M. Waddington's French University Bill for repealing that part of
the Act of last year which constituted the "mixed juries" to confer degrees, and reserving all judgment on the academical qualifications of candidates for the State, was defeated in the Senate yesterday week, by the very narrow majority of 5 (144 against 139),---M. Laboulaye, a very sound Protestant of the Left Centre, arguing against this premature withdrawal of a reasonable compromise, on very much the same grounds on which we have come to the same conclusion. This marked revolt of the Senate against the Government, which commands so strong a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, has created some sensation in France, as indicating a "rift within the lute" which may ripen into full discord. But such fears are clearly unwar- ranted. if the country is really convinced that M. Laboulaye's moderate and tolerant view is wrong, the next replenishing of vacant seats in the Senate will show the fact. But as yet there is no particular reason to believe that the moderation of M. Laboulaye and the Senate may not suit the country, at least as well as the bitter anti-Clericalism of the Lower Chamber. Tolerance is cer- tainly not as yet the cardinal virtue of French Republicans. But it may yet become so. There is nothing like tolerance for blunting the sharp edge of bigotry,—an edge which rubs off on that which is pliant, but whets itself on the rock.
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