M. Humbert, an amnestied Communist, has been returned by the
Quartier Javel, one of the eighty electoral divisions of Paris, to the Municipality. The enthusiasm in his favour was not great, his opponent, M. Depasse, also declaring for the un- conditional amnesty, and on the first ballot he did not obtain the requisite majority. Even on the second ballot, though he was returned by 684 votes to 610, some 637 citizens did not vote, being, probably, more Conservative than either candidate. Nevertheless, the election is quoted as an illustration of the dan- gerous parties which the Republic tolerates, and the Government is adjured to cancel the election. The Government wisely enough declines to interfere, as an amnestied Communist has already been elected at Marseilles, and as the amnesty restores civil rights ; but M. Humbert will, it is stated, be prosecuted for some of his speeches in the regular way, he having broken the law by justifying acts declared by the Courts to be crimes, The importance of the election has been preposterously exaggerated, 700 electors not representing France, or Paris either, and they having been evidently moved, first of all, by pity for sufferings which were unquestionably most severe. M. Hum- bert offers no programme except the general amnesty, and will probably be forgotten among the very active and, on the whole, sensible, though effervescent, Municipals.
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