The second ballots in France come off to-morrow ; and
the probability is that they will accentuate that victory of -commonplace men which is so remarkable in the first elec- tions. Not one new candidate has attracted national atten- tion; nor, in a majority of eases, is there evidence that any new candidate, standing against an old one, has a reasonable .chance. There is, however, one interesting feature in the second ballots. The storm of obloquy which a French party pours out when really excited, is concentrating it- cell on the head of M. 014menceau, who is beating back a shower of libels with his back to the wall and his face up. He is accused of selling himself to Eng- land, which means, we fancy, that his hostility to the Russian alliance has .excited serious animosity. Large sums are spent in the distribution of libels, and orators by the half- slozen are denouncing the traitor who betrayed France both its to Egypt and Siam. He may be elected nevertheless by a heavy majority ; and if he is, his return will indicate an immobility of regard in the peasant mind which would in part explain the return of the Panamists.
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