Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-01-30
FRENCH La"MAKERs.
With Interesting Notes on the French
Parliamentary System.


PARIS, Jan. II.
To the Editor OF the Journal AND CoURIER.
Those who have kept but casual run of
the history of France since her terrible
defeat by Germany may be surprised to
learn that in determining the form Of the
constitution by which she is now governed
a controlling influence WAS exercised by
the Monarohists. With their numbers 60
geatlry reduced as they are at present, it
seems almost incredible that in the gene
raj assembly which was elected by popular
vote to provide for the crisis Of 1871 this
party should have had a msiority. Such
was the fact, however, and only for the in
ability of those supporting the different
claimants to pool their issuee, the events
of the last two decades might have turned
out quite differently. AS 1t was, the
Monarchiste, finding 1t impossible to
agree amongst themselves, made terms
temporarily with the republicans. Not
all, of course, but sufficient number, at
any rate, to carry through ths constitu-
tlon of 1875; and one of the conditions
of this memorable fusion was that the two
chambers should be retained. The repub-
licans were committed both by tradition
and conviction to the one chamber princi-
pie. But upon this point the royslists
were inexorable, and hence the Legislative
power was vested jointly in senate aud
chamber of deputies, and one can only
suppose that this two-house plan is still
Alx&
largely in the ascendant, because expert
ence has shown that what was accepted
| at first simply as an expedient, Is of
practical utility, not to cay necessity, in
carrying on the government.
That the French chamber of deputies
needs some check upon 1t there can be no
reasonable doubt. To become thoroughly
convinced of this one has only to attend
few of its sessions, or, for that matter,
follow for time the accounts one may get
of them in the daily papers. A body
which finds its chief Amusement in dis
crediting ministries, and which treats it's
leaders much as a child Is wont to tres.
its plsythings, setting them up merely for
| the purpose, as 1t would seem, of toppling
| them over again, may reflect only too
we'll some of the traits of the French ns-
tion, bnt it is scarcely the sort of tribu-
nal to be intrusted with eIclusive power
over the destinies of that nation. For the
facility with which he loses his head the
French deputy has no equal. This trait
may be a freskish development of the
law of heredity, due to the fact that in
times gone by SO many of bis prede
lost their heads in another way. Bot
there he Is, to whatever CAUSES he may owe
the eccentricities which have made him ia
nous, always ready with an "Interpols-
tion," and always prepared to follow it up,
If needs be, with a duel; the embodiment
of euavity at one moment and the next an
incarnation of furious hatred; loading the
ministry with compliments at one session
and by the time another convenes ready
to kick it out of doors
1t would be gross exaggeration to i'm
ply that all the deputies are of thls type.
There are cool hesiA even IN France, nor
can IL be doubted that in the French cham
ber of depu'ies men may be found who in
the ability TO Look calmly at both sides of
question and TO act like reasonable be-
ings under the fire of ridioule or opposi.
tiop, wonld do credit to even 30 solemnly
respectable bcdy as the British House of
Commons. But such men are surely not
in the majority there, nor are they the
men who give the chamber it's character
The average deputy aud the one most on
view is unquestionably of the type We have
sketched, who is never happy unless ne is
out of sorts with somebody, and who al
ways has. 1t would seem, not onlS the
proverbial chip on his shoulder. bot a
couple of seconds dangling at hi. heels.
The sort of scenes which disgrace Wash
ington only about once in a qusdrennium,
and Westminster at still longer Intervals,
are of such frequent occurrence in the leg
ielstive halls of France that novelty 10y
ing Paris has become satisted with them
We have known q single session tn pro
duce thres isticuff encounters and TO lead
to as many duels, not TO speak of the mum
ber of times the lie was exchanged, and
though such batch of 'incidents, ;" as the
French like to call them, is somewhst in
excess of the ordinary output, one may
safely anticipate that IL there is anything
exciting on hand-like the Panama affair
scenes and incidents more or less dis
graceful will be enacted every time these
French legislators come together.
The senate is more self contained body,
as one might naturally expect 1t to be.
The senator must have passed his fortieth
year, while the age limit for the de. uty
ceases at twenty FIVE; and perhaps a fur
ther guaranty of self-control in the upper
house is afforded by the manner in which
it is formed. Deputies are chosen by di.
rect vote of the people. The electorate
consists, with few exceptions who are
disqualified for various reasons, of oil