13 DECEMBER 1873, Page 2

It appears that the Committee of Thirty on the French

Con- stitutional Laws have come to the conclusion that they must first discuss the Electoral Law, and bring up a Bill about that. The power of the President is a ticklish subject to agitate, the crea- tion of a Second Chamber involves endless difficulties, and the question of the right to dissolve may produce a conflict between the Assembly and the country. But they think every section of the majority wishes to restrict universal suffrage, and they may proceed in that direction safely. Perhaps they are mistaken. They cannot expect support from the Left. The Left Centre may regard restriction as retrogression, universal suffrage having this advantage,—that no adventurer can promise it when it has been given. The Legitimists, being out of temper, are sure to plead that their King is the King of all liable to shed their blood for France ; and finally, there are the clergy to be reckoned with. Do they want the comparatively educated suffrage which in Italy they are trying to overturn ?