The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-04
THE FRENCH ELECTIONS.

The recent elections in France for members
of the new Assembly are signifca MT of the
progress which Republican opinions have
made in that country and Of the firm hold
which they have taken on public opinion
Whereas in the last Assembly the pro
nounced Republicans did not command more
than one-thlrd of the body, and, even with
the alliance of the Left Center, did not con
troll quite one-half, in the new Assembly they
will have an absolute and very handsome
majority OF the whole. As one hundred and
six elections are yet to be held, it is lmpos-
sible to give the exact figures, but it is known
that nothing can happen to seriously impair
the ascendercy which the r tpublicans have
already obtained.
Next to the Republicans come the Bona
partists with 60 members, not more than an
eighth of the whole. The Lsgitimists have
an insignificant following of 20, and the other
parties, such as Orleanists, Septennalists,
ETC., have the rest. Afer the sounding pro-
clamations made by the Imperialists and the
alarm which their lavish distribution of pho
tographs of their young Prince aroused in
the country, there is something almost ludi.
crous in the insignifcance of their repre-
sentation in the new Assembly. Nor is the
contrast between the utterly hopeless AMI
helpless condition Of the Legitlmists and the
arrogance with which only two or three years
ago they assumed the right to dictate mon
arch and monarchy to the country,
less absurd than the sorry spectacle pre-
sented by the Imperialists. As TO
both of these factions the French people have
pronounced a verdict which condemns them
to exile from the promised land of future pre-
Torment. Neither the memories of the cor
rupt reign Of Napoleon III and its culmina:-
ing disasters to the country, nor the prospect
of the Count de Chambord with his white
flag and his divine rights and clerical ALI
ances, has any charms for the France of to-
day. The Ofleanists, .as a political powes.
seem to be annihilsted. In fact they never
had any hold upon the country. They
appealed to no sentiment, they had no tradi-
tons. They relied only on what they errone-
ously believed to be French antipathy foI
and the seeming impossibility
Of combining the monarchical opinion Of the
country in favor Of any system of monarchy
other than that diluted form Of the ayticls
which they had to offer. !
The victory Of the Republicans is the more
significant because it was gained In opposi.
ton 70 the strenuous Efforts Of the govern.
kind of influence which has always,
heretofore, controlled French elections. The
system Of official candidacy was put in prac.
tice throughout the country, and among the
official candidates 1t is probable that not one
was Republican. All the power Of the gov.
eminent of the Republic was exerted to com.
pass the defeat of those who called themselves
NJ. Buffet, the head of the Min.
istry, man Of great energy, of great courage,
and of much fofce of character, Organized
the monarchical sentiment in opposition %
the Republican programme. It is certain
that, in this, he had the confidence and the
Of Marshal MacMahon. and it il
lust as certain that the Marshal was intensely
by the failufe of his scheme to
throw the legislative power of the republic |
into the hands Of coalition of Monarchists.
Neither che attempt, nor its results, will tend |
% enhance MscMahon's reputation as
statesman. He has shown that he incapable I
If understanding and powerless to control,
he public opinion of the country. which he
lspires to govern. !.
The immediate Consequence of the e!ec- :
ions was to compel change Of ministry |
v. BufSet retires, and is succeeded by NJ.
Dufaure. q sincere Republican, and man of
moderate views and fair abilities. If he
hould be able to secure the confidence of the
Republican majority in the new Assembly,
he success OF tbs Republic will be reasonably
veil assured, and u. Thierss declaration that
be Republic is the only form Of government
possible in France, will become q truth as
veil as q pfOphecy