THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. 59 



Napoleon III had been for a time brilliant and successful, 

 but finally dimmed at Sedan all the prestige that re- 

 mained, and the death of his son had removed the appre- 

 hensions of another usurpation from that dynasty. The 

 French had failed generally from want of those checks 

 and divisions of functions in government, which history 

 has shown were indispensable. A single house of legis- 

 lature, consisting of 750 members, had been their cause 

 of failure. It was tumultuous, unwieldy in size, and a 

 prey to factions. To illustrate the faults of such a con- 

 stitution, the instances of Spain, Switzerland, Rome and 

 the French Assembly were cited ; and, on the other 

 hand, the stability which was gained by the duplex sys- 

 tem was illustrated by the city governments of England 

 and America, the state constitutions, and the Federal 

 system. There were three reasons why, independent of 

 experience, we were warranted in expecting better results 

 from the duplex system. 



1. Because two houses differ in constituency and the 

 principle of representation, thus affording greater scope 

 for talent. 



2. Two houses gave publicity to legislature, and thus 

 furnished a check to bribery and fraud. 



3. They prevented hasty legislation. 



There was in France special necessity to guard against 

 impulsiveness. The audacity, violence, and impetuosity 

 of French orators and statesmen were then described, 

 and attributed in part to a dramatic and histrionic char- 

 acter which expressed more than it felt. France had 

 learned by experience to establish two houses of legisla- 

 tion, and since the establishment of the senate had shown 

 great patience and conservatism. 



There were still those who, notwithstanding the prom- 

 ising prospect for the republic, were faithless. These 



