Year: 1874

interest as the divergence between the Assem-
bly, and the Ministry becomes more marked.
1t has seemed all along necessity Of the
situation either that the Assembly should dis
solve or that the Ministry should resign.
Neither of these results has happened. The
Assembly has defeated the government, bat
President MacMahon bids the Ministry re-
main. The government evinces desire to
appeal to the country, but the Assem-
bly, has not dissolved So far it has been
a game of shuttlecock and battledore between
the two branches of an underlined power which
exists in France through the excesses OF the
Commune and by the courtesy of the army
and the people. But it is game that cannot
always last President MacMahon seems de-
message to the Assembly yesterday betrays
purpose which is not less reprehensible
Though he is unwilling that the Assembly
should occasionally stir him up with unpleas-
ant motions and resolves he is quite ready to
live in amity with the Assembly if that body
will define his powers and confirm his au-
thority. In a word, MacMahon is content



definitely if it will only give him what
he wants and then let him alone. 1t must be
confessed that this is not o very broad policy,
and, in spite of the fine phrases in which the
old soldiers devotion to France is clothed, it
does not strike us as an exceedingly patriotic
one Marshal MacMahon must know that he
is as much an accident as q necessity, and that
| ~ = &C <lo <> ha Of
and of the Assembly which gave him official
powers. He is well aware that the Assembly
is reluctant to grant him the full authority he
believes it originally promised him, and
though he is perfectly right in insisting that
every pledge shall be fulfilled he is wrong in
making the qualification of his own selfish
ness the terms upon which the Deputies
may crafty theirs Besides, he cannot expect
to be long in accord with an Assembly that
has already treated him with so much whim-
sical severity. And yet his message shows
that for his seven years Of power he is not
only willing that the Assembly shall be in
definitely prolonged but that it shall vote the
constitutional measures necessary to the per-
manent government of France. 1t was a
singular mistake to make but it reveals how
little republicanism is understood in France
even by those to whose keeping the Republic
has been intrusted and more than ever shows
how necessary it is that the Assembly should
dissolve.


The dissolution of the Assembly is the key
note to the security of the Republic and the
well-being of France. Already it has been too
long in existence. In the beginning it did
not fairly represent the sentiment of the ma
ton, especially the republican sentiment. Its
mission was intended only to be that Of
committee of public safety. But French AS
semblies are proverbial for the tenacity with
which they hold on to power when they once
obtain it. The Deputies are unwilling to give
up their places lest other men should be
elected to fill them. It is thus the present
body, chosen in the stormy days which
succeeded the return of peace, is still
in existence AS it was not elected
to frame a government for France it has
failed to form one and to-day it represents
only the selfshness which all along kept it
alive 1t cannot give France king though
when it chooses it may overturn a ministry
1t cannot recall the young Napoleon. 1t can
not even declare the Republic. Consequently,
its defeats of ministries are only trifing with
France; its gravest measures of legislation
are the mere by-play of craftsmanship its
consideration of the future form of govern
ment is an absurdity. If it had the
power it. has not the moral right to
speak for the nation. None of the Depu-
ties, whether Orleanists, legitimists or Bona
partists, represent anybody but the masters
whom they are anxious to serve. The people
chose them not to choose master for France
or to be themselves her master. Whatever
mission was intrusted to them in the begin
ming is ended and they have no longer an ex-
cuse for continuing to grasp an authority that
does not belong to them. They can best serve
their country by giving up the power they
now hold and allowing the people to choose
an Assembly that will be representative OF
France Sooner or later this necessity will be
forced upon them, and by doing it soon they
may at least earn plaudits for patriotism.


We are not astonished that the republican
journals of Paris yesterday insisted upon the
dissolution of the Assembly as a necessity
growing out of its powerlessness. That is a
fact established beyond all dispute, and the
legitimists and Bonapartists ought to see it
as we'll as the republicans. Neither the
crownless Bourbon nor the exiled Prince Im-
perial has anything to hope from this Assem-
bly,. The republicans can better afford to
wait than the monarchists and imperialists.
If they were not sure of the result OF the
elections delay would be their wisest policy.
But in the meantime France suffers Progress
in country is never so much inpeded as
while grave constitutional questions are in
allegiance What France needs above every
thing else is relief from the discussion of the