The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-19
The regular circulation Of The SUN for the
week ending Jan. 10. 1870 ,cds;
How will French Republicans Use Their
Victory

The gravest character. II Is no exaggera-
tion to say that the effective working II not
the existence, of Republican institutions Is
at stake. II tho Left, swayed by the coun-
sells OF It's least circumspect leaders, and
elated by its control of the Chamber OF
Deputies, shall provoke violent rupture
with the Left Centre, which can stIll COM
mand a majority OF the Senate, 1t Is hard to
bee how any government at all Is possible.
The only man, apparently who could form
. Ministry capable Of securing the support
Of both Houses is GAMBETTA. But GAM
BETA means to bc President Of the republic,
and he would risk the permanent alienation
Of moderate liberals by taking Office at this
iuncturc. This is the proper moment to
examine the pcrplexitics amid which their
recent success in the Senatorial elections has
plunged the French Republican arty
We are not of those who preach modera-
tion without Weighing the difficulty and
the hazard OF slow and temperate move
ments in country possessed OF state
Church, OF an immense standing army, and
OF a permanent judiciary. They know very
little about France who conceive that the
seemingly impatient action of the Left is
prompted solely by impulse or passion, and
Left Centre. The reticence OF the Ministry
IN their programme, read the other day. re-
garding military appointments, could not
Tail TO excite Indignation on the part OF ear
nest Republicans. In view of the decisive
utterance OF the publlc's will at the late cleo
tions, they seem justified in demanding that
the Minister OF War and the commanders OF
army corps in and near tho capital should
ho mo I'm Of How a rtx
They would not be fit to legislate, they
would dishonor the peoples trust, II
they forgot the lessons OF December
1851 Indeed IL might be easy to
show that precautions are even more inds-
pensable now than they were then. At that
iuncture nearly the whole body OF officers,
from the grade OF second Lieutenant up TO
that OF general Of division, had entered the
army during the two decades OF liberal and
progressive ideas which followed the dcpo-
sition Of CHARLES Y. At this time on the
other hand, there Ia scarcely an officer above
the rank Of chef de battalion whose principles
and leanings are not more or less affected by
protracted service under the Second Empire.
This state OF things makes it difficult for
the Republicans TO find generals OF high
rank who are entirely trustworthy, but II
Rgnally fortifies the motives OF search. In
deed, the ground taken by the Left on this
question Is so improbable that we are dis
posed TO think the present Cabinet will ac-
eede to their demands. Nor do we believe
that NJ. DUFAURE feels any interest in the
retention Of the Minister Of War who was
appointed at the personal request Of Presi-
dent IMAGINATION.
We may look, now. at another ques-
tion which has been raised already,
and which without the judlcious me-
diation Of GAMDETTA seemed not unlikely
70 permanently split the Republican party
We refer TO those changes in the Cabinet
which were mootcd more than a month
ago by the National newspaper, and which
have been vehemently urged by many
organs and leaders Of the Left since the
Senatorial elections. 1t was proposed TO
transfer NJ. DUFAURE from the Ministry OF
Justice to that for Foreign Affairs, the
present incumbent Of the latter post, NJ
WADDISGToN, being shelved in an embassy
Now this scheme would involve the total
break up Of the existing Cabinet, for there
Is no reason 10 believe that NJ. WADDING-
TON would accept any post abroad and
It Is well nigh certain that NJ. DUFAURE
would refuse 10 take any portfolio but that
OF Justice, and would go out Of Office alto
gether The Prime Minister is already dis
posed to retirement by age, fatigue, and do
nestle bereavement and he has only been
induced to retain the functions with which he
is familiar by the most vehement assur
Ances Of his necessity TO the party. There
Is no doubt that heretofore NJ. DUFAURE has
been the keystone of the republican admin
istration, and that his name and authority
have been the surest pledge OF alliance be-
tween the moderate Liberals, who still
remain powerful in the Senate, and the more
advanced section which is master Of the
other Chamber. II is, indeed, hard 10 see
how Cabinet without DUFAURE could be
constructed which should command dura-
BILE majority in both Houses. Therefore,
there is nothing incredible in the report
telegraphed that MAcMAHON's resignation
would follow the withdrawal OF tho present
Prime Minister.
This matter OF the military appointments,
and the renovation OF the magistracy
are only two OF the questions about
which the wisest men may differ, and which,
In the space Of few months, even II the
present quarrel should be amicablV
settled. may sever the French Re
publicans into two diverse, II not hos
tile, camps 1t is fortunate that at this
tuncture the influence OF GAMBETTA over the
progressive section Of his party has seemed
TO be widening and deepening with every day.
In the remarkable speech which he de-
hvered In the Grand Hotel on tho eve of
the late eloctions-a speech which deserves
more careful attention than 1t has yot' re-
ceived-GAMBETTA showed himself keenly
alive to the imperative necessity OF ciroum-
spection and self-cOmmand. The hour OF
danger, he said, Is over, the hour OF diff
Guilty has begun. 1t was expected that the
matter OF military appointments might
give rise TO some dispute, but there Is rea-
son to believe that the question in It's pres
emit form was raised rather. by the Marshal
President than by the Prime Minister. There
Is little doubt that NJ DUFAURE would agree
Ut the instance OF GANDETTA to o transfer