THE FRENCH CHAMBER AND THE ULTRAMONTANES.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 786, 30 June 1877, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE FRENCH CHAMBER AND THE ULTRAMONTANES.

Trt a meagre telegrams received through the cable do not supply an intelligible key to a right understanding' of the political complications which have existed for some time past,. The telegrams published m tfio American journals arc much fuller, and give a connected statement of the circumstances which have led to the present political position. If these are to be relied upon, the differences between, the French I rcHidunt and the Ministry wore brought iibuut by int.rig ne . s . On April 7th, the Government interdicted tho sittings, of the I tins Catholic Committee, which excited, a B»rong protest from the clergy and the tncuds of toleration. On the 4th May, tko question of the Ultramontane intrigues formed the subject of a discussion m the . am 1 5* er °* deputies, when Jules Simon sud that $ie Government had determined to put down intrigues which endangered the peace of the country, aud wasjiesolved to" 'compel all parties to respect the law. He said the Government would protect the clergy while they confined themselves to thoir spiritnnl ■ duties, -but would deal firmly with them if. they ■ encroached on the civil power. ■ Petitions for the re-establishment of the temporal power of the Popo were the work of a feeble minority, and the Government had put a Htop to those petitions.'' The debate on the Ultramontane question was reTPpoiied on the following day by Gcambetta, who after inveighing against the ncroachments; of the clergy, declared it was time th.c Churches -should be relegated to their, subordinate rank j*L the State, and he charged the Clerlcqjjßtjparty withseeking to induce France to Dnjajc with Italy. Th,e last statement was received with' prolonged applause by the Left. : After another declaration by Jules Simon, (A the ' determination of the Government to enforce respect for law, the Chamber, by a vote of 361 to 121., adopted a resolution moved by the Left, and accepted by the Ministry, declaring that iho recurrence of Ultramontane manifestations were dangerous to the internal; and foreign peace .of France, aad calling upon the Government to use all lawful means for the suppression of such manifestations. On the loth tho Press laws were repealed by the Chamber of Deputies m consequence of repeated attack's m Freuch newspapers on foreign Governments. President Macwlahon wrote to Jules Simon on the following day. expressing surprise that neither the Minis-, tor nor Martel had placed before "tlie. Chambers reasons which might ■.h i aye' prevented tlie repeal of the Press Law, reminding the Minister , that it had been decided at Cabinet meetings that he and Martel should oppose the repeal. "[ [The President's letter concluded .as follows :—" In view of such atcitude on the part of the head of the Cabiitet, the question naturally arises -whether he retains sufficient influence to assert. His views successfully. An explanation on this point is indispensable. For myself; althciiigh not, liko you, answerable to Parliament, I liave a responsibility towards Fraiicewhich, to-day, more than ever before, must engross my attention." On receipt of this letter, Jules Simon sent m his" 'resignation' of 'the office bf President of the Corincil, and Minister of the Interior, stating that the views of the Cabinet, with regard to the repeal of the.Press laws, applied dhly to the portion for punishing insults 'to foreign sovereigns. . Eftbrts were 'nbw made to induce M. Simon to re-considerbis decision, but without success. At a hasty meeting of the Left, Gnmbetta; advised firmness, and suggested the drafting of a resolution expressing the entire confidence <St the Council m the Ministry. The Right, to the number of 290 members, also held a caucus at the Grand Hotel, and passed a resolution declaring that no Cabinet could have the confidence of the Chamber which is not free. in 1 its action .and resolved to govern according to republican principles; which alone could secure order and prosperity at home and peace abroad; The greatest excitement prevailed; and m some quarters dismay, at the situation of affairs. I/By three o'clock on June 17th President MacMahon had received the resignations of the whole CabinoL; except the Minister of War. The Chamber of Deputies met on the same day, and Gambetta delivered a speech not by any means calculated to throw 'oil on the 'troubled waters. He 1 said: "There'SVasnbdohflrct' in Parlianient, and while patriotically ;nentral,the nation suddeWy learned that tb!e ; PresiJ dent had demanded the resignation of the Preniibri, The natidn'in its anxliety; asked whetKer there does not exist tit the side of the Kekd.of the. State a 'prepbhaerdtiriginnuehce with which' ho Ministry could cope. The Chamber' only asked what President MacMahbn ' promised, a pacific .policy and suppression of Ultramontane* '" intrigites.' Gambetta 11 cited the paying 'pf Marshiil 1 MaeMfthbn : *| In presence '6f r the !l vire'iri. 1 trig^ie : r s ' an 'dfbn ie jito r s of 3i«i6rd^r iy^o aye' to-day raising their heads,' do' iipt 'attempt' this adventure The' : cha&e'ppts w'ould'J'go' off of thprnselves. " Guinb'etta Added 1 : "It is ttirie tb turn' tp cdnstitntibhal truth'. 1 ' *It is nw,tiroJ»^Vß.#^tedb¥a' well-known^ «>u^ilWrtnrhl«;i ! the President 1 ; of the reSußUb bears a're«fab'i(sibUi# over and abpye tiaj^of the Ministry;" 'Tfie 1 aiithbfs of su'ch'a Suggestion arfe the Prlesideh l t's l>: rdai l onenifes; they are 1 leading ''nini to ! rilirii ; The Chamber must recalTiim tbiariexa^t' obseryance of the cpnsfttjution,, , and divert; him t ##m perfidious couiiseX: ' -/The 'country alon^iß sovereign. Let it be ?tate«i|Wnether, the..ri!itention is to govern with/Bepub^cans ' ppsie^sing the confidence pjE 'the,coui}try, or . wi^ft j imeu whose uiipppjilariiy . ; has . been If dissolution happen, the * i«%jprity has no fear: but the country may, see m it the prelude to war. Criminal are those who would provpke that. If the evil advisers of, the ; Marshall are resolved to bring about, a dissolution; all I li»ve to say. is that a dissolution will be the preface to war, both ,at home and abrbiid." To counteract this. speech a meeting of theg Right J,was| held , ai which a resolution was passed declaring, that President ,MacMahqn had not exceeded his constitutional rights.- 1 The complication was np;w Regarded, as of the moptiseriouachfttactev.j, Crpwds pf people assembled m the streets,, and ; surrounded' . the.CJhamber, and the aid of 7 the police and soldiers was called m. to keep the approaches clear. The President, issued a proclamation expressing' his determination, to in^iniain a pacific policy: witlrall the Powers, and, to,! firmly repress Ultramontane , demon-, stations. A meeting of the' ambassadors toot plftce,, f 'an4 : i; tb,e mp^j; unfavqurab'lepreyailed., Qn 18^ .a.'^est I .' Cabinet., was, , constituted as,^ollpyifs, 't-A) Due.de Brogue, President of the'dburicii and'Mihister'of Justice >■ Defoufteti^Minisi' terbf the Interibr^Eu^eh'6!daillaux,"Minister 1 of ! Finance ;' Paris; Minister of ■ Public Woi-ks; Viscbunt do Meauxj Minist'er< • 'of Agricultiire ; Brttnet; Minister *ol Publiti'liistrttcti'dn'. "Tlie 'President, hefwi evef/'^fiiSeflib accent the ;- resignations -qf^ Berthoilt and Dukfe de Cazos; us Ministers of -War and I.' Foreigir Affairs respectively, and'ptpVisibntti ainingemeiits were' made with regard to the Ministiy of Marine. The ■ Duke de Gazes received the ambassadors; i Who expressed disapproval of the .-political., position, 'and exhibited no ■'sympathy with thei' Republican party; A message from the President prordgii'ed the sitting of the Chamber fqt a month ? and the ttirmoil somewhat quieted down. At a crowded reception r lield by the Duke de Broglie : he declared- • that the abuses which had been attempted m" the President's nam& by the^R.epublican Cabinet;' could no longer, be'.suffei^d tp continue. The a ngry debates m the Chamber weffe now succeeded by. a) war of wbrds in'the Paris newspapera.. The "Journal des Debats" demanded that the crisis should be terminated by an appeal tothe country, the "Marseillaise" suggested

the impeachment of the President, while thei "Constitutipnnel",and "Paris Journal" defended MacMahon's : action, as perfectly legal. . The .' 'Moniteur? stated that , Minis r ters had determined to repress insinuations against the President of seeking to' bring about a foreign war, or coup d' etafc .On the 250 th of May, a decree was passed removing 21 prefects of police to other stations,' and placing 16 others on.half-pay. At the same time a French Ambassador was despatched to Berlin : to explain the' peaceful character of the Cabinet, changes, an attempt by the .Deputies of the Left to placard a manifesto throughout France avhs promptly repressed by orders issued by the Prefects, and an order was published intimating that the circulation pf foreign newspapers, m Frauce would only be permitted after minute censorship. On the other hand, Lpuis Blanc and a choice following of ,jtia<lipal Deputies' continued, to inveigh •against ; Ministers, bnt recommended the employment of lawful means to secure the ultimate triumph of the Republican party. The latest telegrariis'receiyed via, San Francisco, to May 22ud, do not shew what was the ultimate' outcome of the embrpglio. But that it.jwas serious is shewn by a Paris 'correspondent of, the Londpn " Times," who telegraphed tkat the l-ecejit. events had been provoked, witf! the object . of inducing' MacMaliPn ■■ to ; resign, „ On 'the, ( ,22nd Maiy Prince Bismarck was suddenly recalled tp Berlin, ;and; the "North (*ermau &azettej" a ■Ministerial organ, simultaneously reprinted passages from Bismarck's spe'ecliei and dispatches to the effect that the appointnienfc of a Clerical and Monarchial Cabinet! m France would be prejudicial to German interests, and the maintenance of peace between France, Germany;. aivliltaly.. .The chain of eveutSi is connected by 'the brief messages ( received through 'the cable. On the 23rd May, President ' J\ JacMahbii' is renortetl .to have declared ;that as two , Ministries had failed to , 'uphold ' Conservative iprinciplesj, and as he could not associate \yitk,. Radicals, lie, was 'resolved ' v to maintain. /ihesia^quo^uniii.lSSO.^On' June 3rd i Gambetta cpunsclled moderation, alluding to the contingency of Presulfeht MacMjilion's ..Retirement, and expressing' approval of M. Thiers as his siiccessor. On June :6th the President of the Paris Municipal Council was arrested for attack-: ing. (denouncing) MacMahoii, and finally a' cablegram, of yesterday , reports that MacMahon asks the Senate to dissolve', because the Government is unable to exist witlijthc present' Chamber without submitting f tp the Radical, "party .paying its way to pp^yer.