New-York tribune., 1876-02-05
PARTISAN LIFE.
LETTER FROM HENRY JAMES, JR.


txpou A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
PARIS, Jan. l6.-It seems just now, in writing
from Paris, rather ght-minded to speak of anything
else than the political situation but if one has de-
cent pretext for holding ones tongue about French
pohtcs | think is a great fool not TO take
advantage of it, Nothing else, it is true, is taKed
about The elections are all-pervasive, ana no one
has attention for anything but the crimes OF 'no
virtues las he may happen to consider 'nei'' " ~"
Buffet. There is Of course, an INFINITE amount VI
more OF less ferociOus discussion, anu every ma"
suspects political adversary in every o'her' ""cn
Isav that it is blessing not to be 0bhged 10 dis'S
Imean that if one is disposed that way one may
find at every turn the most vivid reminder OF 'ne
vanity of passionate argument. The intensity Oh
ooltical discussions is sharper in France
than it is anywhere else-which IS 'he
case indeed with every sort Of difference of opinion
There are more camps and coterles ana se's
than among Anglo-SaxOns. and the gulf when ul-
v;des each group from every other is more hopeeeSy
and fstallv iupassabe Nothing is more striking to
=. foreigner even after he thinks he has grown used
IN sueh things than the detiniteness with when
people here are classed and hcketed Inc ucRet
reads so or So Of course according to your point OF
view hut TO the man who wears another ticket IT
ALWAYS reads villainously. You ask writer whose
nroductions you admire some question about an
other writer for whose works you have also relish
ooh he is of the School of This That he is of
the oveae Of SO and SO," he answers. we thlhk
notbinc Of him: you must nit talk of him here; for
os he does MT exist And you turn away, medlta-
five and perhaps with little private elation at
he;ng voursef an unconsolidated American and able
70 enjoy both Mr. A. aud Mr.. Y, who enjoy each
,tber so little OF course subsequently you do
,ba,n iustice in their mutual aversions, and per-
ceive that some of the qualities you admire
in their writings are really owing to their oeihg III
trenched behind their passwords. niue Schoo'
that dslikes every other school, but Is extremely
active and industrious within its own circle Is an
excellent engine for the production OF limited per-
fection and French literature abounds IN books Ill
which particular tendencies have been pushed 10
lengths which only sort of artistic conspiracy OF
many minds could have reached but which seem
like mere blind alleys Of thought, where explorers
perish sufocated for want of having taken heed OF
possble issues to right or left 1t is simply the old
story that either in politics or in literature, French
men are ignorant of the precious art oi compromise.
The imagination sinks helpless before the idea of
Monarchst and q Republican ever really coming to
terms The Legt mists the other day formed
temporary coalition with the Republicans for the
sake of keeping the Oreansts out of the Senate but
this was not because they loved the Republicans
more but because they loved the Orleauists less
And vet this sounds almost like basphemy in pres
ence of the fact that the Republic is every day max
Ing converts from the Monarchical ranks.
Nothing succeeds like success, and 1t must seem
to any sensible Frenchman, who is not simple par
tisan, that the excellent position of France before
the world at the present time offers really no decent
pretext for pretending that the Republic is not suf
cient and safe. But it is nevertheless true that
every convert the present regime makes is supreme
testimony to the force Of good example and of liberal
ideas This is the more true that deplorable eX-
ample is being so continually offered to recalctrant
patriots by NJ. Butet-the agitated minister OF
profoundly tranquil country, as Lc Temps, day or
two ago very happily called him. To an unattached
outsider like myself, who has nothing but his per-
sona impressions to go by, NJ. Buffet seems bent on
goading thoroughly well-disposed and wen-con-
Quoted country 10 desperation. His theory Is that
however well-cOnducted France may be, she is so
only by cOmpulsiOn and long she feels
tho strong hand, and that she is not
In the least we'll disposed All his talk il of social
peril but no one can in the least imagine what lie
means To keep the country quiet he sticks needles
into her and to set an example Of mutual confidence
be shakes his watchman's rattle. NJ. Buffet Is
frightened man he has never recovered from the
Commune. The Commune was certainly not reas-
suring but it weighs lightly in the scale compared
with the general attitude Of the country which con-
Uders that the Republic has established far ground
for presumption III its favor which has desire tor
rest and peace and work and order at least as lively
~ the Prims Minister'S, and which believes that the
best guarantee of these comforts Is frank accept
ance of the RI public 1t Is probable that this will
be sufficiently manifested in the result OF the gen
sral elections, which began yesterday by the cleo
tion Of delegates By the municipal councils. The
rural districts are with the present occasion TO ex
mora dirccty in political Affairs
than they have ever done before. Marshal Mac
Mahon has ushered in the campaign with d
proclamation which is placarded in all the streets
and which, though it expresses very correct sent-
ments. strikes me az rather regretable perform
knce. proclamation Of the Chief of the State adj
dressed directly TO the nation the heads OF the
ministry ls step 50 irregular and abnormal that 1t
should be resortcd TO only in moments Of extraord
nsry public peril This is far from being such mo-
ment, and il is paying compliment TO the country
at large to assume it to be, and TO pretend that the
nation is in need of this pOrtentous reminder Of the
rudimentary duties of patriotism. This is all the
proclamation contains, with the exception Of more
satisfactory passage, which NJ. Buffet probably did
not enjoy having to cOuntersign promising that the
Marshal will favor no revision Of the present Con-
stutOn until IT has been fairly and Loyalty tested
which it has not been yet. The proclamation is un-
fortunate because it interrupts that most desirable
process the formation in France OF a tradition in
favor Of impersOnal government. Such tradition
Ia slowly and labonouSly shaping ITSELF and every
month that France continues both prosperous and
parliamentary, will lend it more authority. But
think ID eau be said that the document in question
has neither unduly discOmposed nor unduly COM
forted the mass of good citizens.
went too far just now in saying that nothing but
politics is talked about; every finds word for