New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-12
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
AN EVENTFUL WEEK.

THE MUNICIPAL BILL.
fFRox A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBuNEl
PARIS, July 28.-There has been no more active
or more agitated week since the establishment of
the Republic than the last. On Monday, the l1th
of this month"; the eve of the opening of the Discus
sion on the Waddingoo bill, majority of four had
been, it was supposed, secured. Some Senators
thought it would be SIX When the debate opened
on the Tuesday it was believed there might be only
one or two votes for the Ministry, seeing tlat NJ
Challemel Lacour's admirable speech had reused the
anger OF the Reactionsts simply because IL was lie
who made il. On the Wednesday and Thursday adj
verse opinions prevailed, according as this orator or
that swayed public opinion. Jules Sinons speech
was thought to have insured majority, and NJ
Waddington's straightforward, plain statement of
facts certainly did impress profoundly all impartial
hearers; but by degrees as the discussion lasted no
impartality existed any more. The ann and object
of the bill was utterly lost sight OF, and the desire
of the Clercals TO overthrow the Cabinet waXed
into frenzy. What gave hone until the last to every
publc-spirtcd citizen the notion that when the
President of the Council. NJ. Dufaure, should sum
ND the debate his solemn assertion of the absolute
unity of the Government and the Chief OF the state
with the Minister of Public Instruction, would rally
To the bill all the waveTcrs of the Right Center,
who generally merely look to what " the Govern
decide. But the Due de Broge and NJ. Buffet
had so lost all sense of political conduct and
all sense of shame that, blinded they were, not
revolution even would have stopped them. They
risked everything, and made false statements, tie
claring that the Ministry would retire. that the Mar
shall would take the next Ministers from the hight,
that he tine Marshall only waiting to get nd OF
this present Cabinet in order to return to the prn-
ciples of the oath of May, and that since the con-
flict fairly opened with the Lower Chamber, dis
solution might be accomplished, the Constitution
upset the Republic swept away, and q monarchy
(which p put in ITS place! Nothing cost these mad
men, and, by the aid of few Bonapartists, they
gained their point. Half a dozen Protestant Bona
paTtists whose every interest was with the Govern
ment bill and against the Clericals voted with the
Cericals and against the Washington Dill But
scarcely had the morrow dawned than the mistake
was perceived. VI. Dufaure, riveted by tho be-
havior of the Reaconists to the Liberal majority,
decided that it was case for retirement, and
merely observed to NJ. Waddington las the Minister
specially concened that he hoped he entertained no
notion of resignng his post. NJ Waddingtou gave
the one answer that every real Parliamentarlan
would naturally give, namely; that If he still en-
loved the confidence of the Chief of the state, there
could be no question for him of a resignation 1ms
coincidence" remaining undOubted and the whole
Cabinet holding more than ever together, the Cler-
icas and their heterogeneous instruments were for
the first time made thoroughly aware of how grossly
unpoitical their tactics had been.
The first persons disappointed were Jules Simon
and NJ LabOulaye. Both had in different ways
fought for NJ. Waddington's portfolio, for both had
made quite sure that whatever the other Ministers
did, he would not submit to the overthrow OF the
bill Jules Simon thought that, in ease of this va
EIynIt to no yAI
upon as changing least the actual composition of the
Cabinets so he, while upholding the bill, made him
self out an ardent friend to the Church. aud flat
tered his adversares that, had Waddngton gone
out the Right Center could have had no difficulty
in accepting Simon in his stead. But NJ Laboulaye
had still livelier hopes and with the view OF port
folio, did not hesitate TO beray what had been sup
posed to be his opinions and his party and TO leave
the Liberals in the lurch. He has probably lost by
this all ministerial chances. Jules Simon is so well
known and so little esteemed that trick the
more or less Oh his part is without Importance. lie
NAV be a Minister some day-but LabOudye, though
not liked, was somewhat more " considered" and he
las covered himself with shame in the esteem of all
honest men of all parties.
No sooner was the vote given, and the decision Of
the Ministry not to retire known, than it was also
discovered that the Government had resolved upon
months. This was severe blow, for it showed the
Marshal stanch TO his Ministers and the Constitu-
ton. and this dispeled the rosiest dreams of the
whole army of the reaction.
The next day last Saturday, the only real yictors
in the Senate-the Bonapartists-tred to improve
their advantage aud NJ Paul de Cassagnac began a
oug rrel with NJ Grevy, the President of the Lower
Chamber upon the insults offered to the coup dttdt
of the I'd of December. But NJ. GT6yy is very
tough morsel for any teeth, let alone such inexpe-
rienced ones as Paul de Cassagnacs, and so this
tempestuOus young gentleman brought himself and
his PARTY to the direst grief When he told NJ
Greyy he must in future abstain from allowing the
Empire to be attacked, NJ. Gr6yy most categoricaly
rcped that so long as he presided in that Assembly
no one i'm it should Justify the crime of the I'd of
December! The Bonapartists howled at tins, and
were Joined by all the Royalists and Clericals
After this a member of the Left proposed vote of
confidence ia the Ministry, and worded it so adroity
that. while expressing trust III the Government, 1T
nominatively threw shame on the I'D OF Decent
berr and confirmed the decree of "D6cheance" of
1871 against the Empire The tumult was trcmen-
dotls but the result was unanimous vote of this
order of the day"-37l members voted, and 81
votes acclaimed the Government.
Rarely has such a triumph been achieved, and
rarely has any vote in any parliament been more
completely echoed and applauded by an entire
nation.
This turns the tables on the Senate, and makes the
position of the Brogliests and Buttetsts extremely
painful because ridiculous. 1t is very possible that
the Rcactionists of the Senate will begin some fresh
ntrigues on the occasion of the Municipal bill, which
at present stands thus: After beng voted, as You
know, by "A large majority in the lower House, 1T
has gone mp to the upper for ratification On the
naming of the committee who have to discuss it, the
votes have been so equally divided that while four