, 1875-08-28
THE TIMES ON THE FRENCH
ASSEMBLY.

In February last the French Assembly
exhibited the s%trangest change of impulse
that had been seen in its e~yentful career.
When it met after the New Year there
was but one opinion as to its desires and
intentions. To protract the provisional
state OF the Government by every means
in its power, to strengthen the Septennate
as q Conservative authority to Just short
OF the point at which it might arrogate to
itself independence, to sanction nothing
which could preclude another attempt
at the Restoration which had failed in
1S73-above all, to maze the Assembly
itself appear in the eyes Of all respectable
people the sole barrier between them and
the ever swelling deIugo of democracy,-
these were the purposes on which the
hearts OF the Deputies were set. The
counsels of the Government were looked
upon as suggestions which might be
disregarded, rather than authoritative
advice. The measures OF the Government
were treated as if they euauated from
y power which was but the delegate Of
the Assemblies sovereignty, and might
be restrained or corrected at viii. Mar
shall IMAGINATION had six m0aths before
urged upon the Assembly the duty Of
proceeding with the Constitutional Bills,
which should give the country the regular
apparatus of government, even though the
character of its Chief, whether he should
be Sovereign or President, should remain
for the time an open question, During
the Autumn the opinion of the nation was
- .,4,1(.,t1J =, (o,o,- { 4LT- ..1,
ton. From every Department, from
every seat of commerce or manufacture,
came the protest against prolongiug q
period Of uncertainty which made all
classes uneasy and restricted every form
of enterprise. Marshal IMAGINATION was
impressed by the unvarying representations
made to him wherever he came, and his
most confidential advisers were convinced
that something must be done. Yet with
all this the majority in the Assembly was
determined to escape from anything de-
finite, and to oppose lengthy debate, re-
peated adjournments, and multiplying
amendments to any measure that seemed
inconveniently Republican.
The world knows how suddenly all this
vanished and a complete transformation
ensued.. All at once that Legislature
which seemed smitten with paralysis and
imbeciIity, incapable of constituting a
majority in favour Of any positive course,
gave signs of the utmost vigour and an ca
gerness which could not have been exceed
ed by o gathering of youthful Democrats.
The Constitutional Laws suddenly acqulr-
ed q marvellous interest. It was known
first that a number of Deputies who had
been cold and vacillating had declared in
favour Of legislation in the most Liberal
form. and, what was more significant, that
some who had been the most hostile to a
settlement, had promised to withdraw
their opposition. Meetings were held,
s~sa4ions and sub-sections debated and
diplomatized the higher society gave its
adhesion, and the initiated knew that the
work was done. M. WALTON came to the
: front with his motions, one sitting of the
Assembly followed another without q
days intermission, and the foundations of
the new Constitution were laid. What
was the cause of this extraordinary change9
It was no secret. There was not even the
affectation Of secrecy. The Assembly and