, 1879-04-13

chief city of that part of France which tba -. 49,
had left untouched Paris was still in. the h,rSk
OF the Germans, and " Gaubetta's Goralats
by the victorious advance Of the German troes!!
| to Withdraw from Tours to Bordeans' ~Ses ~
! sooner, however, was peace concluded +bsou NJ
! the Assembly resolved BY a large mag s9aa
ity to remove to Versailles. This took tvs. ~.
| on the 10th of March, ISL. On the l8,pn pAs. =:
| broke out, and the return Of the Assembly ~
Paris was delayed, as events have shown foo ~
eight years.. On the events OF those eight resss es
it is unnecessary to dwell, tor they are vi ssai
fresh in the memory Of ALI anu it is easy 10 sss
that they offered few occasions, If any, on whss
! discussed dispassionately Or regarded as onpnt4
| tune The Constitution Of II. WALTON ~,
the seat Of the Chambers dednite.r 10y ~
Versailles, and even it were neccss,rr
! fer the Assembly, to remove elsewhere
| ment which threatened it, reyision
OF the Constitution would be needed f1r ftSa tSa
purpose. Gradually, however, though ia
formal sittings OF the Chambers are still be1d a.
Versailles, the real scat Of Government has n,
side there; the President is installed at tia
Elrsee, though he still hos an official residencs
at Versailles, which he rarely occupies; and ths
Committees OF the Assembly, in which
the real work OF legislation is done
meet at the Pa1ais Bourbon. It is oul1.
the Deputies go to Versailles. They taSa
the train in the afternoon, sit In debate for
two or three hours, and return to dinner IA
Paris. Such being the case, now that Paris Ii
TRANQUIL and contcnted in the possession OF
Government which represents the wishes of
France it is natuarnl that the Assembly should
be anxious to return to its Legitimate scat.
The question from this pofat OF view, at least il
hardly more than one OF convenience nov thai
the vital questions which have so long sgitated
France arc set at rest, we will hope, for
long time to come. AS .: regards Paris itself,
degree OF sentiment attaches. The pride Of
grear city is wounded by the withdrawal Of tha
national Legislature even It in all other respects
it is the national Capital and the virtual seat Of
Government. II the Chambers were not ID ie.
turn, their hesitation would be set down 10
some 1nisgiving as to their security and inde-
penuencc A Monarchica1 Assembly, OF one dis
tracted by parties and factions hostile to tho
national will, might be excused fer entertaining
such 1niseiying- But III an Assembly like the
Government, they would uantcstlJ be un~
worth and out OF place. In fact, the question
has been virtually decided By the recent changes
which have made II. GreYT President and In.
stalled tile Left in power. Tie return OF the
Assembly to Paris will be rightly regarded Is
the tTOXUllE D1 lLE AEpuU41ClA Nl1ACC1 ue
outward and visible sign that organic struggles
ste over, and that France is at last In the cnoy-
meut of form Of government under which sta
is determined to live in peace.
In the abstract, perhaps, some good reasons
could be given for establishing the seat OF Gov
ernment apart from the national capital. and
the example Of the United States in this respect
was quoted With approval by. speaker in The
French Assembly. But America had the i'd
vantage Of beginning its political career de no7o.
undisturbed by the associations OF 4 long na-
tonal history. The United States had no his
torical capital and no centralized Government
when Washington was founded. Ihe case Of
France and of Paris is wholly different. Paris Il
the seat of highly centralized administration;
the Chief Of the State, the members Of the
theSereat majority of the Deputies, live there.
It was an accidental and temporary necessity
which fixed the Assembly at Versailles anT
afterwards retained it, there; and, Us that
necessity has now passed away, mere con-
venienee, if nothing. else, would dictate It's re-
idle to deny that the political history Of Paris,
from the taking OF the Bastile in 1859 down to
the outbreak OF the Commune in 1871, to which
the long bani6hment Of the Assembly from the
tributed, has been both omfEous and san-
culinary. If some Of the more timid Of the
Deputies are still somewhat scared by the retr0-
spect, It cannot be said that their nisgvings ara
without historical warrant. But the Assembly
Is whole has shown wise and prudent conf
lcnce in declining to yield to such feeling.
Confidence bcgets confidence, and Paris is far
more likely to be tranquil If it Is trusted bya
Government of its own and the nations choice
han if the Assembly were still to SHOW that,s-
,estrates to take its seat in Paris. The recent
1istoryof France has proved that Frenchm*a,
.veu of extreme parties, can practice patience,
moderation, and opportunism. The long
electoral struggle was conducted, Under
grcat proyocation, without shadow Of
disturbance, and the late change OF P1est-
tents took place in Paris itself as quietly as 3
.hange Of Ministry in England. Par1s has thus
shown that it can contro! itself when it has i
government that trusts it. France is thus mis-
;re5s OF herself, and would regard any attempt
It disturbance as treason to the national sover-
.ignty. The vote of the Assembly is, accord
nglr, proof that it no longer hcsitates to re-
tore the national Legislature to its proper and
egirimate place in the National Capital. Il
he Senate is OF the same mind, the Coustitu-
ion will be revised in Congress, and both bodies
vill return to the Capital as soon as suitable &C.
can be found for them. Every
INC who wishes rcll to France must hope that
he new order OF things now happily begun viii
hus be conse:rated and established by the fnal
OF Paris and France.