The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-21

Versailles Voted the Capital Of the Nation
Paris Disfranchised as the Metropolis.
THE GREAT PARTIES BALANCED.
Political Fortune Smiling on the
Bonapartists.


PARIS. Feb. 5, 1875.
I expressed doubt In my last letter as to
whether much significance could be attached to
the implied acknowledgment OF the Republic by
a majority OF one. in the Assembly ON the 3eth Of
January. Certain 1t is that four days later-that
49, on the 50 inst.-the royalists triumphed over
their adversaries on the great question OF the
capital, the Chamber deciding by 332 to 327 that
the seat Of government and OF the Legislature
should be Versailles, thus. as 1t were, rendering
the disranc hsement Of Paris part OF the constl-
tuition. The importance Of this division, however,
lies in the fact that 1t reveals such evenly bal
anced state OF parties in the Assembly, victory
incsning ever so slightly, now to one side ana now
to the other, that no solid or durable work can
be expected to result from Its discussions. Fur
Their, every day that the provisional state OF
things lasts. and that neither the conserva.
tive Republic nor constitutional Monarchy seem
to be possible the Bonapartist cause Is gaining.
and even honest liberals sigh for the material
prosperity Of the Empire and termination OF
these sterile party intrigues. The organization OF
Prince Louis Napoleon's adherents Is discovered
to be lar more formidable than would have been
imagined. They form
VAST SECRET SOCIETY,
extending through every department OF France
and every class Of the population. The society ia,
in fact, a sham administration with sham suDor-
legitimate employee Of the Republic has his coun-
terpart In the ranks OF the lmperiast faction.
II MacMahon is President. Louis Napoleon Is En-
peror with these men. II General de Cissey Is the
Marshal's Prime Minister. NJ. ROuher is the chief
OF another phantom Cabinet, which yet ex.
ercises great deal Of real authority.
An invisible Minister OF the Interior
commands eighty-seven invisible projects. and
these in their turn give orders to invisible sub
projects and mayors. Even the parish beadle.
acknowledged by the Republic. Is replaced in the
secret Empire by beadle capable OF approaching
the Napoleonic idea, and who is to emerge from
obscurity as soon as France shall have displayed
like capacity. such a discipline OF the Imperialist
forces may possibly defeat its own end; for. by
disposing Of every scrap OF patronage beforehand.
the young Pretender has nothing more to otter to
Others and 1t is difficult to recruit active partl-
sans without tangible inducement. His retain
ers may get TO be considered as sect apart from
which the rest OF the nation Is shut out, and
which has nothing in view but few selfish ends
OF Its own. The Bonapartisrs are already in pop
ular estimation the Jesuits OF politics. from the
unscrurulousness supposed to be common to the
faction and TO the famous order. The exclusive
ness OF the one and the other would be another
point OF similarity. But
IF THE INTERREGNUM SHOULD CONTINUE
Marshal Canrobert and no one can tell how many
generals besides) may profit by the apparent i'm
poience OF the Legislature and the Executive to
give the signal for another dark nights work.
aud in q moment the Empire may spring forth
completely armed from the head OF the arch.cOn-
spirator. Already Marshal MacMahon has been
QOaded into threat Of resignation, and should he
offer once more to abdlcate his powers, and should
the Assembly take him at his WORD, as It did
the anarchy which would then be imminent would
be the golden opportunity OF the Bonapartists.
MACMAHON'S THREAT
was uttered in this wise. M. Barthe had pro-
posed an amendment to the constitutional laws
providing that the President should dispose OF the
armed forces OF the nation but should never COM
mand them IN person. Most sincere liberals would
have supported the clause, which contained an
would-be Caesars But General de Chabaud La
tour secretary OF the Interior rendered its adop.
ton impossible by ascending tide tribune and
declaring, with extraordinary vehemence, that he
was authorized to say that II the Marshal presi-
dent were forbidden to draw his sword in defence
OF his country he would resign within twenty-four
hours. YET though sceptica observer Will
situation OF French affairs, 1t Is fair to
ada that the republicans are elated
OF their prospects. They fancy they have cnance
for founding the Republic 6y means or the present
Assembly, and that once IL becomes ale dennitv s;
rally to 1t as they unquestI0nably DO rally to the
established order Of things, whatever it may be.
The future OF France depends for the hour on the
action OF the Right Centre, or
THE YOUNG ORLEANIST5,
as the section OF conservatives VINO helped to
swell the republican majority OF the 30th OF Janu-
AIRY Ii called. IT score OF them continue to vote
steadily with the Left the Republic may indeed DO
constituted. The old Orleanists Will merge into
the legitmsts and the TWO together form an insig-
nihcant band OF theorists The result OF the geu-
eral election must, however, be awaited before the
permanency OF the new constitution can DC
tested. Bonapartlsm, as nave pointed out, grows
apace but It's progress Will be arrested by nothing
So enectually az legal government whose tito
Is beyond cavl and which can present a definite
system and policy for the rural population to sup
port Tne peasant farmer would prefer the
Empire, but he may be persuaded TO accept tho
Republic should its proclamation haply coincide
with o good harvest. The Septennate, personal or
impersOnal, ne cannot abide or understand. IL "
new.angled, and, II 1t means anything. means tho
perpetual alarm or revolution. Above all. no
wishes to be quiet and mates cnange.
RECRUITING FOR THE ARMY.
An Interesting report mas been iald before the
Chamber on the subject OF recruiting for the army
during the year 1874 under the law OF compul-
sorry military service. out OF 3o3.5lO young
os the ss T Sa
on the ground that they were suffering
from various diseases winch rendered them
ciassed as folows Skin diseases, 7o5; blindness
100; loss OF an eye, 1925; squirting, l25; short
sight 527 various diseases OF the eye, 1879; deaf
ness SOL loss OF teeth, 3l5 stotering 529; wens.
4l8; scrofula / ,336; heart disease 1886; consump-
ton, 522; hernia, 942 loss OF the use OF an arm
leg 1883; mutiatiOn OF fingers, l,o3s; varicOse
THE GERMAN EMBASSY FETE
A more cheerful subject Is the grand reception
at the German Embassy last Wednesday. when all
Paris nOcked to tue residence OF Prince HOhen-
lobe, In the Rue de Lille. The Orleans Princes
were especially remarked, and so was Queen lsa-
bella, OF SPAN. who was more or less the guest or
the evening. The Difference shown her by the
German Ambassador was only natural; out Cos
sips have already set aflOat rumOrs OF secret un-
aerstandng between the o9arts OF Berlin au ana
might be hard to explain.