Year: 1872

DfA. ever ventures 70 commit hlnlseu on pupe
here Tor fear Of injuriously compromising him
sef-but the good sense moderation, and calm
ness OF the document excited the hope that al
last group Of politicians had appeared who were
determined to put patriotic before all other con
sidsrations, and give an independent support tc
any Government no matter by what name il
might be called, that would best advance and
protect the interests OF the country This docu
ment proiessed to be the result Of a fusion be-
tween certain members Of the Right and Left
Ceutres-tbe two most powerful and Influential
fractions Of the Chamber, if they could only be
got 10 unite. The difference which separates
them nay be defined in a few words Tie one
party approves the Republic, the other only
toleraies it.


waited day before mentioning this document
20 see who would accep; the responsibility Of it.
Up 70 this moment, being as l have said, the
only t0lerably sensible manifesto which has
appeared, II is universally rePudiated. The au.
tho-s, who showed theft sense when they COM
posed DO. exhausted il in the effort and have now
neither the sense nor the courage TO acknowledge
H. There is, therefore, no use in my quoting it
or crticsing IT, for practical though it was in its
general scope, II was open to criticism. l have
only alluded to it at all because the universal
disappr0batiou Of all shades Of the Press in regard
70 il, and Of the Versailles politicians in general
Illustrates forcibly the want Of the most ordinary
political insiiact-an instinct which has been con
spicuous by its absence in every attempt Of any
party 10 define what it wanted or to get it.
Nevertheless this programme represented an
idea which, though they do not venture to adopt
il on paper. it is the evident desire of large
party t. carTy out if possible in practice. The
old saving Of NJ. Ibiers that the Republic is
the ground which divides Us least" after having
spit up the Chamber into about fifteen different
fractions. seems about to be realized alter all.
The Ndnarchists and Legitimists have got utterly
disbearened. SO long as NJ. Theirs lives and is
ful Of vigoT they see they have no chance, and
they are beginning to think that after all the
best thing they can do is to become Republicans,
with meutal. reservation. To cover this change
of front they vail 20 to their constituents consult
with their Conseils-Generaux. and come back in





deeprooied convictions and monarchical preju
dices sill remain, they yield to the wish of the
country. just as they have so often yielded to
the wishes Of the President and that finding the
whole nation determined TO support the Republic
Of NJ Theirs. they will no longer offer it any OPP
position; but It is clearly understood that it is
oulv the Republic Of NJ. Thiersr 10 which this
concession applies, the Republic Of NJ. Thiers'
beng 10 reality the absolute Dictatorship Of NJ.
Tisrs and representing, therefore, personal gov
erumeut 10 It's most arbitrary form, They are
willing 10 waive The point Of the name; but in
rs,1rn Tor promising him their whole-hearted and
united support, they trust that be will not lead
them into apparently democratic or popular
measures


The fact is, that FOR the last eighteen months
NJ Theirs and his majority have been having
desperate, though somewhat hidden struggle for
the mastery, the question being whether NJ.
Thiers should obey the majority, or the majority
NJ Thiers. This question is now finally settled.
Tae majority Submitted at last on the question of
Raw Materials, and admit themselves utterly





straiegical error Of their visit TO the President
and be has irampled upon them so unsparingly
ever since that event that they now cry piteously
for mercy, and only ask to be allowed when they
come back from the holidays TO turn over a new
leaf. be good boys and do whatever he tells them.
Hence they are afraid Of the speech in which M.
Ttiers threatened to interpret the Paote de Boy-
ds7llz. In moment of passion the Right chal-
lenred Tin 10 single combat 10 the arena OF the
Assembly, aud. now that he announces himself
ready and anxious for the struggle, they hold
meetings in all their bureaux, and decide that it
will be dangerous to provoke debate upon SO
ihorny a topic in the presence Of the country,
and that N. Thiers be invited TO make his speech
10 private to the Commission. So with great
generosity the President lets them of the public
casiiraioa, and is going at their own request to /
administer to them quietly any chastisement
which he may think they require. This is
stretch Of good nature on his part, for there can
be no doubt that by not making public declara-
tion OF the conditions under which he governs, /
and Of his determination to govern according 10 |
bis own Interpretation Of them, be loses splen-
did opportunity OF impressing the country with |
his own power, and the weakness of his oppo
nauts II they could escape it the Right would
be very glad indeed TO avoid any explanation /
even in private, of what NJ. Thiers understands /
BY the Pao,e de Bordealc, for whatever his
Interpretation may be, they will have to adopt it.


Under these trying circumstances, the poor
Right derive some consolation from the exposure
Of the robbery and mismanagement which pre-
vailed under the Government of National De-
feuse, and which the Commission of Contracts,
Of which NJ Riaut is the reporter, is slowly bring
ing 10 light. His last report furnishes US with
some very curious revelations. BY it we learnt
that M. Gambetta was party to the most dis
astrous contracts, so far as the financial interests
Of the country were concerned, and sanctioned
the most extravagant and reckless bargains for
munitions and arms 90 the part of his subordi-
mates. This arose rather from mismanagement
than from any fraudulent spirit on the part Of the
buyers. though, unfortunately, the same can not
be said in all cases for the sellers The Govern
ment Of National Defense authorized no less than