FRANCE. 



281 



nues, whose national increase is a sign of prosperity 

 and confidence, have produced, up to the present, 30,- 

 000,000 francs more than last year. The current 

 budgets show notable surplusages, and the budget 

 for 1871 will allow of our undertaking to effect an 

 improvement in several branches of the public ser- 

 vice, and to make suitable grants for public works. 

 But it is not enough to propose reform, to introduce 

 savings in the finances, and to administer aifairs in 

 an effective manner ; it is also necessary that, by a 

 clear and firm attitude, the public bodies, in accord- 

 ance with the Government, should show that the more 

 we widen the paths of liberty the more we are deter- 

 mined to preserve the interests of society and the 

 principles of the constitution intact and superior to 

 all acts of violence. It is the duty and within the 

 power of the Government, which is the legitimate 

 expression of the national will, to cause that will 

 to be respected for it has right and might upon its 

 side. 



From home aifairs, if I gaze beyond our frontier I 

 congratulate myself on seeing foreign powers main- 

 taining with us friendly relations. Sovereigns and 

 nations desire peace, and they are engaged in ad- 

 vancing civilization. Whatever reproaches may be 

 made against our century ; we have, certainly, many 

 reasons to be proud of it. The New World sup- 



resses slavery, Russia liberates her serfs, England 

 oes Justice to Ireland, the littoral countries of the 

 Mediterranean seem to be once more calling to mind 

 their ancient splendor, and from the assembled Cath- 

 olic bishops at Eome we need only expect a work of 

 wisdom and conciliation. 



The progress of science brings nations together. 

 While America joins the Pacific with the Atlantic 

 Ocean by a railroad one thousand leagues in length, 

 and in all parts capitalists and intellects agree to 

 unite by electric communication the most distant 

 countries of the globe. France and Italy are about to 

 clasp hands through the tunnel of the Alps, and the 

 waters of the Mediterranean and the Eed Sea mingle 

 already by means of the Suez Canal. All Europe 

 was represented in Egypt at the inauguration of this 

 gigantic enterprise, and if the Empress is not here 

 to-day at the opening of the Chamber, it is because I 

 have been desirous that by her presence in a coun- 

 try, where our arms were once rendered illustrious, 

 she might testify to the sympathy of France toward 

 a work due to the perseverance and genius of a 

 Frenchman. 



You are about to resume the extraordinary session 

 interrupted by the presentation of the senatus con- 

 sultum. After the verification of the elections the 

 ordinary session will immediately commence. The 

 great bodies of the state, closely united, will come to 

 an understanding to apply faithfully the latest modi- 

 fication made in the constitution. 



The more direct participation of the country in its 

 own affairs will constitute for the empire a fresh source 

 of strength, and the Eepresentative Assemblies will 

 have henceforth a larger share of responsibility. Let 

 them use it for the benefit of the greatness and pros- 

 perity of the nation. May the various shades of opin- 

 ion disappear when required by the general interest, 

 and let the Chambers prove equally by their enlight- 

 enment and their patriotism that France, without 

 again falling into deplorable excesses, is capable of 

 supporting those free institutions which are the honor 

 of civilized countries. 



As it was known that the Emperor regarded 

 it as necessary to relinquish the principle of 

 personal government, and to introduce, grad- 

 ually, that of constitutional government, there 

 was, of course, a considerable modification in 

 the position of the several political parties in 

 the Legislative Body. Even the most fanat- 

 ical adherents of the empire, the "Extreme 

 Right," with Baron Jerome David at its head, 



and which now number about thirty mem- 

 bers, could not, in view of the imperial declara- 

 tions, defend the whole of the personal-govern- 

 ment theory ; but the members of this section, 

 as well as those of the "Right" having, as 

 chief, M. de Benoist, and numbering about 

 twenty members, appeared to regard the immi- 

 nence of the radical change with considerable 

 distrust, and showed a disposition, not to sup- 

 port a ministry which would make too great 

 concessions to liberalism. The chief support 

 to the new policy was expected from the " Right 

 Centre," numbering about 120 members, of 

 whom M". Einile Ollivier was the most promi- 

 nent, and who defined their position by the 

 following programme : 



Considering that the duties of the representatives 

 of the nation is to set forth the wishes of public opin- 

 ion ; considering that in the first rank among such 

 aspirations is the sincere application of the parliamen- 

 tary system, which is the necessary form of the gov- 

 ernment of the country by itself under a monarchy ; 

 considering that such a regime implies a free press 

 and untrammelled elections, a homogeneous and 

 responsible ministry, and a compact majority around 

 principles clearly marked out and agreed to ; the un- 

 dersigned deputies, without intending to reject new 

 reforms when the necessity of them is demonstrated, 

 declare that for the present they are in accord to 

 require : 



Abroad, peace. At home, the abrogation of the 

 law of public safety. Interdiction to receive large 

 salaries for more than one employment. The ex- 

 amination of a system of decentralization which may 

 constitute on the largest possible basis the autonomy 

 of the commune, canton, and departments, and the 

 obligatory nomination of the mayor from among the 

 members of the Municipal Council. An electoral 

 reform effected before renewal of the Legislative Body, 

 having for its object, particularly to determine, by a 

 law, the number and extent of the circumscriptions, 

 and to protect freedom of election. The modification 

 of article seventy-five of the constitution of the year 

 eight, in electoral matters, or when personal lib'erty 

 is concerned, or an illegal violation of a private dwell- 

 ing has been made. The application of the jury to 

 political offences committed by the press. The sup- 

 pression of the stamp-duty on newspapers, and its 

 replacement by a postage-charge. The suppression 

 of the privilege accorded to the prefects to designate 

 the journals which are to receive judicial advertise- 

 ments. Liberty of superior instruction. A parlia- 

 mentary inquiry into the working of the commercial 

 treaty. And lastly, a constant endeavor to find out 

 means to improve the moral, intellectual, and phys- 

 ical situation of the greatest number. 



A shade more liberal is the Left Centre, 

 under the leadership of the Marquis d'Ande- 

 larre, which numbered about 41 members, 

 who accepted the following report of their 

 leader as a programme of their political con- 

 duct: 



Gentlemen : We had undertaken the work which 

 you had intrusted to us, and this task was rendered 

 easy by your previous deliberations, when we re- 

 ceived a programme drawn up and signed by a great 

 number of our colleagues. The analogy between that 

 document and the one which, presented by one of 

 those acting with us, had more particularly fixed 

 your attention, is such that, in analyzing the two, 

 paragraph by paragraph, we were able to prove that 

 they contained for the most part almost identical 

 features. We can, therefore, only regard with entire 

 satisfaction so great a number of .our colleague? 

 affirming the principle of parliamentary government 



