NEWS OF THE WEEK.
IALPERIAL constitutionalism has been in serious danger this week. The new Constitution retains the proviso authorizing the Emperor when he pleases to appeal to the people for a plebiscitum. Ministers of course do not like that, and there has been talk of resignations. The Emperor, however, refused to yield ; and as resignation involved a return to personal government, M. 011ivier made the best of it by demanding that the new Constitution also should be submitted to the people, whose acceptance will shut the mouths of M. Rouher and his friends. No consent of the Corps Legislatif is needed for the submission, but the question was brought up by M. De Choiseul and the Left, and led to an ener- getic debate, during which M. 011ivier declared that without the plebiscitum the Ministry would have no foothold, but would be told, "You are only an audacious reaffirmation of that personal power which has only modified itself because it has found twelve Liberal accomplices." The Chamber on a division supported him by 227 to 43, but there is much latent discontent in the majority.
