River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-11-27
The French Constitution.

When the present French Republic
was established in 1875, the new Con.
stitution provided that, after an inter
val of seven years, it should be open to
revision. Thst is, that if any changes
were deemed necessary in the Constitu-
ton, it should be possible to make them
after that lapse of time.
The method by which these changes
we're to be made was by the action of
the Senate and the Chamber of Depu-
ties united in combined session, the
whole body thus formed being presided
over by the President of the Senate,
and to be called the National Assem-
bly," The limit of seven years was
reached in 1882. But at that time and
since, the affairs of France have been in
such condition that it was not deemed
best to attempt to revise the Constitu-
ton.
At the meeting Of the French parlia-
ment in August, however, the national
purpose The senate and chamber as
sembled in Joint session in the historic
palace of Versailles, and proceeded to
discuss and to make certain alterations
in the constitution of 1875.
This step was taken at the instance
of the present French ministry, of which
Mr.. Jules Ferry was the head. The
various changes We're first presented by
| the ministry to the two houses sepa-
rately, and by them were debated; so
that when they came to meet in joint
session, the changes to be made had
really been determined upon.
The session at Versailles was very
turbulenB and noisy one. At first,
it seemed as if the Assembly
might break up in confusion, without
fulfilling the object for which it had
been convened But at last order was
restored out of chaos, and the principal
changes proposed by the Ministry we're
adopted by large maiorities. Thus
there came into being anew and amend
ed French constitution, which, by the
act of the Assembly, has become the
organic law of the land.
The main features in which it differs
from the one which it replaces are
three; and these three are not of very
grave importance. For the most part
the old Constitution has remained in
tact. It was M. Ferry's purpose to
introduce as few changes as possible
First, the new Constitution declares
that the republic is the permanent and
unalterable Government of France;
that by no enactment can it be changed
into monarchy or an empire.
Secondly, all members of families
who have reigned in France are exclu-
ded from the presidency of the repub-
lie. This article is intended to prevent
any Bourbon or Bonapartist prince from
being chosen chief magistrate, lest he
should use this Office, as Louis Ma
poleon did, to restore throne for him
self.
Thirdly, the senate, instead of being
partly composed of life members, is to
| be altogether elective, and chosen by
certain electoral bodies, as three-quar-
tiers of the senator's have always been.
These are the three principal changes.
| There are a number of minor ones,
! but they are not important. One
of these minor changes is the insertion
of clause abolishing the sayings of
prayers ut the opening of the sessions
of the two chambers This clause shows
how far France has drifted from its old
orthodox loyalty to the Pope and the
church.
It was thought that change would
be made in the system of electing the
deputies. But for some reason, it was
thought wise not to attempt this.
1t may be said generally that the new
Constitution, that, as far as it has been
changed at all, it has made the republic
stronger, and given it more enduring
basis as the permanent Government of
the French. Companion.