Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

IMPORTS.

[blocks in formation]

Articles of food

Manufactured goods..
Other merchandise..

By a law of July 24, 1873, on the reorganization of the Army, France is divided into 18 districts, each of which is occupied by an army corps. One army corps, moreover, is organized Raw materials. in Algeria. Each of the 18 army corps consists of 2 divisions of infantry, 1 brigade of cavalry, 1 brigade of artillery, 1 battalion of engineers, 1 squadron of the train, a general staff, and the subordinate staffs. The composition of the Army, in time of peace, will be as follows: Infantry (156 regiments, 505 battalions, 2,445 companies)..

281.601

Total....

EXPORTS.

Manufactured goods...

Raw materials and articles of
food....

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Other merchandise..

66,331

10,960

Total...

9.892

26,407

27,014

490,322

To this number may be added the second division of the yearly contingent, amounting to about 60,000 men, who serve from 6 to 12 months, and swell the number of the Army to 501,007 men. In time of war the Army will be composed as follows:

Field army (divided into 19 army corps and 9 divisions of cavalry)...

3,569,891,000

[blocks in formation]

800,000

Battalions, squadrons, batteries, etc., of the armée

[blocks in formation]

Total

The territorial army.

560.000

Garrison troops of the territorial army.

Corps forestier and douaniers.

20,000
20,000

• EXPORTS.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Raw materials and articles of
food

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

The degree of instruction received by the

"class of 1874" is indicated by the following Other merchandise. table:

[blocks in formation]

The Navy was composed as follows, on January 1, 1877, according to a report submitted to the Chamber of Deputies by the Budget Committee: There were in all 226 vessels; of these 19 were iron-clads of the first class, 10 iron-clads French.. of the second class, 6 iron-clad coasting vessels gardes-côtes), 18 gunboats, 39 cruisers, 40 dispatch boats, 27 transports, 7 torpedo-boats, and 60 sailing vessels. The fleet was manned in 1876 by 48,303 sailors, and 16,000 men marine infantry.

Total.

TOTAL.

STEAMERS.

Vessels.

Tons.

Vessels.

Tons.

18.983 4.884.000

6.277 8.267.000

85,106 8,586,000 16,521 5,676,000 54,059 13,470,000 23,098 8.943,000

The commercial navy on December 31, 1875, was as follows:

[blocks in formation]

The following table exhibits the movements of French commerce from 1859 to 1875:

[blocks in formation]

The foreign countries chiefly interested in the trade of France in the years 1873, 1874, and 1875, were the following:

451,000,000

[blocks in formation]

The commerce of France with its colonies during the same period was as follows:

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

7,018,452

1,029,874

8,047,826

17,461,986

Inland dispatches in 1876..
International dispatches in 1876..
Total dispatches in 1876..
Receipts in 1876 (francs)

On December 31, 1874, there were 529 authorized savings banks. Of these, 159 had 694 branches. Of the 529, 16 had not been in operation during the year and one had not reported, leaving 512 which had reported at that date. The number of books out on December 31, 1874, was 2,170,066. On January 1, 1874, there was due to depositors 535,286,498 francs, and 195,495,861 francs were deposited.

The session of the French Chambers was opened on January 9th. The proceedings were entirely formal, with the exception of a remarkable speech by M. Gaulthier de Rumilly, on taking the chair in the Senate as senior member. He said that, in the course of a long career, he had seen many governments fall which made no account of public opinion. He hoped the Senate, by moderate conduct, would avoid giving occasion to the adversaries of a Second Chamber to say that, since the two Chambers were also in conflict, it was better to have only one. The present ministry, in accord with the Constitutional President of the Republic, had issued a liberal programme. The hope of France was in the loyal execution of this programme, which was the only way to repair the disasters of the insane war of the Empire, and to restore the country to her proper rank among nations. The Duc d'Audiffret-Pasquier was reelected President of the Senate, and M. Grévy of the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate, after adopting the new extradition treaty between Great Britain and France, adjourned, a week later, for an indefinite period.

In the Chamber of Deputies, on January 11th, M. Léon Say, the Minister of Finance, laid on the table his budget for 1878. It included uniform and lower rates of postage, made some change in the tax on lucifer matches, and, finally, abolished the tax on soaps and oils. The expenditure was estimated at 2,785,716,713 francs, and the revenue at 2,971,427,804 francs. On January 25th the Budget Committee was elected in 11 bureaux, into which the Chamber of Deputies is periodically divided by lot. M. Gambetta was elected president of the committee by a vote of 29 out of 32 votes, and, on returning thanks, disclaimed any hostility to the ministry, and said he hoped to be a useful auxiliary to it. On February 5th a proposition in the Chamber of Deputies, by M. Madier de Montjou, repealing the severe Press Decree of January 17, 1852, was adopted; as well as another, supported by M. Jules Simon, temporarily reviving the laws repealed by that decree. The Government, said M. Jules Simon, could not expose itself unarmed to the attacks of the press, but experiments with the freedom of the press must be carefully made. The whole force of law would be exerted to prevent attacks on the Constitution and provoca

tions to civil war. M. Raoul Duval charged the ministry with a change of opinion. M. Simon replied that in different political situations different doctrines might be held. In presence of a strong and despotic government, theories on the press might be discussed. The men of that Government were now a minority, seeking to overturn the established régime. In such a situation, the Government must refuse arms to that militant faction which would use them against the Republic. In view of the law about to be repealed, a humiliating attitude would best become the Bonapartists who passed it. The Chamber would simply revive the law existing under a constitutional system before France underwent the shame of despotism. This speech was applauded by the Left and Centre.

On February 22d M. Simon appointed 53 new sub-prefects, a change of officers which had long been expected, but did not prove satisfactory to any of the parties; the Republicans desiring a radical sweep, and the other parties being opposed to any change. In the Senate, which had met again early in February, M. Dufaur de Gavardie, of the Right, on February 27th, introduced a motion for the dismissal of M. Simon by President MacMahon, on account of the minister's former connection with the International Association. The Senate, however, refused to allow M. de Gavardie to proceed with his motion. The death of General Changarnier created a vacancy among the lifesenators. The Left nominated M. Alfred André, of the Left Centre, and an orthodox Protestant, while all the factions of the Right again, as in 1876, united upon one candidate, M. Dupuy de Lôme, a Bonapartist. The latter was elected, on March 10th, by a vote of 142 to 140. On March 6th the Legitimist organs published a speech delivered by the Count de Chambord, at Goritz, to a deputation of merchants from Marseilles. The speech was as follows:

I thank you, gentlemen, for having felt that you will find, by coming to me, help and counsel amid existing difficulties. You have told me of the disquietudes which paralyze in France the elasticity of public prosperity with a frankness for which I thank you. You have not, moreover, disguised the persistent calumnies which attack truth not less than my honor. Yes, I know it already, people have presumed to say that in order to remain in an easy repose I left France in peril, and renounced all hope of saving her. It is by this detestable falsehood, against which I protest, that the enemies of the tutelary principle of hereditary monarchy keep up doubt in men's minds, trouble and discouragement in their souls. Discouragement, gentlemen-there is the great peril which I point out to you, and which it is necessary to combat. The Revolution is in its proper role in seeking to abuse public credulity; but I remain firm in my rights, and perfectly resolved to do my duty when the propitious hour for my direct and personal action shall arrive. I ask my friends, and all men of good intentions, to pave the way for it and to have confidence. With their cooperation, if it please God, the monarchy will not leave free course either to the ventures of the Empire or the violence of Radicalism, which preludes the triumph of which it thinks itself already assured in insulting all that VOL. XVII.-20 A

a nation is bound to respect, if it will itself be respected-the clergy and the magistracy-that is to say, Religion and Justice, and the Army, that living image of the people and of its honor. As you have come to me, say, on your return, what are the firm resolutions inspired in me by my love for France, and the events which menace her.

On March 16th, the Chamber of Deputies considered the request of the Government for authority to prosecute Deputy Paul de Cassagnac, for violation of the press laws. M. de Cassagnac commenced by charging the Republicans with having, for 80 years, advocated liberty, and in its name overturned all monarchies, and he asked what justification there could be for the Republic if it did not renounce what it considered the mistakes and abuses of monarchy. He admitted that he himself was no partisan of the liberty of the press, but he claimed to be judged by the doctrines of the party in power. Now, the extreme section of that party, having the feeling of reciprocity, and being as ready to receive as to give blows, were against the prosecution, which was supported by the Moderates, who wanted nothing of the Republic but the name. He denied having attacked the Chamber itself, though he had attacked particular Deputies and groups; and, even if otherwise, the Chambers, since 1819, had been sole judges of attacks on themselves. His articles were directed against the Republic as a form of government, but he had always declared that he would respect the existing Government till 1880. He next referred to M. Simon's former advocacy of liberty of the press and other extreme doctrines, and charged him with leniency toward demagogic papers, and he urged that the Marshal and the Senate were attacked with impunity, while the Bonapartists were insulted even in the Chamber. This naturally provoked a certain warmth of language. For putting in practice M. Simon's own doctrines, he was now exposed to 14 days' imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 francs. He hoped that MM. Simon, Ferry, and others who formerly voted against the Rochefort and Ranc prosecutions, would vote against this. He should accept with respect the decision of the Chamber, but if called to appear before the justice of his country he should do so unabashed. M. Simon, in reply, said the question was one concerning the welfare of society, and had nothing to do with the liberty of the press, which is, and will remain, his passion. He asked authorization to prosecute, because M. de Cassagnac had attacked the Government with extreme violence, and had thus committed, through the press, an offense at common law. It was not an offense of doctrine or of thought, but an offense which no Government could tolerate. The prosecution was by virtue of an existing law, which must be enforced till abolished. The articles were full of insults, and might be characterized as inciting to civil war. In reply to the charge that other newspapers were not punished, the minister replied that this was so untrue, that the day on which he asked authorization to

[merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

1. Hôtel de Cluny. 2. Institut de France. 8. Notre Dame. 4. Palais de Justice. 5. Place du Roi de Rome. 6. Avenue Bois de Boulogne. 7. Are de Triomphe. 8. Avenue des Champs Elysées. 9. Parc de Monceaux. 10. Palais de l'Elysée. 11. Palais de l'Industrie. 12. Place de la Concorde. 13. Madeleine. 14. Grand Opera, 15. Place Vendôme. 16. Théâtre des Italiens. 17. Bourse. 18. Palais Royal and Théâtre Français. 19. Tuileries. 20. Louvre. 91. Halles Centrales. 22. Hôtel de Ville. 23. Place Royale. 24. Place de la Bastille. 25. Cemetery of Montmartre. 9. Bassin de la Villette. 27. Custom House. 28. Gare de l'Arsenal. 29. Cemetery of Père Lachaise. 30. Place du Trône. 81. Jardin des Plantes. 32. Wine Market. 33. Collège de France. 34. Sorbonne. 35. Pantheon. 36. Observatory. 37. Luxembourg Garden. 38. Palais du Sénat. 39. St. Sulpice. 40. Corps Législatif. 41. Archiepiscopal Palace. 42. Hôtel des Invalides. 43. Military School. 44. Champ de Mara. 45. Cemetery of Mont Parnasse.

to 197. The minority was composed of extreme Radicals and Monarchists. On March 24th the Chambers adjourned.

Early in April, the Catholic Committee of Paris, a body formed with the permission of the Government five years previously, as a connecting link between a number of Catholic agencies

throughout France, was dissolved by the Prefect of Police, under instructions given by M. Jules Simon. This measure was taken on the eve of the annual Catholic Congress, or general meeting of Catholic committees; but the conference, nevertheless, was opened on April 4th, the precaution having been taken of sending

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »