Year: 1874

various shades to eleven conservatives. Only
ten Of these republicans of the city govern
ment are described as moderate. It is in the
extravaganza of her republicanism alone
therefore, that Paris is not in full agreement
with the rest of the country, tor republicans of
some shade carry elections in the country in
almost the same proportion. In elections for
members of the Assembly the decision of the
people at the polls is unmistakable. Since the
adjournment of the Assembly in August cleo
tions have occurred in nine departments.
These departments are SO distributed that we
may find the opinion of every part of the coun-
try in the result, and North, East South and
West pronounce to the same effect. Out of nine
members elected during the vacation six are
republicans and three are Bonapartsts. These,
therefore, are the only parties there are in the
country and these are the proportions into
which the country is divided between them.
In the two latest elections those of NJ. Delisse-
Engrand and the Duke de Mouchy-these can
didates were elected over republicans by coali-
tions of all the other elements. All the legiti-
mist Orleanist and clerical influences thus rec
ognized that their only practical hope against
the republicans is in joining hands with the
Bonapartists flying the colors of the En-
pire If they had not made timely recognition
of the wisdom of this course there would
have been return of eight republicans from
nine elections.


With the fact plain, therefore, that there are
only republicans and imperialsts in the coun-
A. A. :k.l1o
of one or the other of these parties, the case is
clear for modification of the attitude of the
government and for considerable accession
of force to the party which for years past has
clamored for dissolution of the Assembly.
In the cary future, therefore, the struggle
doubt, to compel a change of ministry, and
it is not evident how such change can be de-
ferred beyond the first fair vote after the
Assembly meets. But a more material change
will be urged by those who propose to "con-
stitute" the Septennate. There are two projects
for the constitution of the Septennate. One is
the formalized scheme of Casimir- -Perier, who
wishes to give constitutional character and
form to what is now scarcely more than
personal sovereignty. The other notion for
the constitution" of the Septennate is to
encourage that tendency in virtue of
which it is becoming daily more and
more a mere mask, formal cover
for the Empire. In this division, on a gen.
eral point of a republic of some kind as
against the other tendencies, the republicans
have the advantage of numbers, and if the
battle becomes desperate they can vote the dis
solution. From what has recently been writ
ten by Laboulaye we are apparently at liberty
to suppose that the conservative republicans
are ready now to vote for dissolution-to take
the step that the radicals have always urged as
necessary.


But the point to be apprehended is such q
difference between republicans on detail as will
sacrifice their victory on the more important
issue. Before any action is taken in the As
sembly there will lac a caucus of all the fac
tions of the Left, and it is evidently hoped
that they can be brought TO agree on a par
liamentary programme Casimir-Perier is
president of the faction of conservative repub-
licans or the Centre Gauche, Ledru Rollin Of
the radicals, and Gambetta leads all between
these extremes. These three men are already
well nigh at swords points i'll public polemics,
and a republican success which must depend
upon their agreement seems hopeless. IL is
to be apprehended, therefore, that the Bona
partist elements will, in the divisions Of tho
republicans, secure substantial advantages,
and to this result the exhibition of radical
II
contribute. All the conservative clements
will rally TO the imperial banner, as affortling
the only chance to save the country from the
"reds."


The REPORT of the Commissary General OF
Subsistence is elsewhere published, and in