection to logic verbally
chopped and principles neatly phrased) are deriv-
atves relatives of the leading trait in the national
character Then there is lack of certain moral
robustness They grow tired Of working and wait
Ing constitution framed Systematically, logically,
on general principles, as il isput III operation
proves in harmonywith stubbOrnly dlscordant facts,
and so the sense of form is offended and revolution
comes and then confusion and weakness, and the
desire for something fixed again.
Be it as it may with this theory, the fact is mani
1oldlv evidenced that the French getting to want
something little more definite in the FORM little
less proyisional-provisonay at least-n their gov
eminent.
In the convocation Of electors To choose depuiesto
"A National Assembly issued by the September Gov
eminent on the 29th January there is not one
word qualifying its power. The only article
referring TO the subject of the Convention signed by
Bismarck and Favre the day previous runs as
follows This armistce hos for its object to permit
the Government of National Defense to convoke an
Assembly that shall pronounce on the question
whether the war is to be continued and onwhat con-
itiops peace is to be made" Not much by strain
on this article, which would have an unpatriotc re-
.ognitiop of Bismarck controlling mteTfeTencewith
French sovereignty as from consideration of the ex-
ceptiOna circumstances under the pressure Of which
the elections held, Republicans drew their
Oetensible and strong argument against the
exercise by the new Chamber Of cOnstitu-
ent power. They insisted from the outset that the
Assembly had no right to do more than vote for war
OF peace peace everybody knew was the foregone
concusion pass electoral law, order elections
for constituent convention. and dissolve. There
was another reason for Republicans to take this
view They were a minority. The majority
was MOnarchical, with larger proportion
Of Legitmists than had sat in any French
Chamber since 1880. Theirs had been returned from
q Departments His original protest against the
war his constant efforts for peace his known disap
Iroval Of Gambettas policy, his presumed diplomatic
ability, his principal share in the negotiations with
Bismarck his long practice of affairs and independ
ence III later years of party ties his unquestioned
Iatriotsn-all designated him as the man of the sit
nation.
On the 18th Of February the following carefully
drawn preamble and decree were approved by
nearly unanimous vote: "The National Assembly,
depository Of the sovereign authority, considering
The Importance of Immediately providing for the
necessities of government and the management of
negotiations, while awaiting legal establishment
Of the institutions of France DEGREES: NJ. Theirs is
named Chief Of the Executive power of the French
Republic; he will exercise his functions subject to
the authority Of the National Assembly with the
and Of Ministers whom he win select aud preside
over" This singular, extemporized position, inten-
rionaly ill-deined yet carefully guarded, was ac-
oepted IN the temporizing, compromising spirit III
which it was conferred, with probably less-cer-
talnly less variety-Of mental reservation OF his
1nne Ministers, Theirs took four from the de-
1unct Government of National Defense-mOder-
ate Republicans three of whom he has since
freed himself Of one legitimist, one pronounced
and one "proclved" 0rleanist two liberast con-
serNstlves, who served under the Empire without
being ardent nor yet mere time-serving Imperial
Sts-natonal men rather than partisans Of any one
form OF government In speech lie made next day
"a speech Of HISTORIAN skill and prudence-he pre-
scented his views Of the needs and requirements of
'he situation. 1t Characteristic of the situation
ana the man, that he began by deprecatng the idea
mat lie had a political programme to oiier-much
-ess impose and that he emphasized his recognition
i The constant, inalienable sovereignty Of the AS
selholy' With felicitOus, long-drawn precautions
ne proposed TO his hearers that they should leave
ASIDE The constituent question and studiously apply
themselves with common patriotic purpose TO the
distracted country's pressing want of new organic
laws 1t will be filter time for discussing the final
1.es and political forms of the National Government
"nen the nation is of the practical productive
working Of its daily life machinery, and the minds
Di men are grown calm. In the decree Just quoted
WHICH with its preamble is called in our political d
hAect The BOrdeQHI Pact, the presery alton Of the
"Oru Republic was unwilling concession of the
onsfcnlsts Neither this concession, nor his selec-
non OF four Republicans for Ministers any more
than the sntecedents Of the new Executive Chief
3o ms Inaugural discourse. inspired the Left with