, 1874-12-01

formal opening was reserved for today. It's
political features have bee slightly changed.
Both tho Republicans and Bonapartists have
gained in strength. The latter have larger
proportion of members now than at any
time since Sedan. On the other hand the
quarrel between Prince Pierre Bonaparte On
tho ono hand, and tho Empress Eugenie and
the Prince Imperial on the other, smothored
for 30 many ycars, LAS broken out openly.
Another scion Of the prolific Donaparte race
has defeated Prince Pierre in Corsica, thanks
to the open Endorsement of his claims by tho
oxiles of Chiselhurst. The defeated candi-
dnto has issued characteristic proclana-
ton which makes reconciliation almost
impossible His assertion that he represents
the magical "Napoleonic idea" amounts to
saying that the vito and son of Napoleon III.
do not. It is doubtful whether increased
strength in the Assembly can compensate tho
Bonaparte faction for this division in their
ranks. The A1onarchists, who have lost what
tho 1mperialists have won, still hold the
balance of power in tho Assembly. They
can, therefore, reject almost any law, al-
though they may not bo ablo to pass any.
Tho veto, however, is no mean farce. To-
day, then, the old theatre at Verssilles will
fill up with screamers and spectators, the
former on the floor, the latter in the boxes
The Deputies will take their seats on tho
Right, the Right Contre, the Left Centre, and
the Left, ostontatiously stunning each
other, md netting in an absurdly childish,
potty way, under the impression that their
two shibboleths "Aonneur" and "gloire
demand it, They will glanco across the nnr-
row aisles with look somewhat chilling for
the man two feet off, and absolutely freezing
for the man twenty feet Distant. When
these stock preliminaries have been gone
through with, the message Of Marshal
President Mac31nhon will probably be read.
| For the last few weeks, every Paris news.
paper has kept ono or two prophets busily
predicting what MaoMahon will say. On
some things they nu substantially agree. II
| is certain that tho message will troas
the Septennnte as fixed fact, something
not to bo meddlcd with in any way
| by the Assembly or anything else
! In this, MacA1ahon showa himself wise
The one thing which Franco needs il
certainty. This policy may give her TINT fol
noarly six yaars to come,-unless, indeed, tht
Marshal dies before he has served out his ful
sayen years. It is almost certain, again, tha
tho message will recommend the formation o
Second Chamber, which shall have a mn
jority Of ita members appointed by the Ex
eoutive, and tho definition Of tho powers ant
duties of the President. The fate of the frs
half of this suggestion is doubtful. The As
se1nbly is now supreme, save for the singh
fact that A1acMahon, backed by the who'll
army, denies its right to put hin
out of power before 1880. If th'
Second Chamber il formed on th
plan hitherto advocated by the President, i
will have the power, in conjunction with th
Executive, to dissolve tic Assembly at an.
tino. The latter, therefore, in passing tn
required law, would put itself in q positio,
to sympnthize koenly with Damocles.
will probably shun this soni-suicido. An
other point thet will be mentioned in til
message is tho question Of freeing tho fort,
Departments which arc still ruled by martin
law. Ii tie Assembly should do this, til
sent Of Government would probably bo re
moved to Paris. It is needless to point ou
to any one who has read French history til
possible consequences Of the removal. Tc
day in France is big with fate.