PARIS.

Southland Times, Issue 1231, 1 April 1870, Page 3

PARIS.

(raoH oub ows" oobbespondeitfO January 29, 1870. A parliamentary inquiry ib to take place on the question of Free Trade, and the Cobden Treaty will not be broken. Notwithstanding these foregone conclusions, the Deputies continue to beat the air, and wa_te valuable time by debating Protection, oil no tariffs. After the discussion had been closed, that spoiled child of the Honse, M. Thiers, requested to re^bpen it, which was acceded to, and for a second time this able but mistaken statesman is laboring to show that grain ought to be excluded, because it would give the people cheap bread, and the materials for clothing prohibited, because tiiey could dress 30 to 40 percent, cheaper. No wonder Lord Clarendon is said to be coming to Paris next week to know the nrind of the Cabinet. The protectionists are afraid to allow Prance to compete with the world. To satisfy a few woolfarmers, who have to submit to lowered prices, like other nations, consequent on Australian importations, they would destroy the wine and brandy trade of the South, and the exportation of agricultural produce on the North and West. French opinion is in favor of free trade, only don't make it too sweeping at once. A hew fashion of settling disputed figures is for, a protectionist toy put into the month of his rival certain statements, and bet him 100,000fr. he cannot substantial them. Such has taken place between two prominent Deputies. " Quoth she, Tve heard old cunning stagers Say, fools for arguments use wagers." It would be more sensible, not to say business-like, to leave the matter with the committee of inquiry, and allow the Ministry to carry out their reforms. "What a change has the inauguration of the parliamentary system — not yet a month old — wrought in political appearances. But yesterday the Emperor was everything, to-day he is, in a sense, nothing. As he says himself, "I no longer act, I but look on." The sincerity of his, abdication of personal power is shown more strongly from day to day. He "solicits" that many of his old servants, who loved the old regime, nofc wisely but too well, may be remembered in this day of judgment. One trait in His Majesty's character is above all Greek, above all Soman feme, that he never has, nor does forget, services rendered, whether by a Marshal or the humblest domestic. Some little intriguing is going on to sow dissension in the Cabinet. But OUivier and his " honest associates " are determined to carry out tbeir work to a successful issue. The reformed laws, already prepared, and the vexatious restrictions up to the present removed, show Ministers to be men who " understand their epoch." They will soon be able to-read the history of their measures in the nations eyes. We have now no serious apprehension of "days" or spectre rouges. The inflammatory writings ofthe " fied" journals have ceased to terrify. They were not lions after all — -only " Bottom the weaver." All this change is excellent, and promises to be abiding. It is a revolution France has never yet experienced — the passage from violence and impracticability, to calm and good sense — without barricades, and by the force of healthy public opinion and universal suffrage. Every step taken in the way of equal laws, and unfettered freedom, is a " Tree of Liberty " planted, that will grow and blossom as the rose. The Pope is unfortunate just now in naving " the eyes of all Europe upon bim," as there are no wars, nor rumors of wars, to turn aside attention. He now feels the force of the proverb, that one man may bring a horse to the water, but twenty cannot make him drink. For two years the Jesuit party — all-powerful at the Vatican — has been preparing the programmes for the Council, but it is found impossible to rally the German, French, and American Bishops to accept a dish so medieval and uncivilised. The Italian and English prelates are prepared io swallow everything. The more he is opposed in the personal infallibility dogma, the more is His Holiness determined to cany it. He will proclaim it, if ratified by a numerical majority, but then, in France, such a new article of faith will lead to a separation of chnreh from state, a result not to be ■regretted. Many are willing to leave

' Pio Nino, his despotic court, his Remington rifles, and artillery— to let him " play at soldiers " till such things die out naturally, but to deify him and his successors kicks against the spirit of the age. After all, the Council is likely to end in a fiasco. The check to the candidature of the Duke de Montpensier on his own ground promises little for his acceptation were he chosen kiug. All factions combined to oust him, an evidence of what would take place all over the Peninsula. The Ministry have now no king-candidate, but itis not unlikely they must decide between a Federal Republic and Isabella's son, with a liberal Regent. Austria is " laying down pipe "to Prussia, or, per contra. The visit of an arch-duke to Berlin, is intended to heal old sores. Meantime, old King William strikes the commemorative medal for Sadowa, and . Bismarck *will be the first decorated with j it. France wishes to reduce her monster I army, but apart from home necessities, I she prefers first to see Prussia ratify the treaty of Prague. The new Russian loan, contracted for by the Rothschilds at five per cent., will be subscribed for five times over. The Czar is in a peaceful mood— he wishes to educate his masses, and to make them prefer the school to the dram-shop— the alphabet to raki. The Jews are particularly benighted in Eastern Russia and the Polish provinces. But then, say the most wealthy Israelites, " our successors before us, and our ancestors after ns," have grown rich without being able to read or write. What is the necessity for such things? — ignorance is blisf** Never was there such dramg and giving of dinners as exists at the present moment in the diplomatic and official worlds. If " a dinner lubricates business," foreign and domestic affairs must be amicable and thriving. The ambassadors must long for the seasou to arrive when they can fly to " drink the waters," like a bath in the fountain of Jouvence. . The first of dinner-givers is admitted by all to be Lord Lyons. His " spreads," like that of Billy O'Rourke's, " WiU ne'er be forgot by those who were there, And by those who were not." He is a great improvement on his predecessor, Earl Cowley, the smoke from whose kitchen-chimney formed one of the sights of Paris. The best " dinerout "is the Papal Legate— Mon seigneur Chigi. No party is complete without him. No wit is finer or more polished ; no one's stories can better set the table in a roar, and then, his cigarettas ! Princesses smoke them, and even Majesty itself covets them. The Turkish Ambassador, if not the first letter, is in the first line of " right good fellows " Balls, raouts, and sauteries are becoming more plentiful since the city has calmed down from Rochefort prosecutions, Noir funerals, and princely assassinations. The ladies are remarkable for an entire absence of crinoline. Abundance of tuille and lace, and flowers of all kinds, have cut out the family jewels. The theatres are in the height of their season. Five of them have for their piece de resistance an adul terous woman as the central figure. It seems not a play has a chance of a " run," without " the erring sisters' shame." Tbe ladies of Paris ought to be very virtuous Spartans, with so many Helots performing under their eyes. The first of the season's Court Balls has taken place with the proverbial eclat. These are more a spectacle than anything else. One walks about, talks, goes to the buffet, whirls in a waltz, and home. "Uniforms of all nations abound, gold and silver, fuss, feathers, paint, and powder. The officials arein violet, marroon, andblue. Their Majesties and the Prince Imperial entered at half-past 9. The Emperor looked graver than usual," but in robust health. The Empress had a word for a few, smiles for many, and a cheerful welcome for all. She had an " Oriental grace" about her, as she sat in the salon j de Diane, surrounded by the leading beauties of the grand monde. Never was a supper so exquisitely laid out or done better justice to. About 20 Americans, and about the same number of English, were presented. There is no diminution of interest in the controversy as to how long a, man's head and body lives after being guillotined, and a veritable slaughter has set in on rabbits, cats, and poultry, as to their comparative sensibility when decapitated, and tortured with hot needles or pointed wires. All this cruelty in the interests of knowledge. A suggestion has been made that, if the head lives for three hours, and guards its intelligence for one, | it would be well that such head, instead j of being received in a basket of bran at the moment of its &U, should be dropped | into a bucketful of water, when a few minutes would place vitality beyond all doubt. All this discussion will not lead to the abolition of death as a punishment. Executions for the future will take place inside the prison. The "irreconcilable" journals advocate the abolition of capital punishment, except in the case of Emperors and Kings. Strange contradiction to the immortal principles of 1789, which made all " equal" before the law. A peculiar example of the state of French society at the present day, is to be found in the balls given by the stars of ' the demi monde. The " queens" invite each other, as well as a sprinkling of aci tresses — of whom it may be said, " show ;••■ me your company, and I 'will tell you i what you are." Invitations are sent broadcast to the clubs, and the serins— a. i name given to veteran debauches — which i are responded to. The journals duly , chronicle the event, and the men speak of ; it without shame or reticence. These > fetes are truly got up regardless of exI pense. Between them and other balls, ■ there is only the difference between virtue * and vice. i The miserable " strike " at the great * iron works of Crnezot, is ended peace- [ ably*-the disaffected have returned. It * is an incident, however, that has arrested i much attention. For some days 10,000 i men desert the forges, the mines, and the i workshops, and after a strong military

force has been quartered in the prosperous town to prevent bloodshed between those who " struck " and those who would not, the whole thing collapses. The government is about dealing with the matter of the differences between capital and labor in a sensible way. It will invite the workmen to set forth their ideas, the employers also. A Commission will arrange the papers for publication, and when examined by public opinion, will legislate. Thus will be seen what labor demands, and what capital will not concede. Since Baron Haussmann's dismissal, or rather execution by the new Cabinet, he is actively employed in the preparations of a great worfc, to be called " Old and New Paris." He will fully show " how the money went," what it costs to rebuild a city for nearly two millions of inhabitants, aud of the opposition he received from his colleagues, being simply the offspring of spiteful jealousy. M. Rouher, it is reported, may expect some hard knocks. The " Byron scandal " is not going to quietly die. M. Adolphe Belat is working it up into a thrilling romance. In due time it may be dramatized. No day has yet been fixed for the trial of Prince Pierre Napoleon. He has been fully examined by the Police Magistrate, and has detailed all the incidents of his corsair-life, from his condemnation to death at Rome — his native city— up to the moment he shot the poor journalist, Victor Noir, in the heart. Plans of his salon have been made, showing the position of Noir at the time of being shot, and of his companion, Fonville, in whose coat his Highness lodged two balls. Fonville persists in his statement that the Prince's version is a lie. The High Court of Justice to try Prince Pierre will, after all, likely sit at Versailles in the course of the ensuing month. The excitement about the event has cooled down, as also the great admiration for the victim, whose grave, however, is daily visited by the curious at Neiully. Rochefort fails even to make any more capital out of the affair, and even his condemnation to six months' imprisonment, and 10,000fr. fine, has made him rather ridiculous in the eyes of his party, who are beginning to find out that as a Deputy he is worthless, and as a leader; a delusion. It was just what was expected. He could not keep his army of 200,000 men, that he marshalled at Victor Noir's funeral, ever " at red heat," and to turn tail the moment he encountered the military in the Champs Elysees ! We are not done yet with Tropprnann. It appears he has " confessed " his life in a short interview with his executioner, and the latter is about publishing it. Further, jt is alleged that when being strapped to the revolving plank, on the scaffold, the assistant reminded him he would soon see the " Kincks " — the family of eight whom he murdered — and Tropprnann bit him in consequence. Not contented with having received permission to bury this wretch's remains apart from other murderers, his family desire to place a " stone "at his head. Leave him alone in his terrible shame !