The Portland daily press., 1878-01-10

growth of the republican sentiment In the
country. firmly opposed him in his reaction
ist course. They were Joined by the Bona
partists and the Legitimists, who began to
fear Orleanist intrigues, the old coalition
was broken up. and de Brogle was compelled
to resign on the 10th of May, not quite
year after the downfall of Thiers. As neither
section of the Assembly felt strong enough TO
undertake the government the Marshal
formed what was known as the "Business
Cabinet" made up of men without convic-
tions and headed by the minister of war.
General de Cissey. The outcome of the con-
flct was that the Orleanist party disappeared
as an active force from French politics. and
that the field was left clear to the rivalry of
the Republic and the Empire. The Repub-
licans came out of the struggle united, the
most powerful party in France. Indeed so
great and assured had their strength
become that on the reorganization of the
ministry which followed the final settlement
of the Constitution three representatives
of the Left Centre were called into the Cabi-
net. The elections which took place in 1876
under the new constitution resulted in the
choics of Chamber of Deputies decsively
Republican, 1853 Republican Deputies being
returned against 155 representing all the
monarchcal factions. Buffet, who was of the
Right Centre, resigned, and the Marshal in
December, 1916, with the avowed design of
showing the people how unfit the Republi-
cans were to govern, called upon Jules Simon,
the leader of the moderate Left, to form a
Cabinet.
In their expectation the Marshal and the
reactionists who controlled him were sadly
disappointed. The administration OF Simon
was singularly able and brilliant. No ''Radi-
cap outbreaks took place, no wild schemes
were broached, no hasty legislation was at
tempted. The Republicans wisely abstaned
from all legislation for which the nation was
not prepared, prudenty forebore to irritate
their opponents by harsh measures directed
against them, and proved themselves emil
nently fit to govern. In fact they had in the
five years following the capitulation of Paris,
made great progress in the art of parliament
ary government, had discarded many of their
extreme or absurd notions, aud had learned
the necessity of compromises in politics. The
responsibilities of power sobered instead of
exciting them. Their moderate conduct and
wise administration dlssipated the fears of
"Radicalism" which had so troubled the
French people who had the excesses of the
Commune in mind, and the country RAPIDLY
became Republican. So marked was the sue
cess of the new ministry that MacMahon and
his advisers soon became alarmed aud deter
mined to strike down the Republicans before
it was too late. The outcome of this deter
minatioR was s'the movement of the 18th of
May" 1877, the dismissal of Simon, the dis
solution of the Assembly, and the formation
OF the Bonapartist Cabinet under the lead of
Fourtou. The Marshal threw himself unre-
servedly Into the arms of the Bonapartists.
The electoral methods of the Empire were re-
viVed. The press was muzzed, the machinery
of the courts was directed against Republican
orators and writers, and bribery and intimida-
ton were brought to bear upon the electors.
The marshal went so far as to threaten to
rnle with the help of the Senate alone if an
adverse majority was returned.
With the result of the elections we are all
familiar. The Republicans won decisive
triumph-so decisive that the Marshal did
not dare to carry out his threat, but submit |
ted to defeat aud formed cabinet from the |
ranks of the Left. So completely vanquished |
are the reactionists they can make but fee
bic rally in 1880. when the Septennate ex-
pires, unless their opponents are guilty of
great blunders. The wisdom and moderation
of the Republican leaders induce belief that
no blunders will be made, but that two years
hence the Republic will be firmly aud defini.
lively established in France. The municipal |
elections of this week show an increased con- |
fidence by the people in the new order of |
things.