New-York tribune., 1875-02-15
TIE LATE COALITION OF ORLEANISTS AND
REpTrHTICANS.

TIE LATE COALITION OF ORLEANISTS AND
REPUBLICANS.
THE WAY PREPARED BY NJ LABoULtYE's MOTION
MAJORITY on TIE WALTON AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTIONAL BIIL.-A VOTE AGAINST THE
DUKE DE BROGIIE.
IFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNEI
PARIS, Feb. 1.-The French raft of State was un-
der way again last week, rs you know, Tor const-
tutional port Despite head winds, passionate gusts
and squalls the crossest of currents and discordant
crews, 1t does seem to be making some little head
way toward Republican harbor 1t may be driven
back to-day or any other day this week from what
lttle advance it gained between last Monday and
last Saturday. The order Of the day in the Assem-
bly, Thursday was the second reading OF the Ven
tayon constitutional bill The first article of this bill
is follows The legislative power is exercised by
two assemblies-the Chamber OF Deputies and the
Senate Tie Chamber of Deputies is elected by uul-
versal suffrage under the conditions fixed by the
electoral law. The Senate is composed Of members
elected or appointed in proportions and under con-
ditions that shall be regulated by special law"
That is, it fixes the principle of two Houses, but
leaves the new electoral law Ito modify universal
suflrage) which is to be represented in the Lower
House. and the appointed and elected proportions OF
members of the Upper House open reserved ques-
tiODs.
To this first article the following amendment was
offered: "The Government OF the Republic is com
posed Of two Chambers and President" This is
essentially article first OF the Constitutional bill
known as Dufaure's, proposed by that extremely
moderate Republican when he was chief of Nj.
1hiors's Cabinet which was condemned by vote
of $50 to 3ii on May 2l 1873. 1t was revived IN the
CasimirP6Ter proposition, rejected IN July, 1874, by
37l 10 33 voices. Onc of its two objects is to state
fact that has been forgotten by the Constitutional
Law Commission. that we are living in Republic
a fact it is well enough to assert. III country where
the cry Of Vire la RepuJHc' has been deemed
sedtious." With these words NJ Labouaye
began his. long argument in support of the
amendment. H. Labonlaye is peculiar speaker.
His discourse is beautifully clear in diction close IN
It's logic, without pcdantic arrogance, enliyened
with pcasantrrs of wit and humor that tell with
out singing, running at moments INTO familiar
conversational tone but never below sort of amia
bic dignity. 1t rises not to nigh lights but to high
planes without rhetorical strainng, and 10 raises
the auditory. communicating emotion because the
speaker Is deeply moved. 1t was so free from
irritating words, so potenly abundant in calm good
sense as to be what 50 few political speeches from
the tribune are or arc ever expected by the speak
ers to be- persuasive to hearers OF contrary views
So it was thought that, had the question
his amendment for legally authenticating the
Republic would have passed. The objections to it,
presented BY a heavy talker Of the Right, had no
other effect than to drive number Of members
from the House. But that most excellent sectaTian
Louis Blanc would mount the tribune, and then
under difficulties Of Interruption worldly proclaim
that he and choice few fellow-cOnfcssOrs OF the
stratest republican sect must, for conscience sake
resist the principle embodied in the amendment
"being convinced that the institution of the presi-
dency is fatal to the Republic" He held for him
self first article of faith that the Republic does
exist, and that to seem to make its existence or
vitality dependent on q parliamentary decree Is
heresy.
That Louis Blancs appearance in the tribune
that day, whether he spoke for or against the
amendment, was admirably calculated to shock
such conservative" waverers as bad been gently
drawn out toward Laboulayes moderately presented
principle of republic tremulously back within
their conservative lines of doubt and fear is indis
putable. Whether, if Louis Blanc had kept his
small voice of conscience still that day, the amend
meut would have then passed. is another and most
doubtful question. No matter. Monarchists of all
shades caught at the occasiOn-especially because
some of them had left the House-and sue
ceeded in deferring the vote till the next
day. Friday. The question being put on Friday
the Laboulaye amendment was rejected by vote
of 39 to $780, Louis Blanc and the four OF ye falth-
full in whose name he spoke "a hours before, voted
Yea and the first article of the Ventvon bill cted
above is adopted on the second reading. But now
is brought forward an additional amendatory arti-
Gle destined partially to take the place OF this first
article 1t is as follows "Ihe President of the
Republic is chosen by plurality of the surages OF
the Senate and Chamber of Deputies united IN Ma
tlonal Assembly. He is appointed for seven years
and is reGhgible."
So far as the first of it's several obectsls concerned
this (which will be known as the Wallon) amend
ment s nearly identical in principle. THAT is In the
principle of nstituting the practically existing re-
public and legiimatng its namo as the form OF
government with the rejected Dufaure. Casimir-
P6rier and Labouaye propositions. It's author Mr..
WALTON is, like Dufaure, P6rier aud Laboulaye
really conservative by temperament Intelligence
and age. Like the first, two of these three-and l
am no way sure that NJ Laboulaye shonld be omitted
for want of likeness in the case-and M. Ihers and
M de Remusat and Icon Say his preference is Tor
a constitutional monarchy. Ho IL " years Old, ana
has learned things in his time. He Is member OF
the Institute, historical lecturer successor to
Guizot) at the SOrbonDe, somewhat vo-
Iumious learned and utterly orthodox writer
about religious persons and lnsiftutlons.
He is not an orator. but failing vcrbosty
and facility of smart phrases. sustained his amend
ment perhaps all the more effectively In brief.
calmly spoken, straightforward argument, resting
on ndisputable facts. aud appealing only to decent
patriotism and common sense. That his amend
ment which had first be referred to the Consttu-
tioual Law Committee of Thirty. was rejected by
that helpless multitude of councillors IN whom there
ia no WISDOM Is matter of course. Nothing 30 nearly
approaching as it does to intelligiblc deinitencss
could meet with approval from majority of It's