New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-24
THE FRENCH PREMIER.
NJ SIMON AS A RESPONSIBLE MINISTER.


BIZ SEEKING THE PRESIDENCY.
fyRON A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNK'I
PARIS, Feb. 5-The situation politically here rests
now whole and entire upon jules Simon ana TOT 'ne
moment upon him alone His character ana proo-
able aims are the points which at this moment DC
cupy every political thinker in France. In this
respect Jules Simon has practically succeeded
NJ. Theirs Since the fall of NJ Theirs, on the 24th
of May, 1873, one has ruled. The Duo de
Brogie's influence was destroyed the day that the
Royalist- Fusion plot defeated by the Comte de
Chambord's stubborn refusal to recognize the
truths of modern times Having attained
power by a monarchist scheme, NJ. de Broglle
fell TO the ground the moment the royal
ist plot was frustrated. In that extremity
he and a fair majority of the Assembly OF 1871 set
up the Septennate one of those devices by which
every one of those who voted 1t sought 10 disguise
something which he did not dare openly name
But as after NJ de BrOglies overthrow the deterhi-
nation still existed in the majority to resist the
defnitve establishment of the Republic, NJ Bunet
was put at the head OF what had been NJ lie
Broglie's Ministry In March, 1873, the new Prime
Minister greeted his so-calcd majority with an in
augural speech. in which he plainly told them no"
incurabe was his dislike for everything in the shape
of Republicanism NJ Buffet was. however much
further from power, from anything akin 10
genuine rule than had been the Due de Broglle'
From that hour till the elections of 1S7o-16, ana
the convOcation of the two new houses In March Oh
last year, the government of this country was one
scene of perpetual internal conflict Everybody
was pulling different ways, and the life OF the nm
fortunate Marshal President was that OF martyri
all the more cruel that his hOmey, honest num-
drum nature was absolutely incapable OF TAKING III
the sense of what was going on around HIM. "heh
the new Ministry was formed things became only
faa laI..fta Al "a
into chiefly a clerical one, it was at once under
stood that NJ. Dufaure was not Premier under
whose guidance the secular interests of the state
vould be thoroughly safe. Besides which, NJ. Du-
faure was entirely wanting in the political tempera-
ment so indispensable to a Minister IN our
times NJ. DufauTe was very old close upon SUI
harsh in character. abrupt and stiff in manner not
cheerful and altogether an uncomfortable COM
ranion full Of dstrust of all those he had 10
convince. He did nothing to make life pleasant 10
the Marshal and he and the now really RepubIcah
and secular majority knew that they were forever
on the brink of rupture. NJ Dufaure was possessed
of no more power than had been either NJ DE
BroglIe or NJ Buffet. When, last month. Marshal
NacNahon placed Jules Simon at the head of the
cabinet a Prime Minister was created 1t IS
impossible to deny the fact that Simon is ut the head
of the government-whIch no one has yet been since
NJ Theirs Tie is the whom the popular voice
will understandings name rs the cause OF whatsoever
satisfies or ofiends the nation. NJ. Simon Is III
power: he can govern these are the facts we have
to reckon
Now we come to-Who is jules Simon and how
will he use his power The great question Is, in
how far Simon really represents the character
ascrbed 70 him through life by even his best friends
He is supposed to be untrustworthy and tickle to a
degree which often defeats its own ends There is
scarcely 4 friend or a principle that he has not at
some time or other betrayed, but in spite of every
thing the belief in his capacity and cear-sghted-
ness remains untouched and, at this identical mo-
ment its the extent and quality of that capacity
that the hopes of France must rest. As So
cietv is constituted since the fall of the En-
pire two things are possible Clerical retTOgressOn
family col)red by sort of abstract Orleanism, or
the establishment Of genuine Democracy, uniting
elegance Of all kinds and good manners-refinement,
in short. with the mere solid gains of modern
thought and science If NJ. Simon is the man he is
almost universally supposed 10 be, and it, instead OF
ambition he is guided by mere vanity, We shall see
him. ere six months are over, battered caoled and
won over by the clergy and the upper ten
thousand" and his reign will be that of more
seductive and cleverer DuC de BrOglie, ending in a
more disastrous overthrow. To comprehend the
extent of the danger to which | am ailuding it is
necessary 20 realize the anomalous condition Of
society III France for III no other country could
such danger exist. There is other
country which after such successive commissions
could exhibit so large and presumptuOn- an aristO
cratic class still ignoring modern progress, nor so
many people of the middle class ready to forego
their own victories and admit the social supremacy
of the yanquishcd. Here is the phenomenon in
France, and here is the danger. No one who does
not live in the very intimate center Of the French
my what are he Plaru
exercised by the old world of France over the new.
II was this and this alone which made the Comte de
Paris commit his fatal mistake of paying homage To
Henri " because he could not bear the cold, cut
ting implacable insolence of the caste who
made him feel he was not Of them" and he
could not endure It, NJ GuiZot LOST the July
monarchy for this sort of conservatism NJ. |
Theirs coquetted with it till it was too late. If
these three could become its victims may there not
be a fear FOR VI. Smon' All depends on one point
Is Simon ambitions, or merely vain There are a
certain few claiming to know him best who affirm
that his ambition is so tremendous that it will
neutralize ali vanity, and that by the force of
superior intellect he win preserve his Judgment clear
and undimmed. and now that he really does WELD |
power will show that he is worthy Of 1t. They are
very few who say this, hut they say it sturliy, and
| am bound to admit that they are OF sound
caber.
II their reading Of the enigma be n correct one !
1.-THE right man in the right place" has been found
at last for France a reason is adduced for this |
opinion which, if it is well founded, would be con-
elusive: Jules Simon has but and has had 10
for quarter of a centuTy-to be President of the
French Republic If this be true and il is more |
than probabel, then indeed there may be great |
hopes for in that Jules Simon can have no |
ally save the nation itself, and then lie may de-