New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-23
TIE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
THE WORK OF THE ASSEMBLY.


CONSERVATIVE DIsTRCsT OF THE PEOPLE-M. La
CONSEQUENCES OF MINISTER BUfFET's POLICY.
IFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUSE.l
PARIS Aug. 4.-The law regulating the Senatorial
elections was passed Monday by large majority.
The law regulating the mutual relations OF the
different branches of government was voted last
month. These two are the only organic laws needed
to complete the functional apparatus OF the Con-
situation. With their passage the constituent Office
of the Assembly properly ends. All else that
properly remains for it to dotO adopt or reject the
three bills the General Elections the Press and
the State of Siege, and choose its share 90 members
of the future Senate-might be done easily in an
other fortnight. This would permit of the holding
of the general elections this Autumn, whereby the
paper Constitution would become working one,
and France would have at last an established,
definite republican government. This being exactly
what small majority of it, present msreprescnta-
tives at Versailles would not have, they have, as
YOU know, voted themselves three months vaca-
ton, which begins to-day.
OF the avowed pretexts for this measure of self
indulgence set forth by the Conservative reporter
upon it, the nearest to a sound was the unlike
lihood that any future body of popularity elected
representatives Of the nation would well repre-
sent and cooperate with the Marshal President.
don't quote the exact words, but any reader who
doubts or a reader not familiar with the rather pc
cuar style Of language of the French Conservative
excusably might doubt that | exaggerate the
sentiment, is respectfully referred to the
text of NJ. do Pourtales' report. Call it
frank inpudent, there it is the virtual confession
that the nation. being largely Republican,, the
majority of it's chosen representatives would be Re-
publican-and consequently more likely to be
disagreeable to and come i'll conflict with
tho President of the Republic, than the present
majority. made up of Chambordists, Orleanists, and
the two branches of Imperalsts, all agreed on one
only point hostility to the Republic.
The Let's differing likewise too much among them
selves on minor points, do despite small existing
breaches of discipline mainly hold well together
their broad, common platform Of the Republic. Ed
aboulayes address yesterday to the members of the
Left Center of which group he is the President, is
a noble proof of this l judge from the position he
has assumed that he would be returned to the next
Chamber of Deputies by any one OF dozen con-
sttuenccs he may elect to stand for at the general
elections and yet he has most of those excellent
qualities for Republican legislator that secure to
Messrs Carl Schurz Charles Francis Adams, William
Walter Phelps, ct ID the rePose of private life in the
model of Centennial Republics.
Another proof Of the permanent prudence of the
united Lett Is their reluctance 10 uely minister
Buffet and bring on a Cabinet crisis. This is at
tributabe to the fact that Buffet himself and his
new supporters were in greedy hope of ministerial
crisis that must he left unheaed for three months
causing general agitation in political circles during
all that time The hands Of all Conservatives were
open as the mouths of frogs in Summer
drouth to welcome such good fortune. As matters
stand Minister Buffet, in his own despite, remains
Minister of a Government that is to bef it cannot
be helped-practically and definitely Republic
He has, moreover, at his command large part of
the administrative machinery of the late Empire
but lacks the persistence with which de Morney
Persigny, or even ROuher would drive with all
fury to the definite end. Detesting and protesting
against the steady pressure of public opinion Buffet
will suppress the free expression of it by all the legal
means in his poverty means Of the " state
of siege" for example, in which half of
France, including Paris and all other centers of
advanced opinions are included. But SO far by this
policy he has done for the future Republic than
a sincere Republican could. He is practically en-
forcing on reasonable Republicans, without intent
to do 80. the wisdom of making haste slowly. IL
Repubcanism can't bear and forbear with q
weakness. II it have elementary vitality,
the contest will simply strengthen its
cause. Meanwhile M. Buffet continues chief
minister of an Anomalous government ana tenn
Until Nov. he will be in manner the unconstitu-
tona King OF France by virtue OF the state OF siege
proclaimed five years ago simply as a war
against fO,es3b sse Of tSs
people, with nine-tenths Of the newspapers
as we'll as all other mediums OF expressing public
opinion. But happily this condition il 80 modified
by public opinion that tho autocratic rule - not felt