The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-04-04
A CRISIS IN PARIS.
DOWNFALL Of The FRENCH MINISTRY.
| Wild Scenes in and Around the Chamber
of Deputies-The Military Used to Keep

Wild Scenes in and Around the Chamber
of Deputies-The Military Used to X eep
the Peace.
The entire Ferry cabinet resigned
OH Monday last, owing to an adverse
vote in the Chamber of Deputies. At
the opening Of the session Nj. Ferry
presented the governments request for
a credit of S4o,ooo,ooo on account OF
the military operations in china, and at
once moved for the appointment of a
comrittee to examine and report upon
the credit, and with demand that the
motion be given priority. The motion
was rejected by vote of sos to 16I,
whereupon M. Ferry announced the
resignation of the entire ministry. Presi
dent Grevy accepted the resignation. NJ.
Ferry read dispatches regarding the
Langson affair. He added that the re-
treat of the French had been effected
in perfect order. The troops found
themselves confronted by Chinese
forces, whose numbers it had been i'm
possible to foresee. The French gen.
erals had been obliged to re-enter the
Red river delta and to maintain the de-
fensive. The measures already taken
to reinforce the French troops in Ton
quin would not suffice. 1t was neces-
sary to avenge the Langson check in
the interest of the honor of France. He
therefore demanded a credit of $780,
900, 900.
NJ. Clemenceau approved the credit,
but condemned the policy of the gov
eminent and demanded its overthrow.
NM. Duval and Ribot declared that
they would be ready to vote any sacri-
fees when the ministry was overthrown.
They reproached the cabinet for con-
cealing the truth.
Crowds continued to gather about
the Chamber. AS the Deputies were
leaving cries were raised of Down with
Ferry !" "Down with the majority '
After the resignation of the Ferry
ministry, President Grevy asked M.
Henri Brisson, president of the Cham
Der of Deputies, to form new cabinet.
Nj. Brisson declined. The President
then asked NJ. de Freycinct to form a
cabinet.
A special despatch gives the follow
ing account of the scenes in Paris on
Monday:
Not since the surrender of Sedan and
the wild and tumultuous scenes which
followed fast upon that disaster, has
there been such an ugly exhibition of
temper in the streets of Paris as has
been witnessed here since early morn
ing. The meager majority by which
the government was sustained on Sat
urday gave timely warning of the fate
which awaited it, and the indignant
mutterings on the streets after the
spread of the tidings of the defeat at
Langson suggested precautions but for
which there mi ght have been enacted
counterparts of the trightful tragedies
which dishgured the revolution of 1889,
or the more bloody orgies of the Com
mune. Rochefort and other lncendi-
aries circulated freely among the ex-
cited people, with advice which should
have consigned its authors to the first
lamp-post, instead of the officials they
threatened. Groups of savage men
were piled with revolutionary speeches
by these agitators, and the gulllotine
and lanterne were dragged in at con-
venient intervals to emphasize their de-
nunciations of the officials. Early last
night the populace was made aware
that bodies of troops were posted with
in supporting distance Of each other,
and ready at a moments notice to
check any unusual manifestation of
turbulence or disorder. This had a
modifying effect tor the time beng, but
the excitement increased ten-fold dur
ing the early morning. Little rivulets
poured out from the faubourgs, and,
running into each other formed an
ocean of humanity in the streets lead
ing to the Chamber of Deputies.
Threats of violence and cries of treason
were banded about in the heated dis
cussions between the various groups
into which the mob divided.
1t was known that a council was be-
ing held TO decide upon the future
course of the government, and the ri
bald but humorous satire which greeted
any allusion to the conference served
to relieve, at times, the painful anxiety
which was felt at the presence of this
irresponsible Paris mob. At an early
hour troops had been despatched to
guard the Chamber, and detachments
of infantry were stationed near each
other in the adjacent streets. Small
squads of cavalry Occasionally appeared
ready for any emergency, and several
sections of artillery, covered by the in
fantry supports, showed that President
Grevy did not propose to allow a re-
vival of the Commune" if it could be
avoided by proper foresight. The troops
were the recipients of all manner Of
coarse abuse.
The LIE Figaro says that 1000 of
the French troops were killed or
wounded at Langson. General Ne
grier, who was wounded in this engage
ment, has been promoted to be general