The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-04
The Flaw in the French Republic.


How long would the people OF the United
States tolerate government under which
not merely Federal officers. but all State
and local authorities including the Mayor
OF every city and the municipal officers of
every town.were the appointees, aud there
| fore the creatures, OF the President should
we not account the name of republic dis
honored IL II were used to cloak such arbi-
trary aud offensive powers. and the scheme
of universal suffrage mockery If il refused
to recognize local self-goverumeut rs its
primary and essential aim? Yet this Is
precisely the state of things which has
existed during the IMAGINATION regime IN
the so-called republic of France aud which
bill lately proposed by the new Ministry
seeks, with small prospect OF success, to
reform.
1t is a significant fact, some would say
decisive, as regards the capacity of tho
French people for self-government, that
while the enjoyment of the right OF suf-
frage has undergone progressive extension
throughout a century Of revolution and
experiment, its field OF exercise, or tho
substantial value OF the right, Is In some
respects more contracted than under the
old BOURBON monarchy. The principle of
local self-government had solid foothold
in the ancient regime. Hampered us the
franchise doubtless was by property quan-
fications. and often restricted to trade cor
porations, the privileges It conferred were
real and highly priced, since in almost
every French city the executive officer.
Mayor, Consul or echevin, was designated
hxyf ha ,. H..
Under that system. municipal concerns
were In the hands of small body Of cleo
tors, but this was at all events composed
of citizens Identified with the interests,
and sensitive TO the opinion, of their town.
1t was not likely that the Constituent As
sembly OF 1879, called to bestow on whole
nation franchises, before confined to one
or another class, would begin by mutllat-
ing their substantial value. Quite the
contrary; the privileges enjoyed by the
most favored city were extended to every
commune or parish throughout the king
dom, the administration of municipal or
parish affairs being condded to Mayor
who was to be elected by universal suf-
frage. For few years France was suffered
to exercise the right of local self-govern-
hitAt III bht NlAAc uhl uDoollllt sturt WHICH
We give to the phrase in the United states
aud she has never exercised it since
Undermined and crippled by the Direc-
tory, the system OF indepen lent communal
administration was annihiIated under the
Consulate aud the Empire. la the form
of government inaugurated by NAPo-
LEON, Mayors and municipal council
lors stll figured, but there was no
longer any pretence of election, all
such officers being appointed by the
First Consul, or by his delegate, the Pre-
feet Of the province. With so perfect n
scheme OF Capitalization, we can under
stand the almost total suppression of pop
ular discomfort until the final collapse OF
the First Empire; nor is it surprising that
the reactionists, who controlled the legis-
latures of the Restoration, should have re-
fused to surrender an instrument so well
calculated To further their designs. But on
the accession of LorIs PHILIPPE II long
step was taken toward the reastablishment
of local liberties. Not only was it decided
that the municipal council should be
elected by the inhabitants Of n commune,
but the King was obliged 10 select the
Mayor from among the members of that
body. II Is not 10 be forgotten. however,
that AZ this period the basis OF the suffrage
was n property publication, tempered
with the addition Of certain categories,
the so-called Capacities which substan-
TALLY conceded with the learned profes-
siOns.
When the revolution Of 1913 had restored
universal suffrage, and was proceeding 10
readjust political institutions in harmony
with that principle II was loudly affirmed
that the appointment Of Mayors could log
icaly no longer be surrendered to the CEN
trail power, but must be vested in the mu-
nicipal council, if not directly in the resi-
dent voters, ma is the case in tho United
States. Strange TO say, a difference in
opinion revealed itself in debate even
among republicans, some distinguished
members Of the Left predicting that no
Government would be able to maintain
itself without hold on the local admins
trations. Communal independence, how
ever, received provisional aud partial sane
ton, but before dennitve law could be
enacted the coup d'Gidt of ISL put an end
to the Assembly aud to progress in this di-
rection.
The Second Empire dealt with this as
with other popular liberties, liouting ana
spurnrng them while il knew itself to be
strong, cringing aud trucking to them in
us day of weakness. BY the Constitution
OF le52, tho Government at once resumed
the appointment OF the Mayors through
OUT the HiVD communcs Of France, claim
ing the right Of selecting them, moreover,
outside OF the communal councils Whom
wendd That the latter bodies under law
OF ls15' could be superseded by an arbi-
tIary commission, II will be seen that tho
aims and processes Of the First Empire
were faithfully copied by tho nephew of
his uncle. Neither ia much credit due TO
the OLIVIER Ministry Tor "a law reyertng
to the policy of compromise pursued by
LOUIS PuIILPPE, when VIC consider the date