The quarrel between the supporters of the Government and the
Radicals in the French Chamber has for its pivot the posi- tion of the Municipality of Paris. It came to a head on Monday, M. de Lamarzelle proposing what was, in all but form, a vote of censure on the Ministry for treating the Municipality too leniently. They had organised insurrection to resist the election of M. Ferry, yet the Government hesitated to instal the Prefect of the Seine in the HOtel de Vile. In the course of the debate which followed, the Ministry were violently accused of an alliance with the Right; but the Premier, M. Tirard, denied the charge in the most precise terms, declaring that he should depend solely upon a Republican majority, and asking the Chamber to compel the Government, by a special Bill, to instal the Prefect. They were ready to instal him, and would even dissolve the Municipal Council, but wished for special Parliamentary support. The vote was taken in the form of a resolution declaring that the Chamber awaited the Bill, and confided in the Government. The first sentence was voted by a large majority, 342 to 195, the whole Right joining the Govern- ment; but the second was only carried by 265 to 178. This is considered ominous of the fate of the Ministry, the Right, with- out whose support it cannot live, evidently considering it too weak.
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