Page:A Scene from Contemporary History.djvu/5

514 M De La Moskowa—M the President ought to make the Government of the Republic respected in the person of the President of the Republic

M Lepic—The Republic is dishonored!

M De La Moskowa—These gentlemen cry, Long live the Republic, and insult the President

M Ernest Do Giradin—Napoleon Bonaparte has obtained six millions of votes, you insult the elect of the people! (Great agitation on the ministerial benches M the President tries in vain to make himself heard in the midst of the noise)

M De La Moskowa—And from the ministerial benches not a word of indignation bursts forth at such words!

M Baroche, minister for foreign affairs—Discuss,but do not insult

M the President—You have the right to contest the abrogation of article 45 according to law, bat you have not the right to insult! (Applause of the extreme left redoubles and covers the voice of M the President)

M The Minister for foreign affairs—You discuss projects that do not exist, and you insult! (Applause from the extreme left continues)

A Member of the extreme left—It was necessary to defend the Republic yesterday when it was attacked!

M the President—The opposition has affected to cover with applause both mine observation and the observation of the minister which mine had preceded

I said to M Victor Hugo that he has perfectly the right to contest the suitability of demanding the revision of article 45, in terms of law, but that he has not the right of discussing under an insulting form a personal candidateship which is not at stake

Voice from the extreme left—But yes,—it is at stake

M Charras—You have seen it yourself, at Dijon, face to face

M the President—I call you to order here, because I am President At Dijon I respected the proprieties, and I was silent