The French Senate recoiled, as we expected, before the firm
attitude of the Executive and the menacing appearance of the populace, which was brought home to them by the unusual military precautions taken for their protection. On Friday week, when it had been fixed the vote should be taken, M. Demob% as spokesman of the whole Left Centre, moved the Order of the Day, prefacing it by a declaration that the Senate maintained all its rights, but declined to exercise them so as to arrest the "legislative life" of the country. In other words, the Senate would not do the only thing it could do to enforce its censure on the Ministry. The Order of the Day. "approving the declaration just read," was passed by 1S4 votes to 60. The angry opponents of the Premier are now busy in condemning him as a Socialist because the Minister of Commerce, speaking at Cbillons on Sunday, described a philanthropic policy as one of "practical Socialism." They have, moreover, filled the Budget Committee with opponents of the graduated Income-tax, upon which, it is stated, M. Bourgeois is sure to fall. That remains to be seen. We should a priori have thought the rejection of that measure certain, but M. Bourgeois knows his countrymen better than we do, and he has two tremendous weapons in his hands. He can, as we explain elsewhere, insist on a Dissolu- tion, and his party dare face the publication of the lists of the Senators and Deputies charged with corruption. His new examining Magistrate is beyond the reach of pressure.
