New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-29
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
POLITICAL, STRATEGY AT VERSAILLES.


TATOR HIS INFLUENCE WITH THE SENATE
CHECKED-PUBLC OPINION FELr-THE NEW
MINIsTERs-M. SAYS SUCCESS AS MINISTER OF
CHARACTERIZATION NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BY NJ wADDINGTON, THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC
INsIRUCTIoN-THE CLERICAL PARTY AROUSED
iFRoM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUSE.l
PARIS April 1O.-If the Republic will but show
little wisdom the triumph WILL / believe be COM
plete, but the wisdom must be proved. Now the
great fear that the Republicans have OF Gambetta Is
not that he should become too tame and play INTO
tho hands of the Government, but that lie should
aspire to become real dictator over the entire mass
of the Republican factions, SO as to transform the
into one vast army, with himself as generan-chief
at It's head. 1t is just possible that these suspicious
may have pointed at what was real danger
When the elections were over and the two Chambers
consolidated il became evident that the same split
ting up into small Tor comparatively smalD frag-
ments which took place i'll the former Assembly had
already taken place in the present one Perhapst
is exactly this which guarantees safety ana the en-
durance of the Republic The leadership OF one
man. be he ever so great-be he Cavour be he Bis
marck-is a thoroughly aristOcratic and Old world
proceeding, and not in accordance with modern re-
publican forms. But that it is stronger and more
expeditive mode of action no one can doubt win
an Assembly divided into half dozen or dozen
certain and ever equal majority, and the most
heterogeneous alliances may be produced on every
separate debate but you thoroughly escape the III
convenience of party becoming petriied in the des-
potic hand of one man, and abdieaing its own vaTl-
Gus tendencies in favor Of the stcr monotonous rule
of its tyrant by the splitting up OF parties INTO
fractions you make parliamentary government lar
less easy undertaking than il is III the British House
of Commons, for instance but you obtain more lie
and far of the genuine essence of representa-
tive institutions. This amply shown by the late
Assembly at Versailles, for so various were It's eie
ments aud so little discipline there that all its
important decisions took in turn every so-called
"chef" by surprise.
Gambctta naturally enough, and like all predom-
nant individuals thinks this uncertainty of action
n serious defect and dreams of the Republic con-
dcnsng itself into one single logical and consistent
power He fails to that true democracy IN our
modern world does not mean "A Force putting down
all others, but a widely spread ponderation oil
Forces, each equal Ia the other and prevailing by
turns Tie ideal of Ganbetta is an od-fashoned
one though he does not know H. and there is IN fact
but little difference between the leadership lac
pres to and the ideal Of the Patriot King of the
last century in England.
But here has lain the whole meaning OF the discus
sions Of the list week ten days Glmbeta sought
20 unite together Ohll III vi illc
Lower Chamber. but all those Of TIM Upper and
Lower Chamber togcthcr-a most incorrect attempt
from a political point of view. and impossible to
carry out practically In reality it a simple rc-
version 10 the plan of legislative body which is
thoroughly adverse 10 the principles OF Tie tousttu-
ton. However. he lost not day In trying to accom-
pli.h this and has utterly failed Lesser men, such
as Jules Ferry. Paul Bethmont, and Others have
beaten him just because they have with them
the really democratic tendencies Of their time and
that he is working hack to pcrsontcati0n of Sow
cIcipnIowcr which is, under no matter What name, a
thing Of the past. Gambctta has not Increased bis
inliucge by his late campaign.
Al this IL neyerthoie.s extremely lucky, for
il sets aside all attempts at personal govern
mcnt. or personal pressure. such as France sui-
fcred fIom uudcr the Due dc Broglle or NJ. Buffet
There will be no question matters now
stand of any Rest and De- thankful for French
policy or politicians The Government viii be on
its Trial every day Of its life and VIII have u do
what the tendencies of the require or tn resign
As Gambctta has been mubbed because he iried 10
20 his own way, the Ministers VIII he plnishei
if they don't 20 the way OF the nation. But me III
calcuable benefit that ia working ITSELF ont oil an
this is that at last France is beginning to kno"
what - meant 10y the word "publlc opinion mat
mysterious. inpaipable power, above all parties
hundred wears under the name OF public opinion
France has obstinacy, stolidly ignored IT MI the
present hour. Now it Is making itself fat. and
the present Ministry are doing their best to agree
with II.
The first net of the Ministerial programme. the nj
tcratios in the public iunctlonarics, ehrHy pre-
fec,s has been performed according to strictly con-
sttutional principles, and the men who replace the
nr.f,ctg of the qoarerRmct H. combat are all without
cvccpti5n men wha stand their own merits
solely. ana have nothing for which to thank favor
i,isn or fashion.
Tho three Ministers from whom the most has to he
expected are thoso of Finance. Public Works, and
Public Instruction. Or the hfst, tlero IL Only
uroiso 10 lie given. Look at his Budset-pan just
laid on the table of the House. After the fifth year
following on such war as the last, and such almost
unbeard of dsa,ters not only ia further increase
of taxation required but tine sum of 97,0O0,O0O
francs is devoted 10 the wants Of the public service
from the present revenue. This is fact that de-
LIGHTS every one, for of the obstacles opposed till
now TO every fresh enterprise progress was
"TLerc j. no money!" This objection will no longer
bc a,pcabe hcnceiorh What should also not he
lost sight of is that. besides having raised money
sufficient TO cover all the current needs Of the conn
ire flo enormous debt owing 10 the Bank of France
has been diminished by very nearly miIliard
Consequently. after six years Of struggling, TINS
peopie has achieved not only an equilibrium in the
Hudget but a relative surplus, and all this by the
mere DEVELOPMENT of its natural power. It's inherent
wealth. in other words, its unlimited productivity
# Say ia at tho very head and 'front.' of fortunate
ministers: he has done more than could be expected
Of him.
ne 81 Cbristopllc little is known and vast