Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-01-24
GAEsEFFA'S CRISIS.

The political situation ID France grows
more serious, inasmuch as the programme
of Gambetta has assumed dadictatorialaspect
which has already caused much anger in
the Chamber of Deputies His project
for a revision of the Constitution has been
reported upon by the committee to which
it was referred, in a semi-hostile manner.
The committee has indeed indorsed the
idea of Constitutional Congress, but it
has rejected the pet measure of the Presi-
dent of the Council, namely the scrutin de
dste. A stormy controversy has also arisen
over the powers of the proposed Congress.
The position of the majority in the Cham
Der seems to be that it would possess
sovereign powers, but Gambetta has taken
the ground that it would be under the con-
troll of the Government. This is a very
critical kind of dispute, aud OF course it
enables Gambetta's opponents to insinuate
that he is already showing absolutist ten
denotes, and that he is becoming greater
than the Government which made him. A
suspicion of this kind is very dangerous
one to get abroad at such juncture, and
it may become necessary for Gambetta to
abandon the scrlain de Iiste, temporarily,
at least, in order to vindicate himself. He
is at present in very delicate and uncer.
tain position. He has sprung the question
of constitutional revision upon majority
of whose tendencies he is practically igno-
rant. This question has not been dis
cussed before the people. and though
Deputies no doubt have sufficient justifica
tion for supporting it in the merits of the
proposed changes, yet if they or any. of
them should allege that their constituents
had failed to ask for anything of the kind,
or to express an opinion on revision, it
wsuld be impossible to prove the contrary
The fact is that Gambetta has committed
the rashness of proposing measure merely
because it has reason in its favor, and
without waiting to ascertain the disposi-
ton of the men upon whose votes he
must rely for success. just now tits being
said that the opponents of his scheme will
not dare to be obstinate, because the results
of Gambettas defeat would be dissolution
of the Government, and because there is no
other man in France prepared TO undertake
the task. But it must be remembered that
legislators ara by no means always philoso.
pliers, and perhaps it might be added, least
of all French legislators. They are quite
capable Of taking the bit between their
teeth, and overthroBing Gsmbetta, not only
without apprehension as TO the consequence
of their action, but in full assurance that
as good man, or even better one, can be
found to take his place. Should the Dep.
uties prove more sober minded, however,
and should the latest difficulty in regard to
the jurisdiction of the Congress be salts
factorily adjusted, Gambetta viii have
gained victory which must certainly
make hirn the strongest man in France.
His situation however is critical, and an
inopportune exhibition OF temper. or
shade too much of peremptoriness, may
upset all his calculations, and produce a
state of affairs which viii have the appear
ance of confusion and Disaster TO the out-
side world, even though it may really in
volve nothing more serious than short In
teryal of governmental instability.