The French, who know M. Floquet, think the programme extremely
Radical, and the Reactionaries and Opportunists have, it is believed, resolved to turn the Government out as soon as the Easter recess is over. They have, in advance, elected M. Meline, a Moderate of no reputation, President of the Chamber. M. Clemenceau stood against him ; but after three ballots there was a tie, and the French rule in such cases is that the senior should have the post. The tie shows that the new Government has no majority, M. Clemenceau being its first supporter ; but a more serious omen may be drawn from the vote on the holidays. The Government wished to
take five weeks; but the Senate resolved to adjourn only for the fortnight ending on the 19th inst., avowedly on the ground of the political situation. The Chamber, though always reluctant to allow the Senate an initiative, endorsed this decision, defeating the advocates of a longer recess, with whom the Government sympathised, by 210 to 131. The Opportunist journals express the greatest alarm for the country, and a
report has been spread that M. Floquet intends to dismiss the Prefect of the Seine, and grant to Paris its autonomy. We doubt the report ; but if it is true, he is relying on the old Communists to protect his Ministry.
Previous page
