, 1875-02-20

HO"~~~ASAA WdlIG III NOOi " w hdCs uG
Bonapartists and Epgitimists allege that
the Republicans are only nominally in pos
session and want to enter and install them
selves. The Laboulaye Amendment, by
proclaiming the Republic, shut the door in
every body's face, and gave possession to
the Republicans, and it was rejected.
The WALTON Amendment only shuts the
door for seven years, but during that time
1T puts the Republic in possession. All
the Republicans supported it because I'M
able to shut the door on their rivals for
ever they would rather have it shut for
seven years than left open. The Bonapar-
lists and Legitjmists voted against it,
wanting the gate left open that they may
enter as soon as they can. So far is in
t~elIigible enough. But the attitude of
the Right Centre, who Were devided in
opinion, is less easily explained. There
is an Orleanist Septennalist or Constitu-
tlonal Monarchy in the Right Centre, and
1t wants to retain power first of all for the
sake OF power and, secondly, to reserve
1t tor the Comte de Paris, in the event of
his being able to take it without breaking
his engagements They think the best
means OF gaining power to be in Office,
This section of the Right Centre set NJ.
Desjardins to propose a preface to the
WALTON Amendment, with the object of
preserving the present organization in
their hands. 1t provided that the future
chief of power only became a President of
the Republic in the event of the Constitu-
tional Laws not being revised before this
goth of November, 1880. The supporters
of the amendment would thus have power
for six years, holding the door open for the
Comte de Paris if by that time he could
enter with honour and loyalty-the only
terms on which he would enter even q
door thrown wide open. 1t will be under
stood, then, that all Legitimists, B~onapar-
lists, Republicans, whether moderate or
not, voted against this preface, which was
only supported by 1872 votes. 1t is neces-
sary to explain how the WALTON amend
ment obtained a majority. l have already
explained why all the Republicans voted
for it. AS for the members of the Right
Centre who Joined them, they had a spe-
cial reason. The WALTON amendment only
shuts the door for seven years. The mem
bers of the Right Centre Who voted for it
thought that if in seven years the Comta
de Paris could not arrive at power, he had
an uncle, the Due d'Aumale, who has no
heir, and whom nothing would prevent
from accepting the post of President OF
the Republic, and who in six years will
have as much chance as any one else of be
ing nominated by the two Chambers uni
ted in national Assembly They thought
that if the door remained shut on them for
six years, it was so also on others, and
that it was better to wait outside than to
vote nothing at all and run the risk of the
Empire entering. Here is the explana-
ton of the strategic movement of
parties during the sittings and now what
will be the result Of yesterdays decision9
The WALTON Amendment to be definitiveIy
carried must be adopted again when the
entire Bill is voted. The Senate was only
voted in principle. Clause 2 of the Com
mittees Bill, moreover, must be voted
tomorrow, which is in these terms =
"The Marshal President of the Repub
lie is invested with the right Of dissolving
the Chamber of Deputies. In the event
of o Dissolution, another Chamber shall
be elected within six months.
Of course, in this Clause the word
Marshal " must be struck out to conform
to the WALTON text. Clause S of the
Committees scheme must then be pass
ed -