New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-06-10
THE FRENCH MINISTRY.


THE MINISTRY or THE INTERIOR TENDERED HIM
NJ. JULES SIMON IN Observation-Disclosures TRANS
FER OF THE DUO DECAZGs To BERLIN-TIIE
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CONSERVATIVE AND sA-
GACIoUs.
iron 4 REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
PARIS. May 19.-Immediately after the death of
NJ Ricard, Minister of the Interior. Marshal MacMa-
hon offered the post to NJ Waddington, and used
every imaginable argument 10 induce him to accept
it. Nj. Wadlngton refused, stating that his place
was the Ministry of Public Instruction and that
there he would remain. Two days ago the person
who stands next and nearest to the Marshal spoke
of the incident and of the disappointment felt.
But" said the interlocutor, M Waddngton is "a
firm and convinced Republican, and is by no means
the order of ideas as yoI are at the PreSi-
deucy" "May be-" was the reply; "but he is such
an absolutely honest, upright man thatwc could have
bindy trusted him." Well, ii. Waddington refused,
and the next application made was to Nj. Leon Say
who hesitated! This also would have been ca
lamity. for NJ Say is the very best Minister of
Finance this country can have at the present mo
ment His friends prevailed, however, and n. Say
refused.
This passed during the 81 hours following NJ.
Ricard's death; then-the two Ministers applied 10
having refnscd-M Jules Simon acquainted his
friends in the Ministry with his entire readiness 10
undertake all responsibilities, and had himself put
forward and considered at the Council. But very
few Of those whom he aimed at calling his q" coll
leagues could DO induced to the advantages of
NJ Simon's appointment to the Home Office that, as
the evening journals said, he failed To obtain
majority" NJ de Marcere, be it said at the
time, was the only man whom it was evidently
rational aud right to call upon TO fiji the late Minis
ters place he having aided NJ. Ricard in all the adj
ministratye labors lie left unfinished.
Inc confidence in II. Waddingtou is undoubtedly
very great. Three days preceding NJ. Ricards death
was in the Chamber Of Deputies ut Versailles, and
I'm the tribune next to miLo came 10 pay visit an
extreme Radical Ia man notable for his nblcm-
shcd character. vino spoke OF the Ministry generally.
Naming the Minister Of Public Instruction, he said,
There is a man with whom | have no personal
acquaintance whatever, yet | would blndly trust
HIM and vote with him, because there is something
about him that conyincos me of his unshahable
uprightness."
There is much talk Just now Of other notifications
in the Ministry, and it is very widely limited that
The Foreign Office will not long remain under the
guidance of the Due Dccazes. This has no imInc-
diatc connection with the manner in which NJ.
Dccazes has conducted the exterior affairs o France.
but rests ON more than one private and personal
ground The Minister complains Of impaired health
from ovcrwork, and the enormous expenses Of the
Ministry entailed by official receptions, and the IN
adequate salary given. In all this there is some
truth and it is certain that ambassador with
1000 year can more easily contriyc to live
within his means than a Minister for Foreign Affairs
with lii tie more than Ouc-third Of that sum.
Ii is possible that the Due Decazes may be sent
t. Berlin. since there reasons why the present
occupant of that post should leave IT. When N. de
GOntaut- BroD sent to Berlin, things were III
such state that the primary question was,
Who would consent to be French ambassador at
the Court of tho Emperor William AS usual in
such cases a Lcgtimist found to be the only
Frenchman who could live paridly with any enemy.
provided that enemy were a M0narchst! Nobody
dreams Of asking for capacity-all that was required
was an aristOcratic temperament that Should feel
itself more at home with the German noblcsse, and
in the midst eff a court than with the Democrats of
what is one day 10 be modern France. Thus at
last found in NJ. de Gontaut-Biron, and till now II
has answered very tolerably. But it will longer
be feasible TO retain at Berlin a mere diplomatic
fgurehead. 1t is therefore very possible that the
Due Dccazes may replace NJ. de GOntaut- Biron at
Berlin. and be replaced at the French Foreign Office
by whom7 There is really the grave part of the
business.
The merits of the Due Dccazcs wei under
stood He knows his trade. He knows foreign
countries and foreign tongues; is familiar with the
WORK and with the men that he hhds before him.
This he sud perhaps of no one else save OF the
Marquis de Noailles, Minister at Rome, and two
years ago Minister al Washington. Here also is
man who knows what he would have TO do and how
TO set about it. Were NJ. de hoaillcs 10 be named
Foreign Minister in France, great things might be
iDrosoen, and even reforms, greatly needed, might
be looked forward to in the whole organization Of
diplomacy. a service just now more moldy than
any other. But STILL / hardly think that these
changes can take place before months are over
There is q good deal to regulate and set straight
before coming to Ministers who will b. perhaps fix
lures for years, and the most valuable men of
a nation must not be uselcssy wasted
As to the conduct of the Chamber it contn-
mes to be beyond all praise is also the behavior of
fhe mass Of the people. Every temptation is re-
sisted every trap set by the Royasts and Clericals
/. avoided The amnesty was the first stone against
which it was fondly hoped that the Republicans
woud stumble hut they resolutely decline 10 do
and behave with a fine political judgment that is
worthy of all admiration. They have felt and they
obey the strong and general current OF pubic
opinion. The fate OF the amnesty Is settled, and
the minorties are calculated at between 40 and %
in the Chamber of Deputies and at under 10 in the
Senate.
Yesterday in small group OF Senators lettering
about at Versailles Moderate Republican friend OF
mine went up to his colleague, Challemel-Lacour
supposed to be the fcrcest OF intracabes and said
TO him, jolcngy, "Of course yon going to give
yourself the pleasure of voting the amnesty think
see you alrcadyp Upon which the other. turn
ing round, exclaimed, why, now, whom do You
take me fort | should hope | am too political for
that" Just behind, and close by was standing
Mgr Dupanoup, Bishop of Orleans, talking TO
another small lot of members. At Chaemcl-La-