The New York Herald Newspaper, June 9, 1873, Page 3

NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. ~ PRESIDENT FIGUERAS, Spanish Politics and Prospects as Seen by the Republican Executive. COMPOSITION OF THE NEW CORTES. A Herald Correspondent’s Talk with the Head of the New Republic. ALFONSO OR POPULAR GOVERNMENT, Don Carlos Not the Real Choice of the Monarchist Leaders. PEACE AND ORDER UNDER THE REPUBLIC, Sentiments of the European Sovereigns and Their Interest in Spanish Affairs, AMERICA SPAIN’S BEST FRIEND. es A Message Through the Herald to Mil- lions of American Citizens. Mapa, May 15, 1873. Last night, at six o’clock, the general elec- tions throughout Spain were closed. The Assembly, which is to give a new constitution to this disturbed country, is now a reality and will assume a working shape before this letter can appear in the Heratp. Two weeks hence the 387 newly-elected Deputies will meet at the Congreso de los Diputados, in the Carrera St. Geronimo. It can be fairly said that nowhere and at no time have elections been marked by Jess excitement, The conservatives of all shades resolved to abstain from voting, and conse- quently, in Madrid itself, only one-fourth of all the electors exercised their rights, There were many provincial districts where a Deputy was returned by less than two hundred votes, and in one instance nine voters returned a repre- sentative. In fact, the federalists alone went to the ballot urns, and the natural result was that scarcely any except federalist Deputies were elected. A few distant conservative localities, not sufficiently influenced by the party leaders of Madrid, excepted themselves from the rule agreed upon by the main body of the conservatives, and returned some twenty- five Deputies of various retrograde shades—the only opposition elements the federals are to find in the Assembly. To these may be added, as far as the government is concerned, some fifty ultra-socialists, called intransigentes (irreconcilables), which are likely to give some ttouble to Sefior Figueras and his Ministers. But, with some three hundred odd votes in an Assembly of not fully four hundred Deputies, any government might have considered itself all-powerful, except a Spanish one. At all events the President of the Spanish Republic, to judge from his own words, does not con- sider himself safe in any way whatever. In the first place, it must be borne in mind that abstention from voting on the part of the various anti-republican factions means, in this case, much more than it means usually. It is a pure and simple ro- fusal to acknowledge the legality of the elections, and this implies, of course, at some future date, an open revolt against the legisla- tion of the Assembly. Various protests on the part of the anti-republican parties had been already published and some of the leaders of these parties, who had all fled after the events of April 23, intended to form juntas on French soil, passing resolutions and mus- tering forces on the safe side of the frontier. THE MISTAKE OF THE REACTIONISTS, President Figueras, on receiving me on Tuesday, said, with reference to this subject: — “The representatives of conservative opin- ions are acting in’the most foolish and un- patriotic manner. They seem to have learned nothing from past experience. It was at all times the strategy of the conservative oppo- sition in this country to create a vaccuum around the existing power, and the invariable result was that when the power fell it was not to make room for those who created the vacuum, but for the party still more advanced than that which was overthrown. By creat- ing now a vacuum around us they will not open a road to themselves, but to the dema- gogues only; while, by accepting the existing fact of a Spanish, Republic, and by setting at work on the opposition benches they would have balanced the forces and have done certainly more good to the country than they could, perhaps, themselves believe, They are almost sure to cause blood to be shed now, while then they would have been almost as sure to lead the country to order and national regeneration, had they courageously accepted the Republic.” Your correspondent asked the President whether he considered that the anti-republican party had many members whose services could be rendered available by the Republic ? “Certainly,” answered the President, “though it is not particularly pleasant fora republican to make such an avowal; but I cannot deny the fact that the ablost statesmon Spain possesses are in the ranks of the con- gervatives and monarchists. — DIFFICULTIES TO BE OVERCOME. Our party has still }o try ite forges and to show its abilities, We have been as yet neither trganized, nor have we even known each other. I know, for instance, the repub- licans of my province, Catalonia, and they know me, for we were the first to begin the republican agitation as far back as 1840, But we know searcely any- thing about the republicans of other provinces, nor they about us. Con- sequently we have to make each other's ac- quaintance yet, and to try each other’s abili- ties, for scarcely any one of us had occasion to show them—practically, I mean, for in the sphere of theory our party has done some- thing already. The best contemporary Span- ish writers belong to our party; but the most experienced and skilful statesmen must be as yet acknowledged to be in the opposite camp.” a ‘Did the President not think that the new Assembly would be very violent, and render the task of the government a rather difficult one?’’ was the next question put to him by your correspondent, “Well, I think it will be somewhat violent,”” answered Sefior Figueras, “or, at all events, noisy; but I lay great stress on the social law, in accordance with which a given num- ber of violent men being brought together for deliberation are, as a rule, often cooled down and become moderate. The first sittings of the forthcoming Assembly will probably be very stormy, and perhaps appear somewhat wild or ridiculous to Americans and English- men, in whom the practices of Parliamentary debates are more sober. But that won't last long, I hope, and the Deputies will soon seo the need of a more quiet way of transact- ing business. Besides, we shall not be the first to amuse you or call forth your disapprobation in that way, the present French Assembly having, I believe, given a fair example of the difficulty the represen- tatives of the Latin race experience in delib- erating quietly, without smashing everything around them. 4s to the difficulties in our way, they are, of course, incalculable, and I am not quite sure yet that they can be all van- quished. But the most serious of them are not those presented by the general state of the country or those you seem to anticipate from the violence of the new Deputies. To my mind the greatest difficulties must come from the monarchista’ and conservatives’ proceed- ings. They seem to have made up their minds to fight us to the bitter end. THEY ARE CONSPIRING ALL ROUND. Almost every well-to-do house is the centre of some sort of conspiracy at the present moment; and we have great difficulties in avoiding the danger of some of the govern- ment offices becoming similar centres as well. The bank, for instance, is quite unmanage- able. It does..its best to paralyze all the efforts of the government to restore the con- fidence of both Spaniards and foreigners in the financial resources of this country. Still more is the behaviour of some of the officers ofthe army. They are conspiring in ‘broad daylight, notwithstanding all the changes that have been recently made in the personnel of various commands, andin this I apprehend one of our greatest dangers. I could not tell you all the sacrifices the government has made to avoid bloodshed ; yet they are push- ing us to it still. I know for certain that, in many cases, SOLDIERS WILL SHOOT THEIR OWN OFFICERS at ‘the next attempt similar to that of the 23d of April, and every one knows what must then follow. A final blow will be given to the dis- cipline of the army, and no human efforts will be able to prevent the country falling into utter anarchy. And, supposing even that these officers had success and that their soldiers would obey them, how many men could they bring into the field? Certainly not enough to intimidate the republican bat- talions of the National Guards and of the militia. And if they are not intimidated, as were the eleven monarchical battalions on the 234, they will fight desperately, and there will be an end either to them or to the army. ARE THE MINISTERS DEMAGOGUES? The conservatives call me a demagogue; but Ican assure you thatIam no more a dem- agogue than M. Thiers or Mr. Gladstone. I differ from them only in my firm belief that a federal republic is the best form of govern- ment tor Spain. But I believe just as firmly that a federal republic can be established with- out any wild socialistic theories being brought forward. So far, indeed, am I and my col- leagues from being demagogues that it was our sincere wish to bring a hundred or so con- servative deputies into the Assembly, to form a sensible and powerful opposition. The question was deliberated in the Council of Ministers whether we would be right in en- couraging some of the conservatives to come forward and in giving them such support as we could, And if we resolved not to do so it was only because of the attitude of the con- servatives and of the obligations this attitude had compelled us to take towards their ene- mies,”’ CARLISM AND ALFONSISM. Your correspondent asked the President whether ho made any distinction between the various branches of the conservative party, and, if so, which was that he would have thought more fit to help the country out of its difficulties. “For me,” said the President, “there is only one conservative party—that of Don Al- fonso, It is the only one which has some real root in the country and which counts im ite ranks really able men. The Carlists look, of | monarch has ever exercised. But what ‘vourse, more active and more dangerous, and so they are, perhaps. But we know, if strang- “ers do not, that Carlism means at the present moment Don Alfonso much more than it does Don Carlos. I would not be astonished at all if by and by the leading Alfonsoists—almost all of whom are now at and about Bayonne—would begin to, tender actual help to the Carlista; and I know for certain that the leading men of the Carlist party, if they had been asked to ex- press their innermost thoughts, would all de- clare themselves for Don Alfonso. Old Elio, for instance, knows better than any one how far Don Carlos is unfit for the throne, and if he still serves the Carlist cause it is simply out of chivalry and out of old-fashioned loyalty. He served Ferdinand VIL, and ‘Charles V.,’’ and he considers himself bound to serve ‘Charles VIL ;"’ but had you asked him frankly to say whom he preferred to see on the throne of Spain, from the point of view of the country’s welfare, he would certainly say Don Alfonso, About the same thing could be said of Dorre- garay, Lizarraga, Ollo and several other Car- list leaders. All of them were officers in Dofia Isabella's army. Ali of them joined the Carlist party, not because they did not acknowledge her as their Queen, but because they did not wish either to serve the Republic or Amadeo. They would never have fought against Isabella, and would gladly accept her son. In fact, Carlism, properly so called, is strong with the populations of the northern provinces, and by. no means with ite leaders, who know only too well how little the debauched and weak-minded Don Carlos is fit to rule Spain, or even likely to be accepted by any portion of the population as soon as he becomes more known. You said Don Carlos spoke kindly of me and my colleagues when you saw him. Iam, therefore, sorry to say such rude things of him, but I believe I am saying only what is true.” Your correspondent asked the President whether he meant to say%hat Carlist generals were purposely concealing their feelings at present, and were fighting apparently in the cause of Don Carlos, but in reality for the re- storation of Don Alfonso. ¢ “No, that Ido not mean to say,”’ answered the President. ‘They probably believe they fight for Don Carlos, but in reality they are simply fighting for a Spanish King against a Republic now, as they foughtagainst an Italian King a few months ago. But as they have no objections whatever tothe young Don Alfonso, and as, in fact, they must prefer him to Don Carlos, I would not be astonished at all if— should they be successful and the Republic overthrown—they would find. themselves at the head of troops bringing to Madrid Don Alfonso instead of Don Carlos. The rap- prochement which, I hear, is beginning be- tween some of the Carlist and some of the Alfonsist leaders, is an additional ground for my believing a combination of this sort not improbable.”” “So that, practically, you admit the possi- bility of the Republic being overthrown?” asked your correspondent, HOPES OF THE REPUBLIC. “As things are going on now,’’ answered the President, “I must say that I would not deny the possibility of such a thing, though I hope it will not happen, At all events there is this much achieved already, that only two forms of government have henceforth become possible in this country—either a tederal re- public ora constitutional monarchy with Don Alfonso. This is a great gain. A short time ago we had about a dozen combinations equally considered as possible. The thing has now be- come considerably simplified. Yet Don Alfonso, though his chances of coming to power are great, cannot last long. His reign would he merely a short adjournment of the Republic. In thinking this I do not lay stress alone on the pro- gress which republican ideas are daily making in this country, ,butalso on some of the unavoidable consequences of the Prince’s coming to the throne. It will be impossible, for instance, to admit the Prince alone to Spain. Ifhe should enter the country as its sovereign his family would naturally come with him, and in a few days after the cere- monies and festivities Madrid would have the King and his friends, a Regent or a Regency, with a party to it; Dofia Isabel and her party, Dofia Christina and her party, the Dwke of Montpensier and his party, and 80 on. They would all endeavor to have the upper hand in the councils of the King, would all turn deadly enemies to each other, conspire against each other and equally con- tribute, each and all, to the overthrow of the King and a new general flight of all of them from Spain. The foreign Powers are now ex- changing diplomatic despatches with refer- ence to the Republic. They are, of course, anxious to seea monarchy re-established in this country, because they don’t know any- thing about the real state of our parties and the condition of Spain. Insisting still on a monarchy, they do not, however, object as strongly as they did formerly to a republic, provided this republic is called conservative and is copied from what M. Thiers has estab- lished on the other side of the Pyrenees. The old gentleman has managed to reconcile the European potentates with this form of govern- ment and has made them understand that republic is not necessarily anarchy, and that it can even be the rule of an uncrowned chief of the Executive as despotic ag any crowned they cannot make up their minds about is the word ‘federal’ They don’t know exactly what it means, but they think it must mean something very undesirable, They don’t take the slightest notice when they are told that America and Switzerland are republican fed- erations. They simply answer you, ‘The cases are quite different there,’ and they think they have said everything and refuted all arguments you may adduce. & SOLICITUDE OF THE CRSARS. “The other day the two Emperors paying each other compliments at St. Petersburg, did our Minister at that Court the honor of talk- ing to him. They said they greatly desired safety and order should be restored in Spain and bloodshed ended. The Minister answered them that the Spanish government was doing its best to achieve these ends. But I said to my friend, Sefior Castelar, on receiving the report of this conversation, that if I had been in the place of. the Spanish Ambassador I would have answered their Majesties that we had as much safety and order as ever, and that we have had no blood- shed at all, even not so much as there was the other day in Frankfort, or as thero is always in Russia whenever a dozen people assemble to discuss any public grievance and whole regiments are sent out to ‘restore order.’ “My poor friend Sefior Castelar, who is very impressionable, as you know, is getting quite nervous under the influence of the in- formation he gets from our Ministers abroad. Tt looks as if we were going to receive some strong worded notes one of these days on the subject of the word ‘federal’ as com- pared with ‘conservative,’ and I am very glad that the Assembly will probably meot by the time we receive these documents.” Sefior Figueras mentioned some of the measures already taken by the government of the Republic, and which ought to have in- spired the foreign Powers with some confi- dence in the future of Spain as far as peace and order were concerned, and his incidentally mentioning the recent publication of the budget led the conversation to THE QUESTION OF FINANCES, “This is, I acknowledge,” said the Presi- dent, “‘our weakest point; and, assuming that Ispeak to you not as the President of the Spanish Republic, but simply as Sefior Figue- ras, I would say that our financial position can certainly be much improved by ourselves, but that a complete financial regeneration of Spain is possible only with the aid of America. It would be too long now to explain to you my views on this question. The recep- tion room at the Presidencia must be already full, and people must get impatient about my not coming; but if you call any evening we will have a quiet talk about this, as well as many other subjects, We all know in Spain that the only true friends we have are the Americans, and I know that talking to a Henaup representative is the same as talking to several millions of American citizens, SoI shall always be glad to have a talk with you, for we don’t want to conceal anything, and hope that the more Spain and’ the Spanish Republic are known the other side of the ocean the better it will be for everybody, CUBA. “But do not suppose that, when I say that American enterprise and American gold can alone regenerate the finances of Spain I mean in any way to allude to Cuba. That island must be left quite out of the question at the present moment. As both Carlist and Alfonsist leaders told you, so must I tell you, too, that no government will dare, at the present moment, to propose -any arrangement affecting in any way the, in- tegrity of Spanish territory; and this was one of the reasons for my having put so much ‘territorial integrity,’ as you said, in my official answer to General Sickles the other day. Our enemies were spreading rumors that we were arranging the sale of Cuba in an underhand manner, and I had to answer them. My private conviction is that Cuba is lost for us, and that ino quarter of a century every Spanish peasant will firmly believe that Cuba’s joining the States was quite a natural thing, as he now believes it to be the most un- patriotic and criminal idea ever conceived. But my personal opinions on fature events have nothing to do with the political opinions of the present President of the executive power of the Spanish Republic. When we meet again we may talk a little more on this subject; but nowI must wish you goodby, and if Iadd here our customary ‘Esta casa esté 4 su disposicion de V., don’t take it fora mere formal compliment.’’ It may be mentioned here that the Prestdent received your correspondent at his private house in the Calle del Salud at half-past six in the morning. Like M. Thiers, the President of the Spanish Republic is a very early riser, and his official hours of reception at the Presidencia aro from seven to eleven A. M. He receives only very few visitors at his little private residence, which he has not changed since he became President for any of the numerous unoccupied government palaces. And the President's cabinet, where the inter- view took place, is ag unpretentious and quiet s room as that of a German student of law or philosophy, whose parents are able to give him fifty thalers a month. The St. Louis Wm, L. Barry, of nenbu tch recently had a visit ‘rom ashville, Who was born in Lu- county, Va, tn 17! ¢ three of aie and the Despatch says that up to one r ago he had worked at the printers’ case sigce 1798, OF @ period Of seventy-five years, THE EVE OF TH DELUGE. Choosing the New President of the French National Assembly. FRANCE DANCING ON A VOLCANO. Prudent Parisians Placing Their Treasures Beyond the Reach of Revolution. IN THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. Party Leaders and Public Men, as Seen by , the Way and in Their Seats. IN THE PRESS LOGE. Dropping the Balls Which Elect M. Buffet as Successor to M. Grevy. Panis, May 21, 1873, Forty-seven years ago, when Louis Philippe gave a magnificent ball at the Paiais Royal, while political affairs, which so shortly found tneir vent in the Revolution of July, were almost at boiling point, witty M, Salvandy described the exact position in his phrase, Nous dansons sur un vol- can (We are dancing on @ volcane). If M. Salvandy could return to life he might repeat his witticism at thismoment, Paris is full, the boulevards teem with busy, brilliant throngs. Every possible American intonation, from the high-pitched sing- song ofthe New Englander to the interminable draw! of the West, can be keard in the courtyard and the corridors of the Grand Hotel; crowds of English men and women, alike conspicuous for the eccentricity of thelr toilets, hang about Meurice’s and the Rue de Rivoli; even the hated Germans are once more to the fore, and some of the finest equipages and some ofthe loveliest, golden haired ladies to be seen in the Bois are, you will find on inquiry, the property of gentlemen of Teutonic origin. The theatres are doing well; Mabille and Asnitres are looking forward to an excellent sea- son, and the pavement outside the principal casés is so beset during the evening that it is with the greatest difficulty, and only after squeezing in between the old Frenchman, décoré and reading the Temps, and the tall Briton, who er- ders “Quelque c¢ognac—brandy, you know— et un boetail de soda water.” Yet you can obtain a seat. Life is here in its gayest, brightest, most sensuous aspect. En avant, mes amis! Allez tou- Jours, la jeunesse. Make hay while the sun shines— and yet—and yet—how about that volcano? Let us look at what commercial men call the “per contra’’ side of the ledger! Over to home life of Paris, net that expressed in flaring boulevards or teeming hotels, but over the domestic hearth, the mer- chant’s counting house, the sober citizen’s home, hangs THE LURID SHADOW OF THE RED FIEND, bearing in one hand a musket, in the othera torch. In the ears of thousands of men, prudent but ‘not timid, provident but not terror-stricken, the first rumbling of the volcano, shell-filled and petroleum-cbarged, is already beginning to sound- If you can believe the rnmors which greet you in well informed circles, large sums of money and valuables of ail kinds are being sent daily, for safe keeping, to Belgium and England; in many families preparations for the immediate transport of women and children to the same retreats are compjete. The Bourse is agitated, merchants shake their heads, declining to look at big ventures, and @ deputation of bankers has watted on M. Thiers, telling him that if there is the slightest interrup- tion of order and tranquillity it will be impossibie to find that last milliard of indemnity money, the payment of which is to set the soil of France free from foreign occupation. If this expected tragedy is to take place, its last act, with all its dread ac- compantments, will be played in the streets; mean- while the scene of action now lies in the Assembly, at Versailles. Let us take a glance at it. WAITING FOR THE TRAIN. It is twelve o'clock, Tuesday morning, and the station of the Versailles Railway (Rive Droite) is humming like a hive of bees. Private carriages, bired coupés and Victorias keep dasning up and depositing thelr occupants at the steps of the gare in the Rue St. Lazare. But few persons in the con- dition of him after whom tie street is named are to be seen, but Dives is well represented. The foreign pleasure-seekers usually to be found here enroute to Versailles or St. Cloud are quite swal- lowed up in the immense throng of Deputies, jour- nalists, secretaries and imtercsted men of politics, who surge restiestly hither and thither, ticket- taking, news-seeKking, note-comparing. The train does not start till half-past twelve, but the know- ing ones have gone early, some to secure good places, others to get a comfortable stare at the celebrities, Ha! a point of interest, at last! The crowd converges and forms a little circle round two men, who haye just exchanged salutations—two men O/ very different classes, apparently, TWO PARTY LEADERS. =~ Who is this fat, gross man of middle height, with reddish-brown complexion and decidedly red nose, with a queer louche, or cock-eye, which gives him a halfjovial, hall-sinister expression—this man with the curly-brimmed, grease-stained hat, the tortoise-shell double eyeglass hanging loose round his neck, the shining coat and the full trousers, into the pockets of which his hands are thrust up to the wrists? This is Léon Gambetta, the terror of the Right, the hope of the Left, the one man who is supposed to be able to establish a real republic, untainted by Orleanism, Sonapartism or priestcraft, in France. The gentle- man with whom he is in conversation, the Duc d’Audiffret Pasquier, the leader of the Right, dii- fers from Gambetta almost as much in appearance asin politics, He is a small, gentlemanly-looking man, neatly dressed, with well cut features and gray side whiskers. Fire and water are as likely to mingle well as these two men; but they are polite and even pleasant to each other, and, with a Paillasse-like leer upon his face, the ex-Dictator pays his opponent a“compliment:—‘Pour moi, M. le Duc,” says he, ‘si jamats je deviens quelque chose, je ne veur le devenir quiavec vous!” (“If ever | hold any position, Duke, I hope to have you in the same beat with me!) And those who hear the little speech laugh and applaud, and the doors are opened for the train, and the Duke takes the arm of M. Ségur and makes fora carriage, Ah! the charming influence of politica on domestic life! The Duke is the brother-in-law of M. Casimir Perrier, and lives in the same house with him; and, during the last few days, since M. Perrier has taken office under M, Thiers, the brothers-in-law have not spoken to each other. NOTABILITIRS AS SEEN FROM THE GALLERY. Well placed at last, mon ami/ The railway jour- ney to those who know it well is not amusing, and the long wait in that antichamber listening to the monotonous cry of the ushers—‘‘Messteurs, 8’ vous plait, si vous navez pas de billets, dans la salle Wattente’’—became horribly wearisome. Though there were types of character to be seen even there—the fat French tradesman, probably @picier, who neglects his business for politics; the old lady with the red face and strong, gray beard; the swarthy Gascon, who is probably @ Gambetta sympathizer, and the trim- ‘waisted dandy officers. However, we are dut of that purgatory at last and comfortabiy seated in the loge appointed for the use of the gentlemen of the pres, in the very centre of the second gallery of the grand theatre of the palace, in which the meetings of the Assembly are now held, The vast central space of the parterre is appropriated to the seats and desks of the Deputies, while the galleries, divided into boxes, are given up to privilegea spec- tators. There are many ladics present, but, as is usually the case, the study of politics does not seem to find favor with the real belles, In the first bal- ae a TT CE a ee ee ET a Te Sony, just delow us, is a group of officers in unfe form—Count De Beaumont, brother-in-law to Maré shal MacMahon ; Admiral Kranz, and Colonel Favre, On the extreme left, and close to what we must calk the stage, sits an old man in clerical costume, with & Wrinkled benevolent face and white hair combed over his forehead, This is the celebrated Monsel- gneur Dupanioup, Bishop of Orleans. He is talking with an elderly gentleman who evidently makes the best fight he can against his age and feeblenesa, In a closely buttoned frock coat, a neat gray wig and smooth white mustaches, thiaman scarcely gives you the idea of having at one time wielded immense power and infivence. He looks Itke some elderly Aaneur of the Boulevards, not what he really is— General Changarnier! Against our left-right (which is, of course, to the left of the tribune and the Pres- ident’s chair), 1mmediately at the foot of one of the columns, is M. Ranc—a republican celebrity, just elected for Lyons where M. Barodet was re- turned for Paris—a grave man, with pale, bloodiess face, thick dark hair, short grizzled beard. Just passing him by is little Louis Blanc, much bent and aged since we first knew him, an exile but a welcol guest in London saioons, In contrasg to him Ys the imperialist, M. Rouher, tall and burly, with a certain amount of dignity and gentiemaniye bearing, Gambetta is seated on one of the front benches, with his handy—when in panera stomach, When in conversation he flaps the! here and there, like the fins of a turtle, DROPPING THE BALLS. While we have been looking around the Deputies! have been called npon by the Vice President, M. Bes noit d’Azy, to proceed to the election ofa presidente by ballot, The urns stand one on either end of thet tribune, Each Deputy as he ascends the stepe takes a balloting ball from the clerk, drops it inon@ ofthe urns and descends the stepsat the other ends! The contest lies between M. Buffet, the conserva- tive candidate, and M. Martel, who is openly sup ported by the ministry, Among the Deputies ares two gentlemen of dark complexion, one with long, white hair; tho other, an unmistakable ‘colo! brother,” grizzly wool, lark heels and all, Theset are from the colonies. REPORTERS COMPARING NOTES, While the tedious ceremony is going on there iat much amusing talk in our “reporters’ gallery,’? the most noticeable occupant of whichis a mam, with a heavy face and an immense head of haife Thisis a certain M, Germain Casse, formerly the favorite pupil of the Pere Lacordaire, who, indeed, addressed to him his celebrated ‘‘Lettres & um Jeune Home.” But M, Casse has forgot ten) his priestly instruction and cast aside. his former faith, and is mow one of the most noted contributors to sucht journals ag the Rappel and the Corsaire, M. Cassey M. Robert Mitchell (a Frenchman, though with sucty an English anme) and their colleagues have plenty! of anecdotes to relate and persons to discuss. One declaresthat in his new electoral preject M. Thiers! decrees that no one shall be President who has not attained forty years of age. This is accepted aa directly aimed at M. Gambetta, whose age is thirty~ seven. Another has been that merning. with M. Emile de Girardin, and heard him say that the great fault of all the French leaders, from ML) Guizot to M. Thiers, had been that they occuptedl themselves entirely with the Assembly and gave no thought to the country; like actors, they, provided the pit applauded them, care nothing for the storm which may be raging outside. The newly appointed Ministers receive their share of discussion. M. Béranger, the new Minister of Public Works, is satd to be an eminent lawyer, but quite strange to his oficial duties, M, Waddinge ton, just created Minister of Education, is sixty two years old, a philosopher and a professor In the Ecole Notmale of the Collége de France. He ig considered eminently unpractical, and has no au-| thority in the University. r CHOICE OF M, BUFFRT—POSTPONEMENT OF TOM CATASTROPHE, Now the balloting is nearly at an end, curiously. enough the last man to record his vote being the Minister, M. Casimir Perrieg, who as he crosses thé! tribunal is received with siiOuts of ‘An, van! tous Joursen retard (always late)! voila un Minisira @étourdis! The balloting urns are then handed over to the scrutineers, and speedily we learn that M. Buffet has been elected by a large majority. Me Dufour then ascends the tribune, and on behalf of the Ministry adjourns the debate till Friday, 80 that we have still forty-eight hours, dering which to dance on our volcano, EDMUND YATES, THE FLAMES RAGING, eects Half a Dosen Serious Fires Yesterday in the City—A Loss of $150,000 on Sullivan Street and Minor Amounts in Other Localities. A fire broke out yesterday morning in the ream of Nos. 7%, 74 and 76 Sullivan street that caused damage of about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The building was totaly destroyed, in~ volving @ loss of about fifteen thousand dollars om the construction. ‘The houses in the rear belong to the New York Pie. Manufacturing Company, and the loss upon them is estimated at $6,000; insured. The flames caught the building No, 70 Sullivan street, a three stor frame building, the property of Mr. Brooks, and caused a damage of $300; insured. From there they travelled to No. 216, rear of the sam@ namber (216) in Spring street, and burned the prop- erty, valued at No. 22 Clark street, a three sto) brick building, the property of Andrew Blakely, © was ree vs ‘by the and damaged to the extent ol No, 24, in the same street, the pro erty ot Dr. Gibbs, was injured to the extent of $: No. 26, belonging to the Corperation of Trinity Church, was damaged to the amount of $300, No. 64 Sullivan street, a four story brick, owned bj Mrs, Watson, sust loss of The first floor of thi ip by Thomas a, whose loss is estimated at $5005 insured for $1,500 in the Exel . Shortly alter: the fire broke out Superintendent Matsell arrived on the ground and took chal Of the police. He sent Captain McCullough to the block on Macdou- gal street witha sq of aa and the property on that side wus protected. the thirty-sevem’ horses that were 10 the stables when the fire broke out but seven were saved. The carcasses of the other animais were buried beneath the smoulder-, ing remains yesterday afternoon, an je the, point of attraction of thousands of visitors durt the day. Most of the horses were burned in ti stalls, and the sufferings of the poor creatures, were agonizing in the extreme. hae Nias ed nume ber of them fell as they stood, their sking 1d to leather before they died irom tha suffocating heat. Fire Marshal Sheldon arrived at the fire me ey after it broke out, and directed the movements of aids in Gear the extent of the losses and insurances. The pie , in which: the fire broke out, was in the store on Sullivam street. An alleyway led from the street—the man- ufactory proper—and through this entrance all the ‘wagons and conveyances of the establishment had to pass, It is very narrow, and great dificuity was at all times experienced in getting the carte. out, ‘The public in the neighborhood denounce the Fire Department fiercely. Itis said that owing ‘a the non-ringing of the bells nothing was known of the fire for some time after it broke out, and evem then the engines were slow to arrive at thi One most distressing feature of the conflagr: ig that the most severe losers are the poor n families living around the ple factory, Their rooms and furniture were injured by fire and water, and they are entirely uninsured. A most suspicious circumstan in regard to the fire came to surface last night but Fire Marshal Sheldon did not make any arrest hoping that the testimony he held at any time to bring the pre case. He will open an invest! Captain McColl with reserves from the Fou cincta’ was on duty duriug the dre, and. protected cine! pro’ the property from molestation. Other Fires. A fire was discovered ia the dry goods store 9 Canal street, yesterday afternoon, that caused @ damage of $100; insured tor $6,000 in the Peopie’ty or Pacific, Insurance Company. ‘The awning at 72 Second avenue caught fire yete terday afternoon, and caused a loss of $100, At twelve o'clock yesterday fire was discovere® in the awning in front of 133 Liberty street. The damage done amounted to $150. io the tenement house 452 West Twenty-seven: a jt Lee] a0, yesterday afternoon caused a damage of $2 A fire broke out yoneen morning on the of No, 333 West Twenty-firs oan ‘occupied itzsimens as @ livery stable. ae. ie rowe out penton afternoon at No. Aino rant ar tee oo ‘clocl in‘the three wor brick Duulding No, 18, Bast nd street, tl ee fhre occurred yesterday, at Blevent®® street; #1 A Ake. DHOKS out yesterday morning at Ne 198) maloen ave that uscd 6 damage of $600