The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-08-22
THE PACIFIC
Commercial AOOtrtisrr.
SATURDAY. AUGUST -.
LETTER FROM FARANI.-No. 2.
PARIs. June 25th. lS74.

DEAk ADFEhllcEh III NY AtttcL VI tAN -JAA
ult. l gave you a brief sketch of the parties COM
posing the Legislative Assembly, each contend
ing, without success, for the supremacy. / told
you that the Imperialists might have a chance
yet, if the state Of uncertainty, in which France
has lived for the last three years, was to be pro-
longed a few months longer. As a proof of their
growing influence, 1 mentioned that in one Of the
partial elections for vacant seats in the Assembly,
Mr.. de Bourgoing, an ex-equerry to Napoleon
Ill, had, after a hard canvassing, come off sue
cessiul in the department Of la NieTre. This re-
suited in raising to the highest pitch the conf
denee of the Bonapartists, who had not neglected
an opportunity since Napoleon's death, to bring
together the scattered fragments Of their party.
1t must be admitted that the last Cabinet,
whether consciously or not, had lent them a help
ing hand toward the realization Of their hopes.
When Mr.. Theirs was obliged to resign and the
Duke de Broglie became Prime-Minister, under
Marshal de Mcmahon, his first care was to dis
miss all the Republican civil officers appointed by
his predecessor for at That time, and before they
thought OF the compromise of the {" Septennat F"
(seyen-years government of McN1ahon), fervent
hopes were entertained of a Monarchical restora-
ton, and Republican functionaries were not to be
kept IN Office. The Imperialists, having helped
to overthrow Mr.. Theirs, 1.-THE sinister old-man,
as he was then styled) were authorized to ask for
faVors which could not be denied them, and so it
was that many of them were appointed in re-
sponsible situations in almost. all the departments
of the country. Hence the comparative liberty
they have enjoyed to form a vast ramifcation and
to rally in a large plot all the adherents to the
fallen Empire. 1t would have attained much
larger proportions, had it not been for a mere
accident. a Deputy (not a Bonapartist) having
taken the special train from Paris to Versailles,
reserved for members of the Legislative Assembly,
found on his seat in the car a printed document,
with blanks filled in writing and mysteriously
addressed to a Bonapartist canyassing agent.
Skillfully worded were the instructions given, and
promises of reward were held out to such as were
willing to join in the association for the restora-
ton Of Napoleon ". to the throne of France.
This paper being produced in the Legislative hall
a stormy debate took place, in the course of
which NJ. Rouher whose influence with Napoleon
III. had won for him the surname of Vice-Em-
peror. vainly tried to parry the unexpected blow
OF this untimely disclosure of the imperial scheme.
He was sharply answered to by Gambetta, but
unfortunately this tribune of the people. forgetting
parliamentary etiquette, in an outburst of indig-
nation, applied to the Bonapartists the u~nfatter-
ing epithet of "miserabIes." Called to order by
the President, he maintained the obnoxious adj
~jective, and the Assembly adjourned in indescrib-
able confusion. The next day the language of
the press was exceedingly violent, and one of the
Bonapartist organs, the Pays, used such express
sions of hatred and revenge that l felt sure some
trouble was to be apprehended. When the Dep
uties met at the st. Lazare terminus of the
western railway in Paris TO take the train for
Versailles, there were some scenes of tumult and
disorder, some of the Republican members of the
Assembly being insulted by the mob lying in
wait for them there since the morning. Gam
beta, amongst others, was roughly handled, but
the aggressors were allowed to escape by the
policeman on duty and an ex-chief of the police,
under Napoleon Ill, was seen there giving orders
to constabes in civilian dress, although he had
no authority in the matter. On the return from
Versailles, a gentleman with the decoration of
the Legion of Honor, rushed on Gambetta, as
soon as he made his appearance from the waiting
rooms, and struck him with his fist. Gambetta
was rescued by his friends from this dangerous
position, and NJ. lie Comte de St. Croix (such
was the assailant's name) was placed under
arrest. A scene of confusion ensued, some Dep
uties were without provocation molested by the
police, no regard being paid to their expostula-
tions and their inviolable character as Repre-
sentatives of the people. On being examined by
the Commissary of Police, Count de st. Croix
said he had no regret for what he had done, and
acknowledged he had waited for this opportunity,
which he would improve better another time, to
avenge the whole Imperial party insulted by the
fiery Republican. He was sentenced to 6 months
c--I
Then was it time, indeed, for the Government of
Marshal Mcmahon to show some vigor the fol-
lowing days detachments of soldiers, policemen,
guards of Paris, and squadrons of cavalry took
possession Of the western terminus and of the
streets adjacent thereto. Thanks to this impos-
ing military display our Legislators are now
able to 60 about their business without being
exposed to a black eye from a noble or plebeian
fist. L had an opportunity to witness what
have here described my presence being required
to meet at the st. Lazare terminus my wife and
children, whom 1 expected that day from Nor
mandy. Having been arrested and released sew
eral times before reaching my destination, 1 was
at last allowed to take them all home.
Now party passions had come to such a climax
that the Assembly must needs arrive at a conclu-
sion or be dissolved. The violence and strength
of the Imperialists. az made apparent by the
recent events and disclosures. were such as to
excite the fears of their quondam allies, the
Monarchists. On the 10th of June, a memorable
debate took place, which seems to have set at
rest, for a while, the vexed questions relating to
the form of the Government. Three motions
were brought forward
One in favor of the permanent establishment
of the Republic, and proposing articles Of Consti-
tuition TO that effect.
One on behalf of maintaining the ''Septennat,''
not including any provision for the future, when
the Marshnl,s term of Office is reached in 1880.