Year: 1874

NJ. DE BROGLIES SECOND CHAMBER
1t ia something grotesquely novel, at time
when popular opinion is supposed to do so
much in the government of the world, to see
a Cabinet composed of members of an Assem-


bly, elected by universal suffrage deliberately
renOuucing the principle of universal suffrage
and casting about to devise ways and means
of depriving public sentiment of any share in
the conduct of affairs. The Ministry nominally
presided over by Marshal MacMlhon but really
managed by the Duke de Broglie, recognize
the fact that neither they nor the Assembly
which placed them in office represent majority
of the people of France. They were elected
three years ago, at a time when the circum-
stances of tho country prevented anything
like a canvass of the electors, and gave to
the nobility and large landholders an entirely
displ oportionate influence. They were chosen
moreover for one especial purpose, to
furnish to the German conquerors a tan
gible and representative legislative body
clothed with authority to make treaty of
peace and give guarantees for its observance.
Their mandate went no farther than that
No one dreamed that they were to sit in per-
petuity at Versailles as an absolute and SOW
ereign constituent assembly, with unlimited
powers and lifelong tenure. There is only
one reason why they retain their seats, and
that is the reason why they ought to give
them up. They have ceased to represent the
political opinion of France, and could not
possibly be reelected if they went
before their constituents. To men cast
in the mold of the Dukes of Magenta.
Broglie and Decazes, this seems a sufficient
reason why they should not consult the people
1t is the highest political immortality from a
democratic point of view. But in spite of the
fact that these gentlemen profess the princi-
pies of 's9, and sit in parliament by virtue of
popular votes, they never have believed, and
never can believe, in popular government
They have no respect for any vote of the
majority unless it is cast for them. They
have received convincing proofs during the
last year that the majority of the French
people is against them Out OF fourteen
vacancies filled by popular elections the Re-
pubicans have carried thirteen. They are
therefore forced to conclude, as honest men
and patriots, that it is not safe to intrust the
Government of France to the decision of the
French people. They are doubtless serving
society and order, according to their own
lights in holding on to their places, after the
voters have disavowed them.


But this involves the exercise of ingenui ity


in country which has been for eighty years
accustomed to some participation in public
affairs. 1t has not been easy for the BrOglie
Cabinet to contrive scheme of disfranchise-
meDt which shall at the same time keep in all
the Conservative voters and shut out all the
Liberal ones. AS the Conservative deputies
are not imm0rtal-except the Duke de Brog-
lie and his fellow academcians-vacancie
must continue to occur from time to time.
and the elections may continue as monotO-
pously Liberal as they have been since the
Conservatives came TO power. In the course
of wears, therefore, the Assembly may pass
into the control of the opposition by the nat
ural course of events, and the MacMahOn Min
istry evidently consider it their duty to prepare
for that contingency. They have, with this
nurpose. contrived a scheme for new Cham
Der, which will serve as an impregnable citadel
against any Assembly, no matter how liberal
or aggressive it may be. 1t is to be composed
of members appointed by the Government,
who are 70 have not less than seven nor more
than twenty-one years OF service. They arc
to possess the veto power over the resolutions
of the Assembly, and together with the Gov
ernment, the authority to dissolve the Lower
House whenever they think proper. The Pres
ident of this aristocratic body is to succeed to
the Presidency of the Republic whenever that
place falls vacant by the death or resignation
of Marshal MacMahon.


1t will be an incident worth the most serious
study of all who are interested in the science
of government, if this scheme of a han dful of
conspirators, to take permanent possession OF
the administration of a great nation, shall
succeed. 1t is no less conspiracy, an act of
treason against the national sovereignty, that
it is plotted in open day, and by men who are
| invested with the supreme authority for the
time being. If it shall be successful, it will


be only another proof of what we have often


asserted, that the French have more religious
J respect for the forms Of Law and tho symbols