New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-23
TENDENCIES OF FRENCH POLITICS.

Tho melodromatic scene in Iululand has
diverted attention from two tendencies in
French politics which eliminated last week
The first is q shifting Of foreign poilcy'
Where vanity is national trait repuoiic
must be formidable as well as safe ana
stable. The French are proud ana SENSITIVE
They cannot forget how powerful they have
been in the past. and they are bent upon re-
gaining their influence on the Continent.
They know that there is strength enough III
the bow. France has remained an enormous
barrack. Heavier military budgets than
were ever made up under the oecoh"
Empire are now voted, as ;hat'er
of course, by the Republican majority. since
the payment of the indemnity france mas
avoided meddling with foreign controversies
and been content TO secure herself against
further AGGRESSION on the side of the Rhine. At
last. the cautious policy of nOn-inlerventlon l.
abandoned. Waddington's part in the Berlin
Congress was rather conspicuous and at present
the firm stand which has been taken IN rel
erence TO the Greek claims and the deposition
of the Khedive goes far toward restoring the
prestige of French diplomacy.
The second tendency Is illustrated by inc
transfer of the seat of Government from YER
sailles to Paris. The facility with which po-
liticaI changes are effected in France Is re-
garded with astonishmcnt in the American
Republic. When Marshal MacMahon re-
signed new President was elected in a
few hours without the slightest arrangement
of the machinery OF government How strik-
ing was the contrast between the orderly pal
loting for GlGyy and the strain and turmoil
of Presidential election IN the Umteu
states In manner equally expeditions Il
fundamental change in the Constitution was
made last week. The two Chambers met III Ma
tionh Assembly and the twelve words over
which there had been endless wrangingin 1879,
and which the Republicans had inserted
under the pressure of necessity, were dropped
from the Constitution. What is accomplished
here after years of agitation and DIS
cussIon In Congress aud the Legislatures,
is done ofi-hand there in few half hours.
Indeed, the ease with which the Constitution
has been revised may prove a source of dan
ger. Now that the door has once been
oprned il will not be easy TO resist the temp
t,ltion to keep it ajar The French
have natural aptitude for constitutions
making. The present constitution is the six
teenth which has been adopted since Sieyes' :
day +; and in many respects 1t Is crude and
Unbalanced What Mr.. Bagehot calls
the dignifed part is unprovided for,
and the efficient part is constantly out
OF gear with the legislature. Theirs was
at once President, Premier, and leader OF
the House. He conducted the legislative de-
iberatIons with a high hand. aud exercised
supreme control over the army, diplomacy
and internal administration. The Pact of
Bordeaux was the only organic law upon
which his executive functions were based.
Hinder the new Constitution, GIeyy Is
an irresnonsible President, and Waddington
a Premier who is not his own master.
IL is manifest that the executive part
Of the Constitution cannot long remain
as If now stands. The French cannot be
exrceted to tolerate a President who is
a purely ornamental parsonage, or a Premier
who cannot lead the Parliament \ system
which is neither American nor English,
neither logical nor coherent, will inevitably
be taken to pieces and reiashloned before
many years.
In the face of facts ike these
the death Of the young soldier Of
fortune in the African bush seems a
small thing. The DOnapartists are now Il
party of political tramps without leader.
The prompt decision of Prince Jerome not to
allow himself or his sons to be regarded as pre-
tenders to the throne must increase the democrat
ization. But the Republic viii outliye any and
all of its leaders. Inherent good sense
has made French Repubicansm what
IT is. There is no longer any magic
in luck, intrigue and force. With q stronger
foreign policy and a constitution more in
accord with the political tendencies of the
time. France may be destined to retrieve her
disasters. Her folles and yanities she has
ALREADY put behind her.