, 1880-06-12
THE PARLIAMENTARY POSITION
IN FRANCE.
From the TSmeS.)


To speak Of the parliamentary position
IN France is now TO speak OF the Govern
ment, Tor the Chamber has become the
real Sovereign, over which no other will
can prevail. English readers will natural.
" think this the proper state of things.
and congratulate France on having at
length Veached the Constitutional idea (;
bui this is Judging France from a purely
English Observation-Disclosures the source OF
frequent mistakes. The supremacy of the
Chamber is the true ideal of free countries,
but on condi ion of the Chamber containing
a majority-Conservative, Liberal, or even
notwithstanding Governmental Majority.
Whether Wings or Tories are in office is
theoretically immatterial so long as either,
while controlling the policy of the Cabinet,
form a majority on which the Cabinet eau
lean; never opposing it except on the
ground of principles. But if u Chamber
contains only an apparent majority, sup
porting the Cabinet only when the latter
Obeys 1T, and ready to c~oalesce with the
Opposition in o%verturning it whenever it
asserts its right as a Government, tho Par
liamen'ary theory makes stability imposSi-
bic, and pervertS COnStitutiOnalism into
anarchy. The Ministers are the mere
clerks for the passive execution of the will
OF a majority, at times very small; the
rule of majorities disappears, and a mere
traction of the Chamber, in nowise repre-
senting the opinion of the country, overrides
the real majority of the nation. This is
precisely what is happening in France.
The Chamber of Deputies contains about
$50 active members, 40 belonging to the
Right-that is Bonapartists, L~egirimists,
F~usiOnists, Orleanists, and Separatists;
l4O to the Left Centre and the Pure Left,
100 to the Advanced Left, and 40 to the
Extreme Left. Now the 100 members OF
the Advanced Left are divided into W
sec'lOns M part is Governmental, or rath-
er Gambettist, votes at the instance OF M.
Gambetta with the 40 composing the Left
Centre and Pure Left, and constitutes with
them the real army of The Government,
Which is thDs made up of about 22O mem
bers. But the other halt, without being
Extreme, bows to the behests of b eExtreme.
1t would not vote against NJ. Gambetta
personally, but when it can vote against
the Cabinet, Notwithstanding NJ. Gambetta,
it will vote with the Extreme party. The
80 Deputies composing this latter section
added to the 40 forming the Extreme Left
make 100. Adding these LOO to the lao
Of the Right, 200 votes are Obtained-that
is a majority. AS the Right are always
disposed q@and meme to vote against the
Cabinet, the result is that the latter is at
any moment exposed to being overthrow
by a coalition vote. If it is easy to under
stand why the Right vote against the Cab.
met, but n explanation can be given Of
the votes of the 80 dissidents of the AID.
vanccd Left. The Right aim at overthrow
inc Cahiuat aftor Gohinof in ordor +o chou
that stability and the Republic are incom-
patibie, the latter being a synonym for In
security and agitation. They hope to make
the country tired of Republicanism. The
only motive however, ofithe Advanced Left
must be a desire for Office. The I%rreconcil-
ables know that they cannot yet gain Office.
but the leaders of the Advanced Left, N.
Floquet, M. iBrisson, M. Paul Bert, Sc,
aim at immediate power. even though by a
coalition vote. They feel that they are