Year: 1875


ments Of France opened yesterday and their sittngs
will have considerable importance, because their
ecrs constitute the electoral body who decide
upon the choice OF Senate How far their choice
will be ratified by eminent Frcnchmcn, should many
such be chosen, remains be seen. 1t is probable
that few prominent placemen and ex-placemcn will
consent to perform Senatorial functons but the great


lights of France will stand aoof Men OF exceptional
ability and influence such VI. Victor Hugo, who
Senator under Louis Philippe have begun TO I'M
derstand that they exercise far higher and moro
benehcent control public affairs by steadily refusing
Offices and honors than by consentng receive them
under any conditions whatever Nevertheless the new
will have good deal of work. and may possibly
become potent than the lower house. II will be
very different assembly to the English chamber
of peers, or to any other legislative institution
which has preceded it. The Senators will not
be shackled by imperative mandates and the powers
granted to them extensive that they will DO able
to take the initiative law making and Will have the
real guidance of public affairs in their hands. In the
first instance it is believed that the Senate will be
composed Of respectable mediocrtes, because the
Councils General are so packed, and the parties
posing them often equally balanced that it will
be difficult to obtain majority of votes for any of the
favorites Of faction; and, therefore, conciliatory
attempts will frequently be made to select persons
against whom nothing be said rather than states
of marked opinions likely take vigorous action
in any direction. The truth is that the conservatives
or all parties in France whether mperalist legitmist
orleanist, anxious wait upon seize
such opportunities adroty as may turn up hereafter
rather than to try hazardous chances, which have
scarcely any prospects during tho present
wealthy apathy of the French people. On the other
hand the cautious of the republican leaders, such
Car, hiatt Nh Mas ort tho
NJ Victor Hugo perfectly aware that if they push
their triumph too far just the Republic will get
into difficulties, and could possibly be maintained
without boodshed Whereas, they think that the old


MoNARcuIcAL sUPgRsTITIoNs DYING OUT


and that as soon as tmid people satisfied that
republic does not necessarily perpetual rotng,
terrorism and the insecurity of private property the
whole population OF the country will become at
tached to 1t that they will wonder that they agreed
to live under any other form OF government. Thus
there is general truce in party warfare and the best
thing which be hoped for France that 1t may en-
durc till it has been consolidated into permanent
peace Indeed IL France could once appease her inter
nal political discord she would become very prosperous
and happy and there is need to fear that will be
dragged into the religious disputes which likely
soon to breed civil strife in Germany, while she
also very safely keep OF the complications which
arc again inc Eastern question: Hor pros
poets therefore farcr than they at any
time in her history since the reign of Henry w. If she
but contrive to pass few years under republic
and keep out of hostility with foreign nations
she may reduce her nve per cents to three
per cents, and her commercial gains will be SO
large that she may at the same time Tighten
her taxation and diminish her public debt such pro-
portions that 1t will no longer be felt a burden.
Meantime in the natural events the mantle OF
NJ. Theirs will have fallen on the shoulders of NJ. Gam
beta, who has become very prudent and sensible
person, not at all like the rash demagogue he
few years ago If the Republic be really consoli-
dated therefore, NJ Gambetta will probably succeed
Marshal MacMahon, and thus heavy blow will be
dealt at the military system and the cost Of
standing armies may be reduced in France to the same
figure as that of the United States With the army
would go the last traditions of royal power for mon
archs have thriven without soldiers and France
would be thus placed far beyond the danger of coup
dttat Moreover, should M Gambetta be wise enough
make friends with the include the
Duke dc Brogc, or at least, the Due Decazcs in his
Ministry, he will do much to concate public opinion
by letting down his adversarics easily that families
of Bourbon and Bonaparte will dwindle down into
private citizens and be satisfied with the legitimate
rewards of honorable ambition in free State.


SUCCESSION VISITORS.


We have had succession OF grandee visitors in Paris
among whom the most notable are the Grand Duke
Constantine, brother Of the Emperor Of Russia the
Duke of Coimbra, heir to the throne of Portugal and
Prince Milan, of Servla. Nobody has paid much atte
ton to them save the President and his officials and
they have been allowed to amuse themselves without
the fatigue of public ceremonies which usually make
royal journeys so troublesome to all concerned The
Grand Duke Constantine made sensible speech at tho
Geographical Congress, and showed considerable ac
quaintancc with the object of the meeting He has
grown much quietcr and steadcr than he was at the
commencement of the present reign, when he was tho
hope and representative OF the Russian macontents
He has had considerable trouble with his family Mrs
Hattie Blachford among others, and so the fiery,
wrong-headcd young man, who played at the Russian
court part not unlike that Of Prince Napoleon during
the Second Empire, has gradually changed into re-
spectacle middle aged gentleman who passes his time
in riding few hobbies Of decent pace with extreme de-
corum Tho Duke of Coimbra is little known in
Europe of Portugal and still less in America He
is harmless Of prince allied to most Of the reign
ing families Of the Old World aud he has been
we'll received both in England and In Franco
Portugal is perhaps the popular country in Europe
present 1t has given offence to any of the
great Powers il has conciliacd the national vanity OF
France by appointing Marshal MacMahon as arbitrator
dispute with Great Britain and it has pleased the
commercial spirit of the English people by its audabc
exacudc in paying dividends the Portuguese debt.
Likewise the King, having wisely refused TO accent O,
an offer OF the of Spain when IL was made 10
him, has secured tho good wishes of tho Spanisb
Bourbons and OF the Spanish people. The Duke of
Combra therefore dincd with Queen Isabella and
Marshal MacMahon gave banquet in his honor at the
Elyscc For the rest he lives at tho Grand Hotel, like
any other ordinary traveller and even the Cockneys
of Paris think it worth their while to mob him this hot
weather.


SALE OF THE DU LOUVRE


Tho Hotel du Louvre has just been sold together
with its furniture and 0ttings and il was bought
by NM. Chauchard and Hcriot for 1890 O5oc
($3 OlO). There only one bid made for
it, The upset price So 100000 NM Chan
chard and Hcriot advanced $40 more, and tho great
hotel was knocked down to them at th,t insg-
ni1cant sum beyond the reserve price What would
have been done with 1t IL It had not been sold can hardly
uut,.o .oottot