Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-07-09
PARIS LETTER.
TIE sCRUr1N DE LrsTR AND IT'S
PARTISANS.

PARTISANS
Some Account Of the Political Feeling
Anniversary celebration-The
Awards at the Salon.
PARIS, June Is, 1881.
The partisans of the scrutin de Este re-
joiced too early over their success. They
counted without the Senate. Although
this manner of electing Deputies does not
concern the Senate, and opposition from
that quarter was not to be expected, it was
not long until rumors were afioat that Ger.
tain members, and those Republicans,
would vote against it. The enemies of the
Republic to be found in the Senate would
Of course vote against the measure, if only
for the purpose of producing conflict be-
tween the two Chambers for although
they have despaired of dragging the god
dess from her pedestal, they do not neglect
poking pins into her whenever they get a
chance. 1t sufficed for Gambetta to be in
favor of the scTatn de liste, and make a
speech which decided its success before
the Chamber of Deputies, for his personal
enemies in the Senate, at the head of
whom is Jules Simon, to vote for
the scyutin Garrondissement. Although
the most radical of the French journals
have not dared insinuate the fact, it is
generally understood and particularly
| xxya11 hot %ha prae,lan% 49, Pc
public has used all his influence, personal
Mr.. Grevy is most excellent President,
and certainly good Republican; yet he
has the weakness to be jealous of Mr..
Gambettas popularity, and fearing that
the scrutin de Lste would succeed In render
ing this same popularity
PAINFULLY PUBLIC,
And in proportion diminish his own i'm
portance, he preferred to stand by the
scrutin ddrToRdiSsenlent. There are suff.
cient number of pessimists in the Senate,
who become frightened at the slightest
movement in any direction, to defeat all
measures voted by the Chamber of Depu-
ties, in the belief that ahead are deep
chasms ready to swallow them should a
step be taken forward, and that safety
lies only behind them, whittier they would
draw the Government and the entire
country. To these persons Gambetta is
a great bugbear, for in the first place
they have horror of men of action, and
then, judging him by themselves, they
imagine he must ever keep in his minds
eye kings crown or imperial robes. Just
Gopn hoffo in favor of
de lste they could perceive his intention of
pronouncing himself dictator at no late
day, and the proposed method of election
was to materially aid him in his designs.
When rejecting seriously the supposition
seems ridiculous one, yet the French
people cannot forget how often they have
been deceived by adventurers who aimed
at power, and their limited intelligence
prevents their comprehending the differ
ence which exists between Gambetta and
past pretenders to the throne. 1t is not
certainly at the present day, when the
Emperors and Kings throughout the world
are trembling on their
ToTTERING THRONES,
That intelligent men may envy their state,
and Gambetta is well aware that no crown
could add to his laurels besides, the Re-
public may be said to be almost his work,
for no one did more for its establishment
and consolidation, and what could be more
rash than to demolish that which he has
erected by aid of his energies and talent.
Mr.. Waddington, a former Minister, was
made reporter of the Commission when the
bill was placed before the Senate, and
%bo%h he
emy of the scrutia de Hste and that the ma
iority of the members of the Commission
were unfavorable to it, great excitement
prevailed throughout the political world.
The defenders of the scrutin de liste,
who had laid aside their weapons and
were enjoying the fruits of their supposed
victory, again grasped them with renewed
energy to battle this unexpected enemy.
There was erything to be done over
again, and more than before, although
they had exerted themselves to their ut
most, and they did not spare warnings,
prayers and threats to bring the Senate to
reason. They exposed to them the bad
policy of creating conflict between the
two houses, the disastrous results which
were likely to follow, and although the
Senators were jealously afraid of the
Chamber of Deputies becoming too i'm.
portant through the proposed node of
election, and they would no longer be con-
sidered la chambre haute, they endeav-
ored to open the eyes of the Senators to
the fact that they were risking their exist
ence, for the country, on perceiving this
body constantly hindering their delegates
in all their actions, and even those things
which concerned them not, would easily
come to the conclusion that the Senate was
a useless institution which it would be
better to do without, and the approaching
elections would be made in view of sup
pressing this body, which no sincere and
intelligent Republican desires.
EXCITEMENT RAN HIGH,
And all looked forward with interest and
impatience for Thursday to arrive, when
the question was to be discussed before the
Senate. The speeches were not numerous
or long, and in fact exerted but little infu-
ence on the House, for all minds had been
sufficiently worked upon and decisions ar.
rived at before the seance. The bill was
defeated by large majority, which re-
suit has not tended to calm the public
mind. The Bourse has become a little
demoralized and the entire political world
is in ferment. When the bill was pre-
sented before the Chamber of Deputies the
Ministers and their secretaries decided to
remain neutral on the question and refrain
from voting, but when the bill was placed
before the Senate it was considered their
duty to interfere and make it govern
mental question, SO as to avoid conflict
between the two Chambers. No one can