Year: 1875

THE POSITION AND PROSPECTS OF THE REPUB-


LIcAN PARTY-How THE REPUBLIC WAS


voTED-sPEEcH OF JULES SIMON AT cETTE.


The speech of the cx minister OF NJ Thiers OF which
the following translation, regarded by the French
and English press having been provoked by the
ccntnerance ofM Naquet and the ntransigent" group
OF the republican party.


NJ. sIMoS's SPEECH


In 1852 struggled together with yourselves. We de-
Tended the interests of the country We the sol
diers of that often old soldiers who toll of
the battles at which they were present We also may
be proud of our campaigns, for defended healthy
doctrines We are nearing the hnal struggle, which
cannot now be very far OIL If the battle be well con
Quoted, 1t is victory; If otherwise it is mere ad
journment. whose length cannot be predicted. To
form estimate of the situation II is necessary
to exactly what this Assembly Is. | do
not wish to speak of its orign-it elected at
riod when candidates. could not even be discussed.
But when met when 1t deberated you then counted
the republicans. How many were thercy II there are
present many il is because The partial elections
brought sone and next because wc made them There
are those, among the greatest among those OF whom
we have the right TO be proud, who came to the Re-
public but who did not then like this form of govern
ment. AT the beginning, then, we were weak We had


first of all before parties rreconcilable among them
selves. The same sentiment however, animated them
al-hatred OF the Empirebut at the end of time
could that this hatred was appcased. Those
who voted the dechedace-remember this was, with
the exception of six members of the Assembly, unani
mous-found themselves allied to the Bonapart-
lists. They all united, the friends Of Louis
Philippe and the friends OF the Comte de Cbambord
These three parties hated another but tie
united them must call 1t by its right name-hatred
of the Republic Every time that made effort to
leave provisional state of things to establish the Re
public in definite way we found them united against
u.s. IL is true that their divisions broke out again
when one of the parties tried to get possession OF
power and to- reestablish dynasty. | speak OF the
Orleanist parties and not of the Empire This regime
is not made by Assemblies but against them and comes
In like thief in the night


HAVE MONARCHY,


An attempt was made then to bring in the Monarchy,
and when wrote TO the departments, This is what
we fear, they replied TO all sides, The country
does not wish tn That is true; but there was
majority in the Assembly, and we were likewise
in truth less deep, but they were
considerable Two years Of work were neces-
sary to cause the three republican groups
ing that united could make recruits understood
that had almost majority and we said Let us
cement union and show our neighbors that we
not as fearful as people try to make OUT | say
must make the Republic worthy of being loved, and 1t
Is by making 1t SO that we shall gain soldiers TO our
cause. We have been In minority too long, and,
gentlemen, the true policy OF parties when they are in
a minority consists in making recruits 10 become
Republic founded in 1892 and established in
lS4S and 1870, has fallen second time by the
way OF making it durable to-day is to show that it is
worthy OF being loved Do not let US given hold TO
caumny. Even outside of our enemies there are sin
persons disposed TO believe that the Republic
threatens all interests, that IL does not
ouiltv and who saw ~ should like the Republic if it
were possible Not only is il possible but II threatens
no inerest-nether religion, since 1t proclams liberty
OF conscience, property, which IL looks upon
inviolabe, nor public order, which II alone is IN po
there still exist in the party shades of difference they
will show themselves when the Republic shall be deli
nitey established, and We shall then try to make
ideas prevail with our voting Sckets In our hands


REPUBLIC WAS VOTED.


1t was this thought which animated when
struggled against the coalition which confronted
when my friend III Casimcr- Perier-hc will not be
tonished that speak in this way-brought his hrs
proposition II did not in truth us on all points
but we carried 1t nevertheless, because II a first
step towards the Republic. We allowed similar propo
stons TO be made To proclaim the Republic would
simply have said, "Clause 1.-The Republic Is pro-
caimedn But the Lett Centre walked in by paths. IL
tried to seduce its neghbors II said "The Govern
ment Of the French Republic Is composed" &c The
WALTON amendment, already stale and TO which, In
principle had paid attention, was brought tor
ward again. II was carred-t is the present consttu
ton We did not make IL, but wrong vote
this constitution which should not have madey
Truly, easily find faults in It; and yet II any
one knows perfect constitution let him say So I'm.
perfect not IL is the definite constitution and II rs
republican constitution Had we not voted IT, should
have had the Empire Orleansn or legitimacy
No. but do you know what we should have had Z That
abominabc chaos under which wo have lived during
four years and which for two years hndered NJ Theirs
In his admirable work OF raising France To-day we
have the right TO say that the Republic has in its favor
both the majority OF the country and legality II the
work to begin again my friends and myself would
do the same without hestating. We not unan-





thing TO say both their abstention and on the
speeches which OF them delivering, but before
all ought to tell you that do not feel in hunor
attack them. In the first place, | never attack
republican; and next whatever may be my dissent
from the persons of whom / speak, and say
frankly it Is deep, | this account forget their
talents their services and the honor which they do
the party which scrve2 But ask the republicans
who have separated from US, Here the constitution
which you critcise; what will the coming elections
give us republican majority in the Chamber Of Dep
uties and a Senate which the BonapartIss will be
m n min This being and With this COuSItu
ton despite the faults which you see IN IT, the Republic
is founded forever No can work against chat fact
What then ought to be our r0eS Whymake objections
against the constitution These enemies and
every time that republican iorgets himself aud attacks
what we have done who applaudY The enemies OF the
Republic who finding only SIX Deputies ON the 25th
OF February who did not vote with US, pretend
that we arc now more divided than then, and that
shall not recover majority Of that day No, that is
not true have right to say 50 in the name Of the
three groups Of the Lett We have made the consttu
tionj would do again to-day, and II u has faults