The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-01-13
COUNTING THE VOTES.

sense, song and sentiment, "allcng- ing
and marshong-ing" are so mixed in the
performances of that week that an Amer
;can reader is puzzled to decide when the
actors were really in earnest, when they
were s'bluffy'' and when merely posing
for effect. Everything in Paris is done in
such theatrical manner-everyl man acts
so much as if the eyes Of the world were
on him-that when the crisis ends with
out bloodshed, we incline to the conclusion
that it was all a we'll managed play.
Two hard facts, however, are evil
dent: The mass of the people were
determined that Jules Ferry should
not be elected president, and both
people and legislative assembly were
determined that Jules Grevy should
resign or be kicked out. Yet, SO tickle is
French opinion, or so uncertain was the
situation that at the last minute group
of journalists and politicians who had ex-
hausted the terms of abuse on NJ. Grevy,
actually asked him not to resign, being
moved to this action by u fear that NJ.
Ferry would be elected In his stead. NJ.
Grevy was so far deceived by this that on
the evening OF Dec. he announced to the
council at the Elysee palace, assembled to
carry his resignation to the chamber of
deputies, that the situation seemed to him
20 far modified that he had at present no
communication to make" On test vote
this performance was condemned in both
bodies, with only eight dissenting votes,
which caused NJ. Grevy to change his
mind again and very suddenly. Then,
while the convention consisting of both
deputies and serators) proceeded to elect,
the whole population of Paris gave itself
up to the widest demonstrations, even
lining the road to Versailles and threaten
ing to blow up the track and destroy the
trains if NJ. Ferry was chosen.
It is claimed that when the convention
assembled NJ. Ferry had a majority, and
that the demonstrations caused change;
at any rate, on the second ballot NJ. Sadi-
Carnot received GIG votes to 216 for all
others, and then ssall the world toute le
monde) went wild" again. The votes oc-
cupied much time. As the names were
slowly called each senator and deputy
walked forward to the space in front of
the stand and dropped his vote into an
urn, by which, as guard, stood q tall hus
sar. Two secretaries made the count
All this time the outside crowd pressed as
near the building as the guard would
allow, and in Paris the mob massed in the
Place de Ia Concorde and amused itself
for hours by such "horse play' as show
ing carriages against the wall, ducking
a few persons in the fountain basin
and pelting the police. When the vot-
ing was done and the result announced
all order was suspended for some time,
and a search for Sadi- -Carnot began. He
had retired when his name was first men,
toned, and was now secluded in a small
alcoye Of the statue gallery, his face very
pale and his frame greatly agitated. His
father, IS years old, ran with the activity
of youth up to the gallery and hugging
his son as if he were an infant, exclaimed:
ooh, what a joy this is to me, my dear
childr' the tears streaming down his face.
Then the new president was taken to the
official carriage and escorted back to Paris
in fine style; the mob marched to his
house, cheered him and dispersed, and the
''crisis'' was over with nobody killed and
nobody wounded.