New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-10
ERENCH ELECTOR1L KEEOEM

The French Chambers are dispnsng of pub
lie business with great rapidly. When the
present Premier faced the Deputies early in
November, 1t did not seem possible that the
Ministry could remain i'll office n single week.
The crisis was bridgcd over Unexpectedly,
and one measure after another has been en-
acted without leading to the resignation of the
Premier or any of his associates. The Judica-
ture bill, various measures of educational re-
form with ant-reiigl0us clauses, and m
amendment to the budget restricting the cx-
emption of the religious congregations from
taxation. were passed before the inldwinter
recess. Within three weeks the Press laws
have been revised and the penalties Tor
libel and criticism Of Government officials
have been removed. Tins week the Electoral
Reform bill has been practically brought
before the Deputies for the first time. As
this measure proposes radical change IN the
electoral system, ITS passage Will naturally be
among the final acts of the present Chamber
ol Deputies The general elections are likely
to occur az early rs june, aud the electoral
tickets under tho new law will be nominated
bv caucus in every department. The II. uit
wnuld be similar if the citizens Of tins State
were tcouircd to vote for list Of thirty
three Congressman presented To them by parry
managers instead OF eiccting them III the
respective districts. The power of the politi-
cal organlzcrs will be vastly increased
by change which renders personal
choice impossible; and as Gdmbctta stands
without Il rival in French politics. the passage
of the new Electoral law will enable bin to
select large body OF candidates. and thus to
Ieorganize his party i'll the next Chamber OF
Deputies.
The inaugural address which Gambetta de-
liycrcd when reelected President of the Cham
Der late in January. reviewed the course OF
legislation since October, 1877, and pointed
out the few remaining m@suics to be enacted
before an appeal could be made to the coun-
try. The return of Parliament to Paris, the
Amnesty act, the new body Of Educational
laws, the impulse given to public works, the
REORGANIZATION OF the Army and large
remisSiOns of taxation, were among the
great public acts which the Deputies
had sanctioned, and the legal recognition OF
professional associations and the repeal of the
press penalties were measures which he
strongly recommended. "Thcse reforms. re-
"suts and hopes" he added significantly.
evil enable you to submit yourselves with
confidence to the Judgment OF tho country.
whatever be the mode You adopt for inter-
"rogating it," The mode which he prefers il
the Scrutin de Lise Ii his address at the
opening of the session reads like the message
which the President OF the Republic has con-
stitutiOnal warrant for sending to the Depu-
ties, he has not renOunced his privileges ON
tho floor. If his scheme of Electoral Re,
form be opposed by the Right Extreme Left
and Left Centre, he will he found in his own
place at the head of the Liberals, making an
irresistible appeal for the passage OF the act,
as lie did at the close OF the Amnesty act de-
bate Ii he is already the acting President of
the Republic, he Is such President as Thcrs
WAS, with full powers Of debate and the IL.
sponsibilites of leadership i'll the Chamber