PARIS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1268, 8 March 1872, Page 2

PARIS.

fFROM Otfß OWN CORRESPONDENT 1 ] December 30, 1871. The Assembly during its daily average sitting of four hours, costs the country —in salaries to deputies and officials—the sum of one hundred francs per minute. It has? been asked to bear this fact in mind, as well as another one, that Germany has to be paid three milliards, so as to economise time in legislating for the national welfare. Week after week produces its silly debates on puerile matters, over which the fractious composing r.he chamber lash themselves into fury, exclaiming " mea culpa" after sobriety ensues, at the loss of time. The admission of the Orleanist princes to the Assembly occupied in negotiation and discussion as much attention as would have sufficed to make the excellent bill for public and compulsory education the law of the land, but which appears to be as forgotten as the princes them>el ves. The time consumed to determine whether a M. Kane was or was not a criminal communist, would have been ample to discuss the project of army reform and enable the people to know if military service was henceforth to be obligatory. Having been so active in minor matters, the deputies might afford a little industry to those of moment; it is their back-sliding in this respect that is giving force to the demand of the ultra-republicans for the election of a new Assembly.

Paris is in a sulky mood because the Representatives of the " country party " in the Assembly will not content to resume- their deliberations in the oiiy. It is a struggle between the capital and the provinces—between the head and the extremities. France can never be tranquil while Pan's is discontented, and so open to the calculations of all pretenders; M. Thiers can be powerful enough to reject the proposal for an income tax ; but he cannot bring the legislature back to Pa rib'. The means for raising the increased revenue are not yet clearly denned. The President, true to. economic views which have never changed since 1828, repels free-trade; but protection is losing ground, and commercial isolation is regarded as the "happy dispatch " for France, M. Thiers has opposed to his protectionest ideas the soundest heads and clearest minds in the country —the same phalanx that has been de feated on the income tax. Victories will be more fetal than discomfiture. In 176,0 Kousseau said of French taxation—he who has little pays much, he who bas mi.oh pays little, but provided the great be content it matters little how the poor live. Matters are not in such a state at present, but there are inequalities that the taxation of income would remove. M. Thiers holds that the rich are over-taxed already, and the wealth of the Assembly naturally repels a project to be further squeezed. There is something wrong when a man lias to pay the same dues, for 1 selling a quarter of an acre of land as if he disposed of a thousand acres, and if people have to be additionally taxed, it is. to. meet exceptional demands. A speech from M. Thiers is, now an event; to, condemn him to silence would be to kill him. It is said that rarely does a parliamentary orator win votes, by his eloquence, but M. Xiueis

captures them en masse. He has a wheedling manner for plucking 9 majority out of an irresolute Assembly* He has no outbursts of eloquence where sound might do the duty of sense; he is very small m stature, and no one ever accused him of possessing stentorian lungs ; but his gestures, the clear, penetrating style oi his arguments, addressed alike to the reason, prejudices, pride and humor of his hearers, bears down resistance though conveyed in a childish treble. He never improvises a speech—be prepares his discourses like pages of his Histories. He understands his aim, and, be it right or wrong, marches to it. He has thought out the means, hence there is no difficulty or ambiguity of expression. For nearly half-a-century be has filled the public eye; there is no Vicar of Brayism in his past; he bows to expediency, but cherishes his personal views the more*. His piivate life is without a stain, public character without reproach. Heis a patriot to the back-bone, and neveuparades his patriotism. He is plucky,, for he has fought his duel. He is rich without ostentation ; has no ambition for titles; his desire is to be king among (not of) meD. Such a character has consequently immense weight, andi his political heresies are pardoned, for he loves much—France.

The Minister of Finance—PouyerQuertier —is a very popular and able man. As a mill-owner he is a millionnaire. His jolly rustic look is sufficient to inspire confidence. It is said he lives only on claret and soup, with statistics for dessert. After his chief informed the assembly that the finance* of the nation occupied 70,000 clerk*, and that the adoption of the income tax would entail something like a similar corps, the Minister of Finance begged that deputies would not deal •vith figures—they only confused a debate ; " nothing," observed Canning, "is more deceptive than facts—except figures;" and then he commenced to deal with them by the fathom. It was a mercy to finish, especially as the lady spectators were becoming impatient* and the young deputies were fidgetty to form a hedge—-as at a theatre—to see the elegant fair sex depart. M. Pouyer Quertier has offered the u prize for virtue," or will give his influence to secure a vacant arm chair in the Academy, or secure a nomina as minister at a foreign Court (with due privilege to never quit Paris, as is now the fashion) to any patriot who can point out any article that has escaped untaxed his Argus-eyes.

M. Lachand, the celebrated lawyer who defended Tonnelet on the charge of killing a German soldier, and which produced the recent impolitic despatch from Prince Bismark, states tiiat evidence was adduced that his client used the knife when the soldier drew his bayonet—it was a case of self-defence. AH this is, however, secondary. Bismurk has produced an effect contrary to what he expected. Excitable as the French are, they have resolved to nurse their wrath. They will not allow their hand to be forced—will assist the taxgatherer to collect the balance of the indemnity —will turn the other cheek to be smitten if necessary—-will bow to the seizing of hostages,—but will organize the country, and when the time comes:—when the blast of war will again blow in our ears—they will—-

" -imitate the action of the tiger :■ Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood." This remarkable change in the French character ought to make even Germany reflect.

There appears to be a fresh panic setting in about the Bank, and the silver coin which was re-appearing is. again returning to its hiding ground.. The cause results from the governmental demands on the national bank, not, from any commercial pressure. The bank has nearly reached ihe limit of its legal circulation on paper,, and if not empowered by the Assembly to extend it, must draw on its gold which is. being treasured for Berlin. The auxiliary notes, from one to five "francs,, are generally received, the railway companies; excepted because they trade in the premium on the precious notes. The notes, in question gee very soiled—filthy-* after a little wear and tear.

Home politics are calmer; the prospects of royalty and imperialism are getting small bv degrees. The Legitimists have, thrown up the game,, and the:

Orleaniste have lost it. The Due d'Aumale is only great in his own chateau at Chantilly, where the Prince de Joinville shares an honorable insignificance, and following his nautical habits, prefers a hammock to a bed of down. The Comte de Paris is believed to be somewhere in France. As for the Bonapartists, their struggles for public life are visibly weaker. The country has concluded they represent no political principle, have only been a sad fact and an adventure in histoiy. Bona partism is viewed as revolutionary, has nothing conserved—not even its own existence, which was shipwrecked in full calm " Like ships that have gone down at sea, When heaven was all tranquility," and very nearly sunk Fiance with it. The Country will have no more governments of expedients, hazard or- occasion. The Republic is taking root, and the nation is feeling the advantage of di rectly managing its: own affairs. M. Thiers devotes eighteen hours daily to laboring at the good work. There are several vacancies for the Assembly to be filled up in a few days. The candidates so far are moderate republicans. Paris had a deputy to nominate, and the struggles between the radicals and conservatives is fierce. The latter invited Marshal Macmahon to stand, but with his accustomed honesty and good sense he has declined, asserting not only that his position asCora-mander-in-Chief was an objection, but that a soldier best performs his duty by eschewing politics. The radicals have held a series of caucus meetings where the old elements of the Commune reappeared. Victor Hugo seems to be the idol. He subscribes to all the conditions required, even to submitting to a proposed imprisonment if he breaks faith. It is objected that he is a Viscount, that he once sang the praises of that " child of a miracle," the Comte de Cham I lord, and might do so again. As he is " a man of genius that illuminates the universe," observed a speaker, it was presumption to discuss him. Ex-General Cremer was proposed : he too would subscribe to anythiug required, and among his plans for saving the country v ere the immediate renewal of the war with Germany, and the brigading of all the clergy as soldiers—to be commanded by Garibaldi, as an elector suggested. Incidentally it was mooted, that the world would be delighted to see M. Thiers imprisoned for life, and the Commune revenged. An orator who commenced by observing that England had more "horned cattle" than France, was voted out. of order and requested to retire to a lunatic asylum. " General " Cremer was not objected to for having broken his word of'honor with the Prussians, but it was regarded as a spot on the sun, that he vowed in 1870 to " place his sword and heart" ever at the service of tire Empire. Thus Pari* is not de'.oid of amusement; the authorities allowed these patriots to have their say without let or hindrance, and the Seine has escaped from being set on fire. The army is grumbling at the slowness with which the Commission for revising the promotions made by Gambetta is working, and desires much to see Bazaine's trial concluded, against whom the proofs of not doing his duty at Metz become blacker. The soldiers are a shade more comfortable in the camps, though they undoubtedly long after the flesh-pots of Egypt—the barrack life of the cities. On Christmas Eve they kept high revels, had plenty to eat and drink in honor of the time, and felt they were not only glorious, but " o'er a' the ills of life victorious." It is currently believed the courtsmartial are still sitting, but so fatigued is the public with their proceedings that the journals only rarely notice them. However the Government (to its credit) is freely liberating, after a light investigation, number* of prisoners on the hulks. The official journal corroborates the discovery of gold in New Caledonia, so that those patriots who are to leave "their country for their country's good " for the fortunate isles are to be envied. There is an intention to send Bo=sel'vS father as deputy to the Assembly—as was attempted in the case of Baudin's brother It is sad polic}' to trade on the dead, but in Fiance there is nothing like having a u body " to trail—a Banquo's ghoist.

| Christmas was never more observed as a holiday by the French than on this occasion—ordinarily a children's feast. It did one's heart good to witness old times come bnck again. The churches were well filled with worshippers—duty, not fashion, drew many. The midnight masses of the Eve were "low" ones, the Government, fearing to attract crowds, having ordered that there should be no musical pomp. The restaurants and toy-shops remained open all the night; it is the fashion to " sup in " Christmas day—oysters and sausa-. ges, onion soup and truffled delicacies being the bill of fare. As the children expect "le petit Noel " to deposit in their tiny shoes, ranged before the chimney, some present, the toy-shops did a roaring trade. There never were taken up more drunken people, and those who were able to stagger home, saved from drinking their week's earnings a few sous to purchase the expected gratification for their little ones, and no doubtfelt satisfied they had done their duty. The annual fair on the Boulevards is well patronised. The terrible weather has moderated, and there is no longer occasion either for sledges or boats to pass along the streets. The Prussian soldier looting the goods and chattels of the Gauls forms the popular toy. Now everyone is occupied in sending a card to friends and acquaintances in honor of the new year, which for many is the only evidence that you have lived during the last 365 days. Of course a present is anticipated by the youngsters if you desire to be regarded as a friend, and all those who have ministered to your comfort, or discomfort, during 1871 expect you are not a sufferer by any monetary crisis ; they adopt Danton's maxim—" audacity, audacity, always audacity." The post-office clerks work night and day to send off the mountains of cartes de visite to every part of the world. One of the favorite dodges to demand a gift is adopted by some character* who assert they saved your house and property from being burned under the Commune. M. Thiers will recognise the sovereignty of the Assembly by first paying a visit to its President, when the latter will drop in on the Chief of the State (royal fashion) by the time he has reached home. It is the custom in commercial houses to adopt some emblem in honor of the season, which purchasers take with them. This year the "etiquette" is a photograph of M. Thiers. There is a congratulatory address being signed by the citizens to be presented to the Prince of "Wales on his recovery. The Prince is popular in this country, as he is believed to share in the sorrows of France, as he did in the good works to relieve her distress. The snow-white beard of the Emperor of Brazil is to be met with everywhere. Next week he can bid at the sale of the Imperial kitchen utensils. Two chamber maids (negresses) of his suite, are stars in Paris.