Year: 1870

The New C0nstitutlon--Ifs Advent and Pr0b1.
bio Observation-Disclosures and the POliti.
cians-Imperial Interests and the Dynnsty-
Orleanism.


PARIS, April 8, 1870.
1t would bewilder your readers to attempt any
history OF the details that have accompanied the
advent OF the new constitution proposed little over
o week since by NJ. do Olivier. I say the new con-
sttution, for the Seaatus C0nsotuna as it Ii POM
pously called, was nothing more nor less than such
a modification OF the constitution OF 1852, under
which France has been governed for the last
eighteen years. as TO entitle 1t to be regarded as
new instrument altogether. 1t might naturally have
been supposed that this formal abandonment Of the
late constitution. which concentrated in the hands OF
the Emperor all the pow ers Of the State and which
has made the imperial government as absolute as
that of Russia herself would have difused among
all parties universal satisacton but, strange TO say
such Is very far from being the case


The new constitution consecrateS the grand par
lamentary shioooleth OF ministerial responsibility.
The politicians are very well Pleased with this "
has maze, besides another great innovation on Its
predecessors which gave 70 the Senate the sole priv
lege OF making any changes whatever IN the pollti.
cal regeneration, as declared In 1852. The new
chart proposes to take this lofty prerogatvs from the
Senate, and in lieu OF 1t to give coordinate power
IN legislation with the lower house. which, believe,





Ministry. No great objection has been declared to
thus new feature though very important one.
But there IS clause. mo 81 as it is called
IN the constitution Of the future which
has evoked an immense amount OF criticism,
that has sweed at last into loud and violent Oppos
slol. THIS simple little clause merely declares that
IN future there shall be no change in the present
constitution except by ple0tscte-taat is by vote
OF the nation-and that this can only take Place on
the invitation proposition OF the Emperor alone 1t
Is very natural That Napoleon should be anxious that
tinkerng with the constitution should be rare ana
difficult process and that II all amendmants to 1t
were taken out OF the hands of the politicians and
no changes could be made In this great compact
except by the people themselves on his own move
analyzed ana discussed the high organic laws oil the
land would remain firm. intact ana secure.


In the interest OF AIS dynasty IL Is natural enough
he should desire such an arrangement TO be carried
Into effect ana people generally are entirely In
cord with him on That point, for they have had
enough OF changes and revelations since 1889 60
yearn for stability and repose. But the politicians
take very different view OF the matter and strange
TO say the who cry out the loudest and nerce5t
against this appeal to the people, known here IA.
millarly as the pe0scte are the republicans. They
gular want Of confidence IN the people, wnOm they
are obliged to admit are the source OF all power In
france, but nothing they can say or invent can
that they, while protesting repuolicanism should
oppose an, condemn all appeal to the





prove more conclusivey than this that the re-
publican party o. France know that the masses are
put to the tesIP 1t IS not the republicans alone,
however who are opposed to the Diebtscne No
small portion OF the parliamentary party" take ex-
cepOn TO this very democratic mode OF settling any
unexpected notifications that might be brought
forward by themselves should occasion arise ana
opportunities be favorable


This parliamentary party IN France Is composed
OF very able politicians, VINO are all strong
monarchists enough, but not all OF them by any
means believers In the BonapartisC creed. Not q
Few OF them, should say the great part OF them
are favorable 20 the Orleans family, ana would not
these runaways OF 1saS once more on the
French nation. The well known Theirs is one OF the
most prominent or this parliamentary party and the
journal dsS De0dtS IS recognized since long years
ITS ablest and most reliable organ. Both NJ Thiers
cided and energetic demonstrations against this
clause (''NO. 5') OF the new constitution. what
Is that the parliamentary party with their various
leaders an1 organs in the press, all threw up their
caps anu raised loud hurrahs over the unexpected
CONCESSIONS and marvellous reforms granted by the
Emperor in July last, to say nothing OF the still
larger lnstameuts 70 liberty granted since taen. 1t
was to be supposed, then, tnat when Napoleon
came forward week ago with nis Seldtus con-
sulturn, when embraces In constitutional form
all these abdcations OF his former powers and
which 10 that extent increases the privileges anu
guarantees the ascendancy or the parliamentary
rics OF delight and would march in procession 10
crown the STATUE OF Napoleon ILL., Not a bit Of IL.
They are taken all aback by this little clause "NO





pare5 their claws in advance.


They foresee that this appeal to the people on the
part OF the Emperor may ut some future day upset
all their little plans, and defeat all their most in
genious and laborous manCeuvres The parliamen-
tary party have been hoping that day or other
they might by making common cause with the re-
publican party and the red party succeed
III carrying the elections against the En-
peror, leaving him IN minority. The
first thing they would oil then do having the ma
jorty In their hands would be to pass vote declar-
ing tue Bonaparte dynasty abolished and with tle
law at their back they would trust to events to carry
out their purpose II civil war ensued they would
be quite at their ease, for they know the French
not stand tnar long; that the Orleans family would
be called back TO the throne that order might be
established. These are the dreams, not 10 say the
illusions, OF the leaders OF the parsmentarians, but
Napoleon is . match for them and this piquant
little clause mo s." Is an awful obstacle TO all
their machlnations; for should they get majority
OF the members any DAY, and should they attempt
20 lay violent hands on the national dynasty,
Napoleon, according to the constitution, would
simply appeal to the masses and II Is certain the
Orleans party would not be called to take his crown
aad civil war would be avoided.