The second elections in France come off to-morrow, and M.
Brisson, the French Premier, has issued an address to his electors in Paris which is a Manifesto. He says the result of the second ballotages is certain, if only the Republican parties draw together, and that already they are drawing together to resist the Monarchists, who threaten a Revolution. In this event they will possess a majority of 150 in the Chamber, will completely control the Senate, and will be able to elect the President of the Republic, thus possessing themselves of the executive and legislative force of the country. They will, there- fore, be able "to place the Republican Constitution above the attacks of the Monarchical and Clerical reaction." These words are understood to mean that the Opportunist Government, or, rather, its successors, will try to unite the Republicans upon the basis of the expulsion of the Princes, the separation of Church and State, and possibly the proposal of a new law making it treason to advocate a return to Monarchy. M. Floquet, the most favoured candidate for the Premiership, is believed to advocate some such course, and the Radicals are distinctly in its favour. All Repub- licans are to support the fraction highest in the first ballot,—a plan which will, it is said, give the Radicals fifty seats. The chances are, therefore, if the electors obey orders, which is uncertain, that the parties in the Chamber will practically be reduced to two—the Monarchists and the Radicals—a position which will indine the latter to extreme measures.
Previous page
