General Mercier, the French Minister of War, on Monday in-
troduced a Bill making military treason punishable with death; and on M. Jaures opposing the Bill, "the previous question "- that is, the right of General Mercier to go on—was carried by 437 to 85. M. Jaurbs made a most violent speech, urging that it was shameful to pass such a sentence on Captain Dreyfus yet shoot conscripts for striking officers, and being called to order by the President, was at last suspended for a fortnight. He sent a challenge to a Minister, M. Barthou, for giving him the lie ; and the Pelile Republique, a journal of his opinions, published on Tuesday an almost insane attack on the majority, whom it calls "bandits," describing individuals by name as cowards and apostates. "Take the list of those who pilfer, rob, cheat, and sell their mandates. Take that of all the Deputies with tarnished reputations, of all who have been decorated for equivocal affairs, of the stupid, the in- capable, and the traitors, and you will find it to be the same as that of the scamps who voted for the expulsion of Janres." All that strikes Englishmen as the language of frenzy, but it is the kind of frenzy in articulation which in France marks the arrival of a Revolutionary period. The Socialists are, in fact, wild to find this Government and this Chamber so very moderate and firm.
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