The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-13
Special Correspondence OF the Globe
FOREIGN LETTER.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN FRANCE.
PARIS, Nov. IA, 1873.
1t may occasion some surprise when the
announcement is made that during the past
week there has been no definite change in
the situation of affairs at Versailles. OF
course it is not reasonable to suppose that
the Assembly could meet and transact its
business without excitement and free from
insult. dcrision and turmoil such cannot
he the case under the existing circum-
stances and when managed ~ luh""..'.,'
tory Frenchmen. Each day the Monarch
lists Bonapartists and Republicans meet,
address each other, yacillate attempt inn
possibilities and bring about finale in
which cries and gesticulatlons are the main
features. Indeed the National Assembly
may best be compared to a mad-house, the
members of which, beside themselves with
| fanaticism, veer, alter their opinions and
/ end by joining the interests of the opposite
party
However, in spite of the anarchy which
exists in politics there is Il current of diplo-
macy which is flowing quietly beneath the
troubled surface and which if skillfully
managed will assert its power much to the
surprise of the world The efforts of the
Republican majority are directed towards
two points. They wish, first, to reduce
the term over which Marshal MacMahons
powers are to be extended and to procure
the simultaneous enactment of the Consti-
tutional laws. This, if it can be effected,
will be Il gain. The fear that the President
and his Party, if left to themselves, will do
some desperate act, as is still in the memo
ry of those whose early life was spent be-
fore the assertion OF the Empire, is rem
dered of particular depth by Il prophcsy
of the famous statesman, VI. Grcvy, twen-
ty-fyc years ago,
At that time this counsellor pointed out
with unanswcrablc force the results of APP
pointing Chiefof the Executive Power fol
II fixed term of years, subject and yet supc
rior to the National Assembly. He insistcC
that such an authority would, in case of t
constitutional conflict, be always on tn,
point of degcneratlng into dictatorship ol
military despotism The only form o.
executive power compatible with the cleo
tive and popuaI.principle of a Republican
State and with the maintenance of public
liberty and tranquility was, he commended
n simple President of a Ministerial council
always cOnvOcablC by decision of the As
sembly the Assembly itself Icing electel
r,r tAo 1inttnl in A. Y Ia npit1t
arful Parliamentary majority To dofrauC
and deity the majority without, NJ GrcvyI
advice was rejected and all the world know
when COacsccd, reactionary and Mon
archial majority conspircd at once to sub
a., vert the Republic and to supplant the Pres
. ident of the popular choice.
= Louis Napoleon, il cannot be denied, wa
, elected by an overwhelming popular ma
iorty there was legendary lustrc abou
his name while he openly maintained mos
democratic sentiments. Then again h
chose his ministers from the Assembly.
body which, If not agreed upon Mon
), archy, united an antipathy to Rcpublica
d institutions and n dread of the Democracy
y We all know the success which attende
i this attempt and that during that intcrva
of three years this Prime President of tn
Republic conrived to impress upon tn
popular mind the fact that his good inter
;, tons and generous designs We're thwarte
h by the Assembly, When at length his pal
tisans were ready and the army prepare
to strike the blow, the capital was startle
one memorable morning by proclamation
d announcing the dissolution of the Assem-
bly,, the restoration of universal suifrag
d and an appeal 10 the people.
=, Now glance at to-day and notice the sin
} ilarity which exists in the political affair
/ of the two periods.
% A quarter of century has elapsed-th
Second Empire has gone the way OF I'll
NJ First and here is neutrality-suspicious. mi
N jority in another National Assembly cor
e spring to prevent the es'aolishmeh'
Republican institutions. Doubtless I'll
cases are not exactly parallel since llistor
does not repeat itself every twenty-hN
wears in the nations of the world, not eve
In tickle France.
Just at present the Bourbon Family