n the Assembly the
monarchists outnumbered the republicans five to two, and, although the
members had been chosen primarily for their opinions relative to peace
rather than to constitutional forms, the proportion throughout the
nation was probably about the same. The republican outlook, however,
was vastly improved by the fact that the monarchists, having nothing
in common save opposition to republicanism, were hopelessly disagreed
among themselves.[452]

[Footnote 451: G. Weill, Histoire du parti
republicain en France de 1814 a 1870 (Paris,
1900).]

[Footnote 452: Of pure Legitimists there were in
the Assembly about 150; of Bonapartists, not over
30; of Republicans, about 250. The remaining
members were Orleanists or men of indecisive
inclination. At no time was the full membership of
the Assembly in attendance.]

*327. The Rivet Law, 1871.*--As, from the drift of its proceedings, the
royalist character of the Assembly began to stand out in unmistakable
relief, there arose from republican quarters vigorous opposition to
the prolonged existence of the body. Even before the signing of the
Peace of Frankfort, May 10, 1871, there occurred a clash between the
Assembly and the radical Parisian populace, the upshot of which (p. 303)
was the bloody war of the Commune of April-May, 1871.[453] The
communards fought fundamentally against state centralization, whether
or not involving a revival of monarchy. The fate of republicanism was
not in any real measure bound up with their cause, so that after the
movement had been suppressed, with startling ruthlessness, by the
Government, the political future of the nation remained no less in
doubt than previously it had been. Thiers continued at the post of
Chief of the Executive, and the Assembly, clothed by its own
assumption with powers immeasurably in excess of those it had been
elected to exercise, and limited by no fixed term, gave not the
slightest indication of a purpose to terminate its career. Rather, the
body proceeded, August 31, 1871, to pass, by a vote of 491 to 94, the
Rivet law, whereby the existing regime was to be perpetuated
indefinitely.[454] By this measure unrestricted sovereignty, involving
the exercise of both constituent and legislative powers, was declared
by the Assembly to be vested in