Year: 1877

NJ. sIMON's ACCESSION To PowER-GREAT EX-


PECTATIoNs ENTERTAINED.


trRoM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT TRIBUNE.l
PARIS Dec. 15-This has been the worst crisis
through which this country has passed since the
war. simply because il has been absolutely unneces-
sary. and that nothing iii the facts of the political
situation itself presented any justification of II.
believe myself better than most people capable OF
stating what have been the motives and the sigmii-
cance of the various circumstances of this last par
hamentary struggle and it is worth studying Ill de-
tail by those who take interest IN the fortunes Oh
France for it may easily be renewed before the year
1877 is completed. When the late cabinet entered
upon its career last Spring, many felt that
its nominal chief, NJ. Dufaure, would prove
a dangerous pilot. Within the last fifteen years
NJ Dufaure from the really liberal, mOdern-inlnded
man he in his prime, had been gradually yieluhg
TO the narrow clerical influences that surrounded Inn
in his domestic life. Monarchical he certainly was
not, and anti-Bonapartist he assuredy was. There
fore. as far as mere politics went he might be re-
rarded as fair if not firm Republican. Thus far
he was qualified to preside the first really he
publican cabinet Besides he had the merit Oh
calming the Marshars apprehensions and OF eXercs-
ing a certain action over the Senate, as was MANI
fest in his election as member of that body. HIS
defects in the estimation of the Deputies were dis
tnctly merits in the eyes of the Senate



Lower House at midsummer the honeymoon of the
new Parliament had endured more or less well;
during the holidays signs of conciliation abounded
from all Sides and everything appeared so per-
fectly smooth that NJ. Waddngton i'll his progress
through the southern towns could publicly take en-
gagements to be fulfilled at the end OF three years
Tn to the eve of the reopening of the two houses
there was scarcely ripple on the surface OF the
waters, and, with a little tact and forbearance on
the part of the Left all might have remained quiet.
Gambettas speech at Bellevlle was the event
of the hour, and proved on his part
the qualities of moderation and temper which made
in England a large portion of the worth OF Sir
Robert Peel Meanwhile his followers of the more
advanced sort were growing restless. There was
positively no point which 1t was indispensable
that they should make a stand-not one; but they
were possessed by that demon of dsquiet that
troubles nearly all political parties not near enough
to a period of action to weigh seriously their re-
sponsbties. They wanted to do somethlng.'
Unlucky the clerical prOclivies of the presidency
of the Senate and of NJ. Dufaure there to
tempt them to mischief, and they yielded! They
knew from the beginning what were the dangers
they exposed the Republic to- they knew that Du-
faure would resist, and that breach with Marshal
MacMahon might ensue, and that no possible good
could be achieved by what they were preparng
but they had their mischief planned and they car
red it out


Here was the first fault. The second lies to NJ
Dufaure's account, and everybody knew he could
not avoid it. The instant the discussion fixed Itself
upon the different items of the Budget of Public
Worship, NJ. Dufaure began TO stiien and steel HIM
self into resolute resistance. The quarrel got
epvenomea with every day that passed. and
both sides grew vicious To this state OF
things there can be only termination
open rupture NJ. Dufaure bitter and in
sultng to the Left, and, having lost his tenn
per committed mistake upon mistake, until the
thoroughly UltramOntane seCtaTiIn of the previous
year, who had bid adieu TO all restraint stood
face to face with a majority that had
thrown moderation and "Opportunsm" to
the winds. The civil interments question
was then (mOst needlessy) added to the already ex-
asperated state of the dispute, and the lnevita-
BILE crash came All fell together-the Ministry and
the majority, and very nearly the Government and
the Republic tself-for which reason repeat that
this country has gone through no crisis since the
fall of the Empire so dangerous as this.


Up to last Monday night there was really only little
hope of a reasonable solution, for the blindness OF
rage was taking the place of every other feeling.
The Marshal beginning to listen to evil sugges-
tons of illegal resistance easily transformed into
aggression. Gambetta felt the position so critical
that he absained from all intervention, being well
aware that with a runaway horse the only chance
is 10 let him utterly exhaust his wind, and being
also thoroughly determined never to waste his own
strength but be always ready and able to step In
at the last hour and act as arbitrator. The extreme
danger of the situation has saved all The precpice
yawned in front and fire blaZed behind. There
wa, not an hour to lose. So both cOmbatants con-
eeded lust enough to be enabled to turn round be-
tween the two pers and refuse to be either burned
TO death OF take the fatal leap. Now in all fairness
il must be said that of the two adversaries the Mar
shal behaved the best for asked OF him,
and he was the less qualified of the two to under
stand thoroughly his duty.


II NAV be safely asserted that in one party was
Jules Simon wished for, but he was accepted by all,
and however paradoxcal it may seem, 1T is abso-
luely true to say that his universally acknowledged
defects were what recommended him most. No one
doubts his capacity for treachery, but every one
counts upon his neghbOr being the man betrayed.
There is not shade of party III France that may
not pin "A hope on Simon, and not a man from Bel
caster to Naduet who would be astonishcd TO re-
ceive advances from him. Now, it is only mere JUS
tice tSthe Marshal to say that he rec0lls from all
contact with men of this description, and nothing
can be more marked or can have been more persist
ent than his aversion from Jules Simon. He feels
that on such character no one can ever nave a
hold. and this faculty of slipping away from
all grasp is Just what is so antpathetic
to the Marshaps obtuse and straightforward
nature But all advised Jules Simon; the two
Presidents of the Chambers, both NJ. Grevy and
the Due dAudfret and the Due de Broglie said he
was the only mani NJ. Buffet alone resisted, and
recommended a rcactionary Minlstry-but then NJ.
BufIet is to be dreaded, and even the Marshal and
his surroundings recOled from the notion OF dlss0-