Year: 1876

sang rsactionary songs, unsheathed their swords
cursed tho nation and It's Representatives. trod under
foot the national cockades from their hats and when
the King and Queen appeared, radiant amid that po
ical orgie the tumult and enthusiasm were so great
that the officers climbed up 70 the royal presence
fidelity TO the old absolute monarchy and most
imprudenty protested that they should be subject
none other In three days from thai time they had to
combat nation In arms which tore monarchy from its
temple and dragged II down TO the flashing clouds OF
universal revolution.


fDRA


before becoming ray of light had been charged with
electricity. II sounded In the ears OF the powerful
like cracking whip, like hope in the heart OF the
humble. In its tortuous paths the flashing current
destroyed much human grandeur but consumed at the
same time many pestilential miasmas, and when you
enter Versailles and go OF the theatre boxes
the eyes instnctively toward great created
object, created by this very ordeal-to the French
tribune Here is altar, sacred TO emancipation,
holy fountain Of ideas, pedestal Of genius, feasng
place for humanity, admirable seat where the
human mind has discovered Its ardent tongues OF
fire, consecrated by the eloquence Of Mirabeau and
Vergniaud; beacon whose light shall shine even 10
the furthest confines Of time and the most distant
horizons OF the planet II shall be seen even TO the
heights Of history, from the Agora OF Athens the
Forum OF Rome and the Capitol at Washington. He
who beholds II shall be neither disturbed agitated
II has never felt the pain Of generations debased by
servude has It underestmated that valor it pos
In the Of those who tight for liberty and
right


PARLIAMENTARY COMPARISON.


We enter the tribune and able compare the
rious parlaments at which have present during
our lifoat Rome, at Madrid at Berne al London and
at the old Parliament of Paris during the Emprewith
this one at Versailles Every observing man sees
at glance the difference between Saxon and Latin
Congress here in Europe The Saxon Congress is en-
throned in Gothic edihce which are recorded since
the Middle Ages with its liberties and its traditions
Latin Congresses held in GrBco- Roman buildings
which must also be named in connection with their
historic liberties These had their origin during the
centuries ofthe Middle Ages, but neglected greatly
for long period and their revival to the warmth
of classic studies and researches into the records OF
tho old nations The Saxon Parliament, especially the
popular Chamber of the Commons. has the appearance
Of a department where culture is Joined with resou-
ton and labor; Latin pariaments possess the form
OF amphtheatres, of salons for exhibition,
where culture is lent to formula and
debate The president of Saxon Parliament occu-
pies a seat level with Others the door, simply
indicating that he is the first among equals the Presi
dent OF Latin Chamber is elevated high over all,
though shond recognize authority if we did
SEQ 1t at height or beneath throne; with the for
rules the custom, with the latter is done
in accord with written constitutions; there the do
bates show deliberation, calculation here they arc
filled with passion.


DIsooURrEsrRs OF THE ASSEMBLY.


But ii should be said that in the matter of heated
discussion none to-day compare with the French
Chamber. Our own Congress is assembly of monks
in Whain
quiste sensibilityl What impatience to respond at
once to the speech of an opponent What continuous,
stormy interruptions Every idea every phase fol-
lowed with a multitude of protests murmurs of dis
appreciation, contradictory statements, mingled with
applause, jubilant laughter and EXPLANATIONS OF
thusasm. The two camps into which the Assembly
divides itself drown the words of the speaker with
their remarks, puzzle him, make him furious
often by breaking into his discourse In the
centre they would break ring. Each phrase draws
forth noisy applause and violent imprecations Amid
these gusts OF parliamentary tempest some stand up
gesticulate, comfort their features shout oppose the
speech in OF delivery by another OF opposite
tenor needing neither the protests of the groups
the reprmands of the President The orator crosses
his and endeavors to appear calm amid the tu-
multi provoked by his speech, while he is being
tured between the condemnations of his enemies and





partial debate is going between the contending fac
tons, accompanied with a chorus Of applause and
censurc the ncessant rappngs OF the wooden hammer
scarcely being heard above the tones Of the
silver bell and the wordy tempest Thus there exists
in France species Of dsputaton which is entirely un
known IN Span-true masters tho art OF inter-
rupting an adversary and in the breaking up OF q
whole discourse with few remarks. No orator. how
great however eloquent, however much he may be
regarded authority, escapes these parliamentary
footpads. GarIbadi made to feel this Accus-
toned TO universal salutation and applause and after
having fought nerolcaly for France the neglect or
Rome aud Mentana) he went forth from one of these
sessions sick at heart They drowned his voice by
noisy clamor. Thus 1t was with the sublime Victor
Hugo who descended from the tribune and declined to
speak when he that they neither respected his
genius the gigantic IDEAS contained his cyclopean
phrases the splendor OF inspiration at the sight of his
handsome countenance the eloquence of one of those
discourses suggestive of Demoshenes and Isaiah the
prestige OF martyr banishment where be had fought
hand to hand with dsspotism and opened the right Of
conscience to the hope and heart OF his country.


ADVANTAGES OF TRIBUNE.


The other day involuDtarily compared the tribune
OF Versailles occupied by orator like Jules Favre
who was met with violent tempest OF voices with
that Spanish calmness that perfect serenity, which
gives the orator full control OF himself and imposes
the Chamber religious and august silence, merited
homage to parliamentary freedom. However, apart
from this they have the greatest advantages which 1t
would be idle to overlook or deny. The custom of
speaking from the tribune appears preferable to
our habit of speaking from the benches In this way
the orator is more freo less embarrassed and more
sure, from the very position he occupies to attract
general attention. The height of the tribune and
the solemnny required prevent many from occupying
it who would simply cucumber the pages of the
minute book with dinuse and intermnable harangues
The sessions much better attended than ours owing
doubt, to that democratic practice which we have
not yet been able introduce in SPAIN of paying the
Deputies. II Is true that with us an
orator is less interrupted, but they are also
less attended or listened to- In the Spanish
Congress 1t requires great eoquence and authority in
order 10 undivided attention for any length Of
Tha ato in in fn-d ,ea n