, 1877-11-18

lut pUlll!cu SlLuhLiOI Ill IFaucc LUIS
reached crisis that promises peace instead
Of strife. Thirty members of the Senate,
belonging to tho Right Centre, have waited
upon Marshal MAcSIAHoS aud informed him
that they will not support the Cabinet i'll any
policy of resistance, and that they will not
agree to another dissolution of the Chamber
Of Deputies. They hold the balance Of pow
cr, and their action is very similar to that Of
the moderate Democrats in our own Con-
gress, who, rather than plunge the country
into civil strife last winter, voted to refer the
Presidential question to the Electoral Com
mission. Their course checks MAcMAHoS in
his reckless policy, and makes it inevitable
that the present Cabinet must hand III their
designations, which they have done, leaving
A1AcAlAuoS all Mt sea with his programme.
He had intended to dissolve the present
Chamber, if the Senate had consented, but
he cannot do it without such consent under
the law. He effected the previous dissolu-
ton upon the assurance Of the Adtninistra-
ton that the people would sustain him. The
majority of the Senate, being monarchical
acquiesced in the demand for the
dissolution. An appeal was taken, to
the people, and for five months
there was the most exciting political canvass
the French people have ever known since
the Revolution. Both the Government and
the Church brought MI their tremendous
power to bear upon the people. The Church
promised and Threatened, aud the Govern
,p.,,,+ ,,rorocptaI o11 ,,arcaoufaI orrac+a1
Republican editors, suppressed Republican
newspapers and even threatened the use OF
the army. It was all Of no avail, however
The people proved that AAcNAuoS had
promised more thnn lie could fulfill when lie
said the people would indorse the tlissolu-
ton of the House. They gave MINORITY of
100000 for the Republic, and they elected
over 100 majority of the members OF the
Chamber. The rebuke did not utter the
rash aud violent policy Of IMAGINATION, nor
did the second election to tie Councils Gen.
cral, which body in turn will elect certain
number Of Senators in January. Ho
still determined to press matters to d reyoln-
ton, and, if the Senate Conservatives would
consent to break up the House again, de-
care martial law, and thus by the use of ab-
solute personal power force a majority in the
new Chamber at m election next spring.
Tho thirty members of tile Right Centre,
holding the balance Of power, lnve refused
in advance, and have thus completely blocked
the 2larshal's game, besides securing the
resignation Of the Cabinet, aud lie will now
be compelled to select Il Cabinet more in ac-
cordance with the sentiment of Parliament.
The outlook, therefore, is favorable for an
avoidance Of civil war, and there is pros
pcct TINT the French may settle their diff
cultics without resort to arms. They are now
passing through the same experiences that
the English did :. few years ago in the matter
of Parliamentary responsibility. It will be
Il great point gained if M.Ac3lAaoS is CON-
pclled to govern by majority rule or in ac-
cordance with the sentiment Of the Chamber
of Deputies 1t will be the first solid foun-
dation Of French liberty and self-govern-
ment thnt has ever been laid in that country
if they pass this crisis successfully.