The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-20
Making n Constitution.


At length it seems to have become apparent
to the republicans in the French Assembly
that republic of some kind, though it be not
exactly the one that each faction would de-
sire, is better than no republic at all and pref
cradle TO the provisional, with all its liabil-
ties to parliamentary and dynastic accidents"
and this perception has led to the practical con-
sequence of uniting all the republican elements
of the Right and Left Centres in the endeavor to
secure the constitution Of Senate. 1t should
be observed that such body is now an abso-
Lutte necessity to give value to the triumph by
which, Oh January 1, the WALTON amendment
became the corner stone of a new republic.
M. Ventavon's constitutional scheme provided
for the Office of President in its first article,
which was as follows:-' Marshal MacMahon,
President of the Republic, continues to exer-
else with this title the Executive power with
which he was invested by the law of Novem-
Der 20, 1873" This, it is seen, creates no
Office; it continues the possession of power
hitherto granted, and keeps in its terms
SO strictly near to the barest statement
of facts that it leaves open no implica-
ton as to the Executive Office beyond
the Marsbals incumbency. NJ Wallon's
amendment was as follows :-"The President
of the Republic is elected by plurality of
suffrages by the Senate and the Ch$mber of
Deputies united in National Assembly lie
holds Office for seven years and is re-eligible."
Here. while the Septennate is accepted as
constitutional basis it is made permanent
Office, its continuation is provided for, and by
necessary implication the form of government
is declared to be republican. These few
words are, in short, what republicans have
clamored Tor in and out Of season for q gen.
Grafton. This amendment was carried by
majority of one But in order that the ground
actually secured by this victory should not be
lost there must be Senate. 1t is obvious
that Senate is a necessary condition TO the
effectiveness if not to the vitality Of the
clause. But the original bill for n Senate as
reported by Lefevre Pontalis has been already
killed. 1t was apparently killed through the
injudicious energy Of the republicans, who
forced their own views so far as to lose for the
measure the support of the conservative ele-
ments. We say apparently; for, after all, its
defeat may have been due to the legitimate
opposition of all the anti-republican
parties which, seeing that the Republic has
secured the primary victory, and seeing, there
fore, that every further step in organization is
the organization of the Republic, may oppose
all organization solely for that reason, so that
ct last the now triumphant party will be left
with a crippled and ineffective law of no value.
II it was in virtue of this sort of opposition
that the regular bill for the Senate was
defeated the new proposition will be defeated
also; Tor the concession it makes to the con-
servatives is the creation of the Senate, and
will not tempt them away from an opposition
based on so clear q principle. The immedi-
ately forthcoming conflict is one of greatly
increased interest, therefore; but the republic
cans have gained great and permanent
advantage in the Ventavon BILL and If at last
dissolution comes as failure to organize the
government in any form they alone Of oil the
parties will go before the country with a dis
tinct programme as formulated in the WALTON
amendment
| The INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL was under
4