, 1893-03-25

In his fauteuil-fOr the Senators are more
favoured in the matter of comfort than their
colleagues at the Palais Bourbon-peOple
bent forward TO wa Oh their movements and
to pick out the champions in many . past con-
dict. AT last the suspense was at an end.
Punctual to the minute, at three O'Clock. the
lea ling ushers appeared at the door opening
on the P. esiie,tial Platf rim, and through it
NJ. jules Ferry could be seen returning the
saluteA Of the officers who had escorted him,
AMI as hp moved towards the chair, FOLLOWED
by the officials Of the Senate, every eye was
fixed on HIM. The new President. 90 10 al.
ways the rule with the Chair in both Houses
Of Parliament, was in evening dress. and 90 no
walked along the platform his tall AMI manly
Ggnre-a trlHe bowed during the last few
years-and his grave and digni6sd bearing
were the subject Of much iemark. For some
time Nj. Jules Ferry has added @ moustachs
tu the traditional whiskers familiar 90 the
amateurs If caricatures, but although the haiE
10 whittier thAa formerly, this is the only nota~
lie difference in his f.atures. There 10 still
an air of power and authority alb tut the man
hlch struck the most superficial observer.
confirming the impression already formed.
that the new President will not be . mere
hgurehea1. AS NJ. Jules Ferry took his seat
the rem lining members 6led IN, strong con-
tin sant+ of Deputies postin. themselves to
ihs right AMI left of the rostrum. Barely
five minutes after he had entered the Presi.
lent WIS beginning his address, which was
written IN several large shortA OF paper that
he held with a firm hand.
The o ening words were uttered in rather .
Low tone Of voice, in which there was perhaps
q suspicion OF a tremor, but after the bret
round of applause he speaker seemed to gain
rOnflence, and as cheer after ehoer from the
Left gr eeted maLy a we'll turned sentence and
happy exp es.i n, he did himself full ij~ustics,
winding up amid such signs Of enthusiasm
from his Republican colleagues 90 Senators
deem it consistent with their dignity 20 in.
dnlge in. NJ. Jules Ferry had gained ell
their Sympa' by at once. He had commenced
by s ying it woul be vain to attempt to dis.
guise in studlei language the feelings that
filled his he lrt. They were those of legiti.
mate pride AMI Of infinite gratitude. The
honour conf rrsd ON him wa one OF the
greatest TO which a man could aspire! He
GOULD not Aatter himself that he had deserved
it. In caoostn HIM among SO many worthy
o ,lleagles the S nate hal wished to perform
all act Of generosity. 1t had put an end to Q
long Trial it had decided che ostracism, that
irritab 3 child IF the Ancient City, should NO
longer 6nl any room in their Liberal and
tolerant Democracy.
NJ. Jules Ferry went on to remindChe Houss
that the Parliamentary Republic has been
founded, ALMOST day for day, eighteen ysars
ago. In a Democracy like theirs it was Q bold
attempt without precedent in the whole world.
The experiment had beeu msds, aud who
would dare to say that it had not been sue.
csasful? Hal tho Parliamentary Republic proved
unequal to the great tasks OF q Government?
order had been maintained. finance 70.
established. the al my reorganised and greatly
strengthened. and the Republic had acquired
in Europe powerful and valuable friendships.
Was 1t possible to find suter evidence Of liv-
ing AMI dur able Government? The speaker
then alluded to the attacks made on the Senate
some years ago. and obse' we'd that svsnts had
since shown that, though denounced 40 an
obstacle, it could be- a safeguard. Dictator
ship had been vanqnished. and the country
had been taught a salutary lesson. II one OF
the three great powers OF the State were to
absorb the two others there would be an end OF
the P~arliamenta y regime; but there was now
noting to app~ehsnd I'm this score. Between
the powers Of the state there only sxistsd
relations of friendly collaboration and mutual
Difference. The Senate would never 30 "a
instrument of discord. 1t was not the fOs OF
bold initiative. The Republic was open to oil.
1t W - not the property If any scot or group.
y w.lc,r.J ali man IF GOOD filth and rood