New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-21
THE COMMITTEE or Thirty.

THE COMMITTEE OF Thirty.
IF the rcactiOnary members of the French
Assembly are still resolved to restore the mon
archy, they have evidently very little time to
lose. In spite of all they have been able to
do heretofore, the Republic has gone on
steadily establishing itself by the mere power
of dead weight more than anything else. The
overwhelming monarchical majority which at
first elected NJ. Theirs to the Presidency, then
held him in check, then dismissed him and put
in Marshal MacMahOn in his stead has been
gradually melting away under the action OF
public opinion until the members who believe
that the monarchy can and ought to be re-
established in France are in q decided minor
ity. On every occasion where the issue Is
sqnarcy made, there is working majority OF
deputies favorable to reasonable and cOnscrv-
alive measures for the defnitive establishment
of the Republic. 1t is true that the republi-
cans have made steady gains at all the cleo
tons held to ill vacancies. But these partial
elections have added comparatively little to
their numerical force. That has been greatly
increased by the moral effect of the elections
inside of the Chamber. The few dozen repub-
lcan gains in the districts have reproduced
themselves many times over in the Assembly,
among those members who do not feel inclined
to stand ont forever against the national will.
1t is true that many of the new majority are
far from being republicans by conviction. Some
of them deserted NJ Theirs as soon as he re-
cognized that the Republic was inevitable, and
have only adopted his way of thinking after
two years of barren struggle. Others are of
that light timber to he found in all legislative
bodies which habitually floats with the current.
But however composed, the new majority
seems sufficiently solid and trustworthy to per-
nit the friends of the Republic to expect that
the form of government demanded by the pco-
pie of the country will be set in operation as
soon rs the necessary prelminarles can be
arranged. - "sH-'.
1t was therefore not to be expected that the
bills for the new elections, through which the
legislative body and the Senate are to be
formed should be given into the hands OF a
coterie of deputies composed of the most re-
dictionary elements of the Assembly. Yet this
mistake was committed BY the Government.
The Committee of Thirty was appointed to de-
wise legislation to prevent the Republic from
being established. 1t had its origin in that
panic which seized upon the Right, after the
radical victories in Paris, when it became clear
that NJ. Theirs, instead of combating
the rising republican tendency, was in
clincd to admit that it represented the
will Of the nation, which it was the duty Of
the National Assembly to regard. 1t was not
even composed of a proper proportion of
Monarchists and Republicans; the former out
roJ tbo 1otl f,yo fo
little pretense of concealment of the purposes
with which the Committee was created. to
assist in REFRESHING the republican tendency,
and to prolong the provisional state of things
until an opportunity occurred for a mOnarchical
restoration. If the Count of Chambord had not
been the prOvidential mailman that he is, the
restoration, at one moment, might have been
accomplished. The Assembly was ready
to proclaim him King Marshal MacMahon
had not yet become fascinated with power, and
would doubtless have been pleased to hand it
over to a Catholic Sovereign; the Orleanists
had given in their hearty adhesion; even his
horses and carriages were said to be ready and
fresh in new varnish and gliding. But the
"child of Miracle" once more proved his right
to the name by miraculous exhibition of ig-
norant obstinacy. He refused to yield the
trivial question Of the flag, thinking if he did
not give way his loyal people would and the
chance for which he had been waiting since
childhood passed away In q cloud of ridiculc
and disgust.
The Republic has naturally been gaining
strength ever since that great danger was met
and overcome by the help of this extraOrdi-
nary blunder. The time when the Committee
of Thirty could do any serious good to the
monarchists or any serious harm to the libe-
rails is gone by. 1t has, in fact, become super
fluous and the Assembly very properly showed
its sense of this by refusing to refer to it the
important bills for the coming elections. The
Committee could not be trusted to present fair
and practicable project of law for this pur-
pose. When this was intimated by
the vote of the Assembly, NJ. Batbie,
assuming for himself the embodied indignation
of the thirty, rendered their resignation. The
Chamber declined to recognize this act of
delegated suicide, and so on Wednesday twenty
other members followed NJ. Batbie's lead, and
their places are to be filled by deputies who
more nearly represent the progressive tendency
of the Assembly. The Republican members of
the Committee, like NJ. Laboulaye, still remain
in it, and there is a reasonable prospect that
its last days may be its best.
"
THE INFLUENCES OF TIE TRIAL.
Observing the current of newspaper discus