CONTENTS

CHAPTER VI

THE DEATH-THROES OF THE ASSEMBLY

I. The Summer Vacation, August 1874.-The Conservative Policy of

M. Buffet becomes marked.-Ministerial Dissensions.-Instructions

from the Comte de Chambord.-M. Rouher's Speech.-M. Thiers

at Arcachon.-Letter from Gambetta to the Democrats of Lyons . 363

II. Last Session of the National Assembly.-The Legislative

Electoral Law.-Gambetta breaks with the Right Centre.-M.

Buffet reconstitutes the Majority of the 24th May.-The Law of

the 30th November, 1875, is passed.—Electoral Districts

III. Election of Life Senators.-First Ballot; the Right and the Left

neutralise each other.-Compact between the Extreme Right, the

Bonapartists, and the Left.—The 75 Life Senators.

IV. Death-Throes of the Assembly.

Proposal of Amnesty.-Martial Law and the Régime of the Press.

The Committee of Pardons.-

-Relative Position of the Parties.-Last Days of the Assembly.-

Dissolution. Criticism on the National Assembly.

372

392

403

CHAPTER VII

FRANCE AND THE ELECTIONS OF 1876

I. Universal Suffrage.-The Nation and the Parties.-Electoral

Organisation.-The Cabinet and the Elections.-Composition of

the Senate

420

II. Legislative Elections.-Candidates and Programmes.-Gambetta

leads the Campaign; Speeches at Lille, Bordeaux and Paris.—

The Ballot of the 21st February, 1876, is favourable to the Republic 445

III. M. Buffet Resigns; M. Dufaure is provisionally entrusted with

the Presidency of the Council.-Gambetta's Speech at Lyons.--

Second Ballots.-Composition of the Chamber of Deputies.-

Formalities for the Transmission of Powers.-Early Sittings of the

Chamber and of the Senate

464

CHAPTER VIII

THE FIRST DUFAURE CABINET

I. First Session.-The Majority.-M. Dufaure, his Character and

Situation. Constitution of the Dufaure Cabinet.-The Ministerial

Address.-Divisions in the Majority.-Tactics of the Extreme

Left.-Gambetta Chairman of the Finance Committee.-First

Republican Laws

II. Administrative Changes.-Death of M. Ricard; M. de Marcère

succeeds him.-Debate on the Amnesty.-Supplementary Elec-

tions. The right of Revision discussed by the Senate.-Modifi-

cation by the Chamber of the Higher Education Law.-M. Buffet

is made a Life Senator

III. Party Excitement.-The Mayors' Law Voted by the Chamber.-

Jules Ferry and Gambetta disagree.-Rejection by the Senate of

the amended Education Bill.-Conflict between the two

Chambers.-The 1877 Budget.-General de Cissey resigns and is

succeeded by General Berthaut.-End of the ordinary Session.-

Holidays.-Bye-Elections.-Marshal MacMahon at the Army

Manœuvres

IV. The Vatican Incident.-France and Italy.-Political Speeches.-

The Paris Labour Congress.-The Extraordinary Session of 1876.

-Cessation of Prosecutions subsequent to the Commune.-Fiscal

Reform.-The Budget.-M. Chesnelong becomes a Life Senator.

-The Senate rejects the Bill on the Commune Prosecutions.—

Fall of the Dufaure Ministry ..

CHAPTER IX

THE JULES SIMON CABINET AND THE 16TH MAY

498

. 513

526

I. Reasons for the fall of the Dufaure Ministry.-Last efforts to

bring about the Union of the Centres -Ministerial Crisis.-The

Jules Simon Ministry.-M. Jules Simon and the Chamber.-Cold

Reception from the Left.-M. Jules Simon and M. Gambetta.—

The Financial Rights of the Senate.-The 1877 Budget voted . 542

II. First Acts of the Chamber.-The Administrative Personnel.-

Re-opening of the Session.-Momentary calm-Policy of the Left

Centre.-Gambetta re-elected Chairman of the Budget Com-

mittee.-Tactics of the Extreme Left.-Difficult position of M.

Jules Simon. Ministerial Incidents.-Republican Programme. 566

III. The Religious Question.-Pope Pius IX and M. Jules Simon.-

Easter Holidays

IV. Interpellation concerning Ultramontane Intrigues.-Speeches

from MM. Jules Simon and Gambetta.

V. The Marshal decides to break with the Left Majority.-The

Municipal Organisation Law and the Press Law.

VI. The Letter of the 16th May.-Resignation of the Cabinet.—The

President's Policy

INDEX

591

• 596

609

613

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

E DUC D'AUDIFFRET-PASQUIER (after the painting by Chaplain)

ENRI WALLON (after the painting by Bastien Lepage).

UIS BUFFET (after the painting by Monchablon).

Frontispiece

To face p. 161

367