A SCENE IN THE FRENCH CHAMBERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 780, 30 March 1877, Page 4

A SCENE IN THE FRENCH CHAMBERS.

The discussion in the French Chambers of Deputies on the motion for the entire suppression of the budget of Public Worship was marked by the re-appeaiance of Prince Jerome Napoleon, who, in a masterly but very extreme speech, inveighed against the “aggressiveness and danger of the clerical party in France He was listened to wMi a curiosity which secured him a silence of unusual favor, but on the conclusion of his remarks a most tumultuous and disgraceful scene occurred. The French correspondent of the Guardian, writing on November 27, remarks:—“As the Prince walked back to his seat he was encountered with a storm of reprobation, '.the Baron Tristan Lambert an ardent Bouuapartist, shouted at him as he passed “ You are an adept in revolt against the head of your own family.” For this he was rebuked bv the President. The confusion and the uproar was so great M. Keller, Dltramontac and Legitimist, who ascended the trioune next, could not he heard for a long time, and whim bis first words were caught they only doubled the tumult. ‘The Prince Napoleon,’ he said, ought to be the last man to recall the memory of their misfortunes, for he bears a name written in characters of blood upon the palpitating hearts of Alsace and Lorraine.’ Hereupon M. Lambert rushed again close to the tribune and reminded the speaker that he had been an official candidate under the Fmpire, and had entered the Chamber under its patronage.’ ‘Be silent, and return to your place, M Lambert,’ said the President.’ * Official candidate of the Empire !’ shouted the Baron. ‘M. Lambert, I call you to order,’ &o. M. Keller’s reference to Alsace and Lorraine having been designated a ‘calumny’ by M. Dreolle, another Buonapartist, M. Gambetta, curiously enough came forward to defend and repeat the language of the Legitimist and Ultramontane orator. This produced a scene of si ill greater confusion, in the midst of which the President could barely be heard ex claiming that ‘ such tumult wasintolerable and unworthy of the Chamber.’ For some. (here was nothing audible but indiscriminate noise and vociferation. The incorrigible M Lambert, after several further rebukes, at last stood on his bench and shouted twice, ‘ Yive I’Empereur!’at the top of his voice. The whole chamber thereupon became a confused mob Most of the members quitted their seats and vociferated ‘ Order,’or demanded La censure, or expulsion. Tire censure was put to the vote and carried. But scarcely had comparative tranquility been restored, when Gambetta raised a great storm, when attacking the Empire, by speaking of the clerical fanaticism of the Spanish woman whom they had made an Empress of Prance. ‘ You are no Frenchman to insult a woman and a Sovereign in exile,” shouted M. Sarlande; and M. Gambetta was requested by the President to be more convenant in his language.” Ultimately the motion for the suppression of the Budget of Public Worship was negatived by 443 votes to 62.