Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-10
RETURN TO PARIS.
THE FRENCH SEAT OF GOVERNMENT
RESTORED To THE GAY CAPITAL.
Profoundly Interesting Scene in the French
Chamber of Deputies = Gambetta-
Louis Blanc-The Cassagnacs.
PARIS. November %. 1870.

the Chambers at Paris. Although general
dissatisfaction is expressed as regards the
Cabinet, the fact that with all the faults
they have committed they have displayed
sufficient energy to restore to Paris her
former prerogatives has induced many to
regard their short comings with a lenient
eye. When it was first suggested to re-
move the Capital from Versailles, the re-
actionists sent forth a cry of such sharp
alarm and of horror that the accomplish
ment promised to be more of a herculean
task than it has proved to be. In fact,
they refused to acknowledge the possibility
of the Chambers existing at Paris while
under republic; a monarchy only was
capable of entering into that cage of wild
beasts, of that tiger, that monster Paris.
All the officials, without exception, dwelled
at Paris, while the seat of Government was
at Versailles. The fact of the thing was that
the Government was neither at Versailles
nor at Paris it was on the road. 1t did
not meet, it travelled 1t passed its time
in coming and going; an hour and half
to 60 and an hour and half to come made
three precious hours of pure loss, and the
members had hardly reached Versailles
when it was time to return. If, as they
say, time is money, Versailles has cost
France vast amount But all this is now
going to change, for whereas Versailles
made
A vAGABoND OF THE GOVERNMENT,
Paris is to make it worker Thursday,
the day, of the opening, passed away
amidst general calm, although the halls
of the Palais de Luxembourg and the
Palais de Bourbon were thronged with all
the great political and literary men of
France. A great crowd collected around
the entrance of both the Chamber of Dep
uties and the Senate, but great and re-
spectful crowd, while the interior only was
the scene of great animation and exciting
interest, in which the proposed change of
Cabinet had no small share Gambetta
made a short but very appropriate and
eloquent speech, which was much
applauded. AS may be supposed, on
such an occasion the demand of visitors
for entrance was very great, but as only a
limited number of cards are distributed to
each member during the year and in his
turn, a small number only of the deputies
friends could be accommodated. Friday
there was no session, but to-day, Satur-
day, being the fortunate possessor of a
ticket we wendell our way to the tribune
of that wonderful monument which has
been the witness of so many remarkable
incidents in the history of France. On en-
tering one perceiyes a strong odor of paint
and varnish, hich suggests the recent &C.
cupation by the refractory workmen who
struck at a critical period, and came near
retarding the opening of the legislative
halls. The number of iveried ushers sta
toned along the passages inspires
A FEELING OF soLEMNITY
Before reaching the Chambers. We had
an excellent opportunity of studying the
room before the opening of the session, but
aside from the slightly faded frescoes on the
ceiling, we failed to discover amidst the
bright new furniture, and fresh looking sta
tues traces of those violent and moving
scenes recorded in Frances history. The Pa
lais Bourbon or the Assembly dates from the
first years OF this century, since Napoleon
l., 1904, until Napoleon Ill, 1870.
Within its walls has the Government held
its sessions under different monarchies.
the victorious of to-day overthrowing
those of yesterday, to be in their turn de-
posed by the triumphant Of the morrow
There sat the Government under the Res
toraton, under the Constitution of 1880
the Republic of 1913, the Empire of 1852
This hall has been the witness of many
celeb ate scenes, and we could in imagina-
ton see the Duchess of Orleans enter by
the door, leading her children by the hand,
and endeavor by maternal eloquence to
save the monarchy in placing her son, the
Count of Paris, on the throne. We next
the 10Th of May, by Blanqui and Barbes.
when Louis Blanc enacted the role of me-
diator between the invaders, his friends
and the majority, and who later was con-
demned to prison by this same majority.
and was able to escape and reach England,
where he
REMAINED IN EXILE
Until the establishment of the present re-
public 1t was here that General LIE Flo,
the quester of the chambers, was arrested
on the I'd of December and conducted in
company with Theirs and others to the
Prison Masas. After camel another inva-
sion of the people following the defeat of
Sedan and which led to the establishment
of the republic. Oh, we stones and statues,
may you be called upon to witness no other
revolutions, but be allowed to gaze only on
peace and prosperity, the reward of all val
liant and just peoples. The present hall
presents pleasing contrast to that of Yer
sailles, for the latter suggested great barn
hastily converted into a temporary resi-
dence and inspiring feeling of an APP
preaching typhoon, when each one must
fold his tent and hasten away. The hall
of the Palais Bourbon is large, in pleasing
proportion, with lofty ceiling. The light
falls softly through half circular skylight
Just above Gambetta's head. Life.sized
statues in has relief, representing Justice and
Liberty, adorn the Speakers tribune as well
as the Presidents desk. The seats and COW
erings of desks and portals are of red
velvet, and with the red are mingled here
and there green and gold quietly dis
tributed. Only the brilliant and richly
adorned ceiling, filled with such allegorical
pictures as can do violence to no ones
prejudices, reminds one of the
DAYS OF ROYAL PRoDIGALTrY.
Before 2 o'clock number of the men,
bers strolled in, and opening their desks
drew forth packages of manuscript, on
which they bent their attention like studi-
Gus school-b boys before appearing in class
As the hands of the clock pointed to .
Gambetta entered, preceded by two ushers
in velvet coats, with long, gold chains
around their necks, and who, after mount
ing the steps, bowed low as the President
passed to his seat. The rest of the men,
bers came strolling in, all talking and jab-
bering like magpies, that the President
was obliged many times to draw down his
eyebrows and agitate the bell before he
could produce order. Gambetta appeared
to US less heavy and feshy than when we
last saw him, and, with the exception of
the extended hight of his forehead, does
not seem to have grown day older.
There is more tenue in his manner than
formerly, and he seems to have corrected
those careless habits of posture and car
rage with which he has been so frequently
reproached by both enemies and Jealous
friends, and which manners, we are sorry
to state, are termed American. Among
the members we notice Mr. Barbour, for
mer Minister of Public Instruction, and
then there was dear
LOUIS BLANC
Seated way up at the very extreme gauche,