NEWS OF THE WEEK
AVOTE in the French Chamber which our readers will see in the daily papers of this morning (Saturday) will greatly affect the future of France. The Committee to which the Bill for transferring appeals from the Criminal Chamber to the whole Court of Caseation, of which that Chamber forms a division, was submitted have reported unani- mously against the Bill as needless and inexpedient. They find the charges against the Judges simply inane. Neverthe- less, M. Dupuy, who is probably bound by some promise to the soldiers, intends to proceed with his Bill, and on Wednes- day the division was fixed for Friday evening. If M. Dripuy obtains a majority, as we think he will, the Chamber will have consented to pack the highest Court rather than it should pass an unpopular verdict, and the very foundation of justice in France will be removed. No one is safe if the Legislature interferes with the Courts to secure conviction for a humble Captain. On the other hand, if the Bill is rejected M. Dupuy must resign, and there will be chaos. It is argued that he might remain and accept defeat as an unimportant incident, but that is nonsense. The Chamber by such a vote will have accused him of selling justice for political security, and if the Deputies are not base enough to condone that, his moral authority over them will be destroyed.
