The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-30

seven years, while he draws his salary OF 6OO, :
600 francs per annum, with an additional allow
ance of 300, 900 francs for household expenses as
President of the French Republic. There seemed
not the slightest realization that a most moment
GUS matter, in which the safety of the nation
was really at stake, was to be decided. The oc-
casion was marked only by the frenzied vapor-
ings OF those who were helplessly in the minor
ity aud the wild excitement of Crews adher-
ents, chafing under the revolutionary tactics OF
the opposition.
Happily the session only lasted five hours, but
into that short space Of time the honorable sena-
tors and deputies managed to crowd madness
enough for a whole week in Bedlam. Last night
the widest rumors were ahoat such as that
MN. De Freycinet and Brisson had announced
and then withdrawn their candidatures; that M.
Anatole de Ia Forge, the rather foolish gentle
man who so pluckiy defended Chateau dun, was
believed to be still hankering after election and
much besides. By this morning., however, the
ground had been cleared for NJ. Grevy. and when,
at noon, the members began to pour out of the
station into the long-deserted avenues of Yer
sailles his reelection was certainty.
Over $50 convocations had been issued Of
these, half, plus one, were sufficient to assure NJ.
at loss for pretexts if bent on rioting The
Monarchists had gone to Versailles for the ex-
press purpose of discrediting the proceedings.
They set to work at once and succeeded beyond
even their own widest hopes All the inter
runters were to the front together. M. Paul de
Cassagnac beloved, M. Baudry d'Asson
shrieked, the sDuc De la Rochefoucauld gesticu-
lated. and M Rochefort threatened. From words
the members came to fist shaking, and from fist
shaking shs to blows ,end For a. few moment; a
President LIE Rogers tribunal resembled a
prizering, and at one time he decided to suspend
the sitting. Insults and oaths few about freely.
Two young deputies, one member of the Right,
the other Of the Left, who had begun regular
hand to-hand engagement, had to be forcibly
separated. Much of this excitement was, Of
course, Fictitious. Much. however, caused by
the mewhat doubtful action Of the government
in calling Congress together without waiting for
the election OF several invaidated Monarchists,
was genuine. M. De Cassagnac fairly foamed
at the mouth when the voting began. On the
members names being called over, he yelled
I'VE won't vote This is den of brigands!
The election is farce, for four departments are
not represented'
His friends, the Monarchists took the hint,
part in the election. Consequently barely three
fourths OF the votes were recorded and M.
Grevy was elected with some loss of prestige
Although no rival candidates solicited cleo
tion, number of eccentrics thought fit to vote
for their particular favorites. Among NJ Grevy's
unwilling competitors thus figured MN. De Frey
cinet. Brisson. De la Forge. Marshal Canrobert
M. Barodet, and even M. Pasteur.
Inside the hall the scene was remarkable. The
Monarchists sat in dark, compact mass, silent
and sullen The Republicans, on the contrary,
seemed drunk with excitement Not content
Some taunted their adversaries and others shook
their fists at them. 1t was Bedlam over again
All the excitement was, however confined to
Versailles. In Paris the people went about their
business as usual. and shrugged their shoulders
at the proceedings in Congress. Tonight there
are crowds on the boulevards busy buying New
Years gifts. No on o watching the streets would
imagine to-day had seen q President elected.