New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-21
THE FRENCH CRISIS.

Affairs in France, though stormy and per-
turbed do not wear such threatening aspect
as many pessimists would have us believe. NJ.
Theirs loves power; he has power, and
he is not in hurry to suggest or favor
an organic change in the politics of
the country. The agtations of the
past few days are in fair way to subsde
and leave the President nearly as completely
master OF the situation as before Indeed, our
dispatches give no indication of the un-
readiness of the majority of the Assembly to
make reasonable compromise in order that
NJ Theirs may be placated. He may
have been very much in earnest in his latest
threat of resignation; he is certainly ready
to be persuaded that he is so Indispensable to
the welfare of France that his sacrifice Of
personal feeling is once more patriotic offer
ing to the peace and stability of the Republic.
Still, the growth of Republicanism in France
makes it impossible for the Assembly to avoid
the discussion Of constitutional questions.
There are in the country four strong we'll
defined parties-the Republican, the BOnapart-
list, the Orleanist, and tho Legitimist.
In the Assembly, the members are divided
into six factions: The Extreme Right the
Moderate Right, the Right Center, the Left
Center, the Left Republican, and the Union
Republican. OF these, the Republicans taken
together have an misunderstanding and
President having policy acceptable to the
various factions of the Right would fail to
receive the support of sufficient num-
Der of members to enable him TO carry on
the Government. The President has shown
his sagacity, if we fail to give him credit for
u
for Constitutional Republic and the mem
bers of the Left have further been cOnciliated
by his determined attitude of hos
tility to the demands of the Right for
guarantees of extended conservatism.
But the Right are clamOrous for those
guarantees in short, they want decided assu
rance that there shall be no real Republic in
name or in fact. NJ. Theirs, while he has ac-
cepted the Republic, has not done so willingly,
and his notions of Republicanism are so widely
different from those of many even moder-
ate Republicans in France, that it is
not surprising to find members OF the
Left who are suspicious of his motives and
Jealous of his proposed extension Of power.
These, however, are perhaps willing to wait,
and as NJ. Theirs is constantly waiting and
crisis, now imminent and now deferred, is also
postponed. So the temporary, provisional
form of government exists by sullerance; it
may exist long; it may drop to pieces at any
moment.
We must suppose that the immediate object
of NJ. Theirs is not only to secure a new ex-
tension of his powers, but'to have provision
made for the assumption Of those powers by
some subordinate in the Government, in case
of his death, resignation. or removal. That
the first of these desired points is
likely to be reached we must believe.
Whether the elements which wait and watch
for an accidental opportunity to raise the
standard Of royalty viii allow the second
point to be gained without serious turmoil, is
not so sure.s None of the monarchists rim
penalists 50 much as pretend to be ready
now TO advance the claims of their
acknowledgements but TO consent to such a
qualification of power in the head Of the ex-
listing Government as would insure its trans
mission to n qualified successor, they do not
incline. On the other hand, the Republicans
would hardly DO willing TO give NJ. Theirs four
more years in the Presidency without formal