Year: 1875

three months ago. for then il was expected from day
TO day and is not expected at ALL II perhaps,
tho WHOLE quite as good Chamber as any one
likely be reelected and its members may be excused
for hcsating commit political suicide when their dis
appearance from public life would present prospect
of benefit either to their country or to their con-
ncctions.


Meantime the state OF parties during recess may be
thus summed up. The liberals profoundly dssatis-
fed with the government; they obtain share in
the administration and have influence; they COM
plain that under the name OF republic all the good
things which it in the power Of Ministers TO bestow
invariably find their way to secret avowed royaists
Party chiefs differing widely to the true principles
on which States should be ruled such NJ. Gambetta
and NJ Louis Blanc unite in feeling of almost pas
sionate dislike for NJ Buffet and his colleagues They
are under considerable difficulty, however, in express
ing this dislike either in words in action. The
press is controlled with sternness quite to French
journalists, and General LadmIrault will not permit any
literature OF all exciting character to find
its way into the newspapers. The ago of
pamphleecring is passed. Carcaures even
cannot be engraved without the written permission
of the persons whom the carcaure desires to offer up
to ridicule. The magazines in France arc very few
there is Bldckcood Cor7hH no Fraser or Contem-
porary Rerew Atlantic Monthly Lippncon or Serb.
wherein bold essay would be certain attract
tcnton. The Rerue de France and the Revue des Deuz
Mondes conducted with extreme caution and are not
receptive they in the time OF the Empire
when opposition to the government was a very profit
able business. The only trustworthy news on French
affairs is printed in America England and Germany
THE AMERICAN GERMAN PAPERS


particularly we'll informed The English papers are
nearly all party organs which play but tune. The
people of France however, have become quite ndicr-
MT IN polit Tho have
sition seldom arouse even q momentary atten-
tion and tho government of Marshal Mac
Mahon can safely afford to despise them
NJ. Buffet and his colleagues, therefore, do
practically as they please, and go mindng.
They have got fair working majority upon all ques


ons Of vital importance, and, therefore, they dis
tribute the sweets Of office among their friends without
much mocstation. The Marshal himself is disposed to
be good natured in the way of granting small favors
especially to his old comrades in arms and he gives
few red ribbons artists and others who are not noisy
But II is not prudent to bother him. He likes his ease
he is fond of hors, exercise; the shooting season is
Just going and he is busy preparing for it,
He does mind being bored by few official dinners
and yesterday he even consented to 60 through the
fatigue of evening party with the Grand Duke Con-
stantne of Russia but there the business of the gov
crnment ends, far the Marshal is concerned and
he will not meddle with any further. He prefers
slipping away to tavern dinner with of his aides
| dc-camp as often as possible


NJ. Buffet who is at present


WORKING HEAD OF THE sEPTENNArE,


has conrivcd to make himself unpopular he could
But the detestaton in which he held does not extend
beyond Parliamentary circles and there he is not
more hated than the Duke de Brogc, whom Mac
Mahon would probably call to his aid il NJ Buffet we're
turned out that there is why the opposi
on should endeavor to turn out NJ Buffet were they
able do So and they not able to do it, The Due
Decazcs and the other members Of the Ministry are
very little talked about The Duke himself went to
vchy in the midst of the Parliamentary session. in con-
sequence it is whispered of n family fight. He now only
to Paris occasionally, and then as few OF
the foreign dipomatsts possible Prince Hohenlohe
the German Ambassador is civil and concilatory and
the other representatives of the great Powers have
little or nothing to do The internal condition Of
France is satisfactory than perhaps IL has
been before. Her finances are in an excellent state
her five percens long way above par and all her
public securities rising in value Money be had
mortgage little than four per cent and gold
has back generally into circulation that all tho
bank twenty five francs have disappeared and
IL is difficult even get fifty franc as n special
favor from friendly money changer. This astounding
change in French affairs is due entirely to the real





for nothing he than its whole system of
and financial administration. Thus it actually costs
more to send letter the French frontier as far
as n child can throw stone than 1t does send one
from New York or London to tho antipodes Indeed,
Notwithstanding the recent reduction Of postage rates.
1t will be found calculation that the average cost OF
transmitting French letters the no less
than $3.50 600 n ton, and this


ExoRBrrASr FINE uPoy FRENCH TRADE


will continue be levied till January next Then the
French monopoics bad; and tho city dues, patent
and license laws arc il possible, But nothing
can beat down the indomitablc character of French
commercial energy, enterprise and economy The
truth is that the French for the first time their his
tory, have become great mercantile people, They
have thrown away many of those sublime dreams about
glory and honor which once distinguished them as a
nation and they havo got into habit OF looking
steadily trade profits Thus the real question OF the
day In Paris not whether there is TO be Empire
monarchy but whether Peru is bankrupt or
not, and how much gain can be got out OF exporting
cargoes of dolls heads and legs to Australia


THE coSTESDING PARTIES


Tho Bonapartsts the Orleansts and tho legitimists
who are now quite out of the running seem to havo
grown gradually Of the apathy of the French
people their claims Each OF the prctcndcrs to tho
throne is surrounded by small company OF cxpectant
placemcn OF their belongings. The Due de Ia Roche
foucaud Bisaccia and half dozen other gentlemen
with comfortable incomes, think It would be becoming
enough to strut before or behind Bourbon King in
silk stockings and with rosettes in their shoes a
coronation day. They would have their costumes
drawn by Gillc Gr6vin, and buy sword at a curl
osty shop, warranted to have served at Ivry or
Fontcnoy Tho Duke himself would con-
sent, under proper conditions compatible with
his dignity, to put tho broad ribbon Of the
Saint Esprit around his neck, and represent the
Eldest Son OF tho Church at the Court Of ST. James
NJ dc Bclcaste and several Of his friends would have
places or snccurcs and the court jewcer whoever he
might be, would put together for the usual
consideration. But OF these good people would
risk their lives fortunes for Henry of Bordeaux In
like manner the Count dc Paris has following of half
hearted mddc-agcd gentlemen who would like to be