Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-12
TheDeadlock in France.

The Deadlock in France.
The present situation in France. viewed
in the light which the history OF the pas
six months throws upon it, is simply
amazing. "Statesmanship" is a term which
can no longer be applied to the course o.
the MacMahon Government; it has de-
generated into what we can only call bull
headed obstnacy. Il is not surprising
that the French people should surmise the
existence OF some deep-laid, neiariou:
plot, as the motive power Of the resistance
to the emphatic will of The majority and
the purpose OF the Constitution. They
are accustomed TO almost any other iaul
than stupidity in public affairs, and hence
only accept blunder when they have TAIL
ed to discover any evidence OF a crime
The popular belief that violent measures
were only prevented by the frmness OF
General Berthaut, the recent Minister OF
War, is thus explained. The report may
or may not have been based on truth; bnt
it will equally increase the distrasi OF Mae
Mahon, and possibly diminish his actual
influence over the army.
The new Ministry was understood, on
both sides, to be merely an III interim ar
rangement. intended 10 last while the
Marshal-President sounded the POSSIBLE
ties of second dissolution al the Chamber
OF Deputies. The plan failed, owing to
the prudence ofthe Orlcanis, faction, who.
standing side by side with the Republicans
on this question. formed majority Of the
Senate. Without the concurrence Of that
body dissolution could not be carried,
and so nothing remained but for the Min
istrv to resign. Their resignation was
accepted on Thursday last. and NJ. Duiaure
was summoned to aid in the construction
OF new Ministry. As an eX-Mnister
himself, a Conservative Republican and
on good terms with the Chemists, NJ.
Dufaure was in position to select men
from the Right and Left Centres. whose
appointment would satisfy the Republican
party, without being specially objection
able to the Monarchisls. But, after very
reluctantly accepting the conditions, that
the Ministry should have entire liberty as
to all official appointments. that the pow
er to declare a siege and the laws concern
ing the press should be modified, and the
Chamber guaranteed against capricious
dissolutions. MacMahon suddenly demand
ed the right to appoint the Ministers OF
War. Marine and Foreign Affairs
1t was a prcposterous claim, since it
would have left the whole offensive pow
er of the Government in bis own hands,
precisely as before. Thereupon, NJ. Du-
faure gave up all hope of forming new
Ministry, and now NJ. Batbe has been
summoned to the work.
So the deadlock continues. aud Is not
likely to be loosened so far as to assure
even tolerable quiet in the future. What
may be expected from NJ. Batbie may be
guessed from his declaration, on Saturday
that MacMxhon had made every conces.
sion consistent with honor. and henceforth
the Constituencies must follow him,
even to voting a second dissolution. The
Bonapartists in France appear to be grow
ing impatient, from deferred chances of
action, and therefore somewhat reckless /;
the Legitimists have no other policy than
hostility to the Republic; but the Orlean-
lists have nothing to lose, and possibly
something to gain, in ranging themselves
with the republican majority in this crisis.
We believe they will be patriotic enough
to defeat the plan of again dissolving the
Chamber; but we cannot expect any real
submission, or even any honest compro-
mise, from the Government.
Meanwhile, the depression OF business
in France increases from day to day; in
dustry OF every kind languishes; the peo-
pie are disturbed, anxious, irrilated; enor-
nous preparations are in progress for a
grand Exhibition in 1873, and the world is
not yet quite sure that it can be he'd; and
the final adjustment of the political trou-
BILE seems to be nearly as distant as it was
in May last. All these evils have fallen
upon France, because parties forced into
retirement the prudent, experienced and
patriotic statesman who was at the head
Of affairs fivesears ago, to give his place
to soldier who was never great com
minder in the larger sense of an organic
er and strategist, and whose last preyi-
GUS distinction was only that of ignomini-
Gus defeat Tribune.
C0nciliatOrs and DOughfaces-The
OId-FashiOued Faith.