, 1874-08-29

AS - ~ b"O Nv ~ AAO u
minded the Assembly in a pressing manner
Of its promise made to him when it invest
ed him with power, and he claimed
the prompt execution otthat promise. The
Assembly assented with a~lacrity. This
favourable reception of the Message had
left no doubt in the Assembly or the coun-
try that a defiuitive solution of the most
urgent questions was at hand. This being
the case, only one feeling could have ar
rested the Assembly in the accomplish
ment of its task, and dictated to it the adj
iournment of all discussion of the Constitu.
tional laws. That sentiment must be q
consciousness of its own inability to form o
majority on any one essential point of
these laws. The argument is cruelty effec-
tive, but nine-tenths of the Deputies would
be ready to admit its substantial truth.
But in the French Assembly, as in all other
legislative bodies, votes do not. necessarily
follow convictions. Whatever their views
as to the object and utility of their w
existence, the majority of the Deputies re-
NAMED constant TO their faith IN the Bor-
deaux Assembly. The Government once
more stood forth to confirm the waverers.
General CHABAUD LAToUR declared his
conviction that the Assembly would re-
deem the pledge it had given to settle the
Constitution. He babe the Deputies sepa-
rate to take their usual vacation. He adj
vised them to consult the country during
the Recess, and then return to pass such
laws as should give the Marshal additional
strength, and calm the agitation Of the
country. The proposition was rejected
not by q very large majority, but still by
one which shows that as long as the Assem-
bly, has Marshal IMAGINATION on, it's
side the efforts of the Dissolutionists must
fail. Everything is now at an end for
some months to come, and then the Assem-
bly, will be once more on its trial. Till it
is called together France will be admins
tered by the Chief of the State, controlled
by traditions in default of institutions. The
result of eight months Of controversies and
intrigues is, as regards legislation, a blank ;
and the ~Septennate, the earliest creation of
the Session, remains its only one, Has
the time, then, been wholly lost2 Not so,
for Marshal MACMAHON's authority, though
neither organized nor endowed with q de-
Guite name and character by the Assembly,
has been developed by the influence of
events, which have produced large and
rapid notifications. We do not quite
know, aud we will not attempt to guess,
the precise dynastic sympathies and the
precise views of policy at home and abroad
which qualified Marshal IMAGINATION on
the Goth of November last. But there
can be no doubt that his Government was
vehemently suspected by the Liberals of
France, and looked upon with distrust
even in foreign countries. These causes
of disquietude have been one by one re-
moved, and the Republicans themselves
admit that the prospects of the Septen-
nate are more hopeful. Italy has been re-
assured and her goodwill is likely to be
regained by a Reputation of the Ultramon-
tame designs. The clerical agitators at
home have been rebuked, the Legitimists
have been warned in the most effective
manner that they have nothing to hope
from the present authority in France, and,
lastly, the Imperialists, who were supposed
to have succeeded to the influence which
the rival Dynasty were losing, find the
Government strong enough and bold
enough to lay its hand upon them. AL
this has been done as if by fatality, and
without the intention and the conscious.
~ ;ts tonthors and II shntuu' Ahoi