The Waddington Ministry in France has obtained a vote of
confidence from the Chamber by 243 to 107, but 130 members abstained from voting. The vote was demanded by the Premier, who declared, in a fine speech on Tuesday, that the Left were- trying to impose a programme upon the Ministry ; and the subject of the debate on Thursday—a very poor debate—was the whole of the internal government. The real issue, however, was the " purgation " of the judicial Bench, which the Left are- determined to effect by suspending the irremovability of Judges for atime, and which the moderate Liberals resist as inexpedient, if not unjust. M. Brisson was the orator for the prosecution, and M. Waddington himself for the defence. M. Brisson's point was the Judges, and M. Waddington, after describing the- quiet and prosperous condition of the country, stated that the Government was removing objectionable functionaries as fast as possible, and would compel respect for the Republic from the magistracy, but any legislative measure to that end would require mature consideration. He admitted that the Ministry was not quite homogeneous, but declared this was a necessity of Liberalism, and added, en pageant, thatwhile the Ministry upheld the liberty of the Press, and never prosecuted except for sedi- tion, they would not tolerate unlimited right of meeting. The vote is understood to indicate, and indeed the wording of the Order of the Day does indicate, that the Chamber, while support- ing the Ministry, expects from it more vigour in the Radical direction. The Left are still unaware of the danger of pro- scription as a precedent.
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