, 1875-08-15

good people there will make extra efforts te
secure him. We cannot spare him, how.
ever, and for this reason his friends must &C
to work Immediately to prevent that wicked
place from getting ahead Of them.
THE FRENCH ASSEMBLY.
When Germany was ready to make peace
with France there was nobody to act for the
latter The Prussians held Paris, the whole
eastern boundary OF France, and the north
ern provinces. The Uhlan had looked across
to the white cliffs Of England and had carried
his raids far towards Bordeaux. The Empo-
ror of France was q prisoner. The Empress
and the Prince Imperial were exiles. There
was no Legislature. The Provisional Govern
mens had been ephemerids, blazing up brill
ianuy at one moment, like q Fourth-of-July
wheel, and sputtering into darkness the next.
Germany had France by the throat. She was
willing to relax her grasp, but wanted to be
paid for doing so. Who was to promise, who
Was to guarantee, the price demanded? The
Assembly OF Bordeaux, since transferred to
Versailles, was elected to answer this cues
ton. Organized simply to treat with Ger
many, it Was naturally composed of persons
who had little or nothing to do with foment-
ing or carrying on the war against Germany.
and few Bonapartists, representing the prop
erty and respectability OF France pretty
fairly, but not intended to represent the po-
itical feelings of the nation. France wanted
to make the best possible bargain, only
this and nothing more, and chose the As
sembly with an eye single to this main
chance. No one thought Of naming q
definite time during which the Assembly
should sit. In fact, there was nobody
empowered to name any time. And
thus it came to pass that q few
hundred men, elected by France, but repre-
senting France only on one question, and that
one something soon settled and disposed OF,
found themselves sitting at Versailles, with
all the powers of the people intrusted to
them and with no one authorized to take
these powers away. 1t is not strange that
such an omnipotent body has been 10th to ab-
dicate. It's members, united, are au-power-
full Dispersed, they would be almost pow
erless. Many Of them could not hope for re-
election. Thus private ambitions have re-
inforced public needs, and kept the Assembly
from committing legislative suicide. After
the treaty was negotiated and the Communes
suppressed, little OF importance Was done un-
til five months ago. Then !he ghost Of
into sudden action. Some important consti-
tutional bills were passed. Everything
seemed to be ripe for a dissolution Of the As
semblY and an election, next fall, Of the two
Houses Of the new Parliament Of France.
Suddenly all this was changed The Assem-
bly, having provided for its successor, refused
to name the day Of succession It voted to
adjourn to Nov. 1. It cannot get through
the work before it until 1876 begins, perhaps
not until some months of our centennial
year. have passed The reason Of this reac-
ton is the growing fear Of the Republican
party. The Bonapartist ghost is laid, but the
Red phantom is grisly and grim. This Assem-
bly, is certainly more conservative than the
next one will be, and no one can tell how
great the difference is to be. The Deputies
are afraid of the future. That is, they are
afraid of France. They are unwilling to
trust har with self-government. And yet
they need not be. The last five years have
been rich in political lessons. The new Con-
stitution, unlike any previous one, is growth,
and therefore stands far better chance of
survival. France has learned that she is
stronger than Paris; that order does not nee
essarily involve despotism; that a responsible
Executive is better than an irresponsible one
The surest way to make sef-government i'm
possible in the future is to deny it now.
Il the Assembly refuses to dissolve, and
clings to power much longer, it will invite
the revolution it dreads Revolution will
mean the temporary establishment :.of the
Paris and Lyons Communes and the ensuing
return of HENRI Y. or NAPOLEON ". The
present ruling body has deserved well Of the
country. It has done everything good within
its power with one exception. A great ne
oessity called it into life. Another great ne
cessity demands its death.