Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-06-18
"sCRUTIN DE LIsTE.'
THE CONTEST OVER THIS REPUBLICAN
MEASURE IN FRANCE.
Gambetta- Peaceful Revolution-The Salon
of 1S81-Some Account Of the
Pictures and the People.

| PARIS, May %, 1881.
France has just obtained victory far
more important than that of the expedi-
tion of Tunis or any which arms or renown
might bring her. The Chamber of Depu-
ties on Thursday last voted the scrutin de
liste, to the Joy of all true Republicans
throughout the country. Seldom is such
a closely y-contested battle, or one suggest
ing more important results, seen in any
legislative hail. The warfare has been a
serious one, for it may be called civil
war not that waged between vowed
enemies, but between brothers of the same
faith. On this question Republicans were
divided among themselves as well as the
Legitimists, Bonapartists and Royalists,
and it was a singular incident which
brought together staunch enemies and sepa-
rated fast friends. The partisans of the scru-
tin de liste had little hopes of their success
even to the last minute, and their triumph
was as great surprise to them as it was
disappointment to their opponents. AL
though they had worked with the ardor of
those who had confidence in themselves
and in their cause, they felt that their only
hope was in the active assistance of Gam
BETA, and it may be said that it was his
clear and most eloquent speech which
awakened the unselfish and more generous
natures of his audience. 1t had really
seemed
A PREPoSTERoUS IDEA
To suppose that these Deputies would op-
pose the scrutin d'arrondlssement by which
they had been elected, and by which alone
they could be reelected, to pronounce in
favor of the scrutin de liste, which would
| forever exclude them from public life 1; to
acknowledge that they owed their seats to
small local influences they possessed, to
their mediocre talents or perhaps their
money, was to denounce themselves, and
which required more courage than human
nature has been thought capable Of
They certainly made desperate
| fight, and resorted to innumerable
articles quite consistent with the
general smallness of their ideas. For in
stance, the President of the Commission
was reported i'll, although no one believed
him too i'll to attend to his duties, and he
persistently remained i'll, retarding the
| decision of the question until it was gener-
| ally suggested that he should resign his
position. This his friends would not listen
to, and although he did send in his resig-
nation it was refused, and the vote on the
scrutin of election was postponed until
after the spring vacation. This gave the
partisans of the scrutin d'arrondissement
the time to work in behalf of their cause
in their own departments, as well az con-
eoct little plans for their return to the
capital. The Government itself was di-
vided on the question, and it was pretty
generally known that the President, MIR.
Grevy, was in favor of the scrutin d'arron-
dissement, while Jules Ferry, the Minister
of Public Instruction, expressed himself so
emphatically in favor of the same that the
circumstance was the cause of short min
isterial crisis. However, a compromise
was made, in which it was agreed that the
members of the Ministry would refrain
from voting which fact aided very materi.
ally the cause of the triumphant party.
However, all liberal minded Republicans,
as general thing, were in favor of the
scrutin de liste, and it may be remembered
that in the letter | sent to the RECORD
UNION with regard to the interview with
Louis Blanc | reported all the eminent
Deputy explained to me about the two
different
sCRUTINs OF ELECTION.
He then scarcely dared hope that the
scrutin de liste would meet with any sue
cess with the present members of the |
chamber, for the reason that they had all |
been elected by means of the scrutin d'ar-
reimbursement, and self Interest and pride |
would cause them to remain faithful to it.
One must needs go back to the most |
famous days of the Versailles Assemblies |
in order to find a seance which may in any
way compare with that OF last Thursday |
The greatest curiosity had been excited
over this debate, and in consequence the |
tribunes were crowded with anxious spec
tators, who were fairly jammed, one
against the other. and yet more that two
thousand tickets had been refused
Never had the Deputies made their
appearance in such large numbers,
for of the 535 belonging to the
Chamber about 500 were present. The
morning trains brought to Paris from the
different departments some sixty or eighty
who had absented themselves since some
days, but who desired to take part in this
grave question and deposit their ballot.
Before the seance the cause of the scrutin |
de liste seemed lame, while that of the |
scrutin reimbursement seemed to be |
dancing on two strong legs. 1t had been
proposed that the ballots should be open,
each bearing the name of the voter, but |
this measure had been defeated by the |
partisans of the scrutin d'arrondissement. |
who did not care to publish to the world |
their solicitude for their own welfare and |
their Indifference as to the grandeur and |
durability of the Republic. Those in favor |
OF the scrutin de liste had all determined to |
inscribe their names on their ballots, so |
that those unsigned would be recognized as
belonging to these Deputies who voted |
the scrutin REIMBURSEMENT 1t was
known that Mr.. Gambetta would posi-.
lively make speech on that occasion, but |
it was much feared that the first speeches |
would be long and tedious and extend the |
question into the seance of the following |
day, but fortunately the eminent orator |
asked for the floor at an early hour, and as |
no speaker dared follow him the PROPOSE |
tion was Immediately voted.
BY STRANGE COINCIDENCE
Gambetta did not speak in as impressive
a manner as is his wont no one seemed to |
be touched by his eloquence, or rather, as
has generally been the case, influenced be-
yond his will, and those in favor of the
scrutin de liste accused him of entering |
their list with lukewarm ardor, and of Sc
cretly favoring their opponents. Yet |
Gambetta has never made speech which |
reads so well as this last one never has he |
so condensed his ideas, been as concise in |
language and reasoned with more power. |
Those who heard him speak have been
surprised at the superior effect produced in
the reading of his speech. 1t seems that
he has sought to convince through |
clear and forcible arguments rather
than by his oratorical eloquence; at any
h. nar,:ici Lir ..ais.+ and 1