New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-10
coTFBNvEyT BY GROUPS.

The StTangest feature Oh puDlc Hi0 III L i"'No
under the third Republic is the absence Oh
party government. There is Right and Lett
in each legislative chamber, but these are not
compact political bodies, as they are found in
the British Commons or in the American Con-
gress. The Republic is often spoken OF as
Conservative but there is no Conservative
marty in France. Not even the small group OF
legislators known as the Left Centre can take
the name. There are factions, BOnapartist,
Legitimist Oreanist and Clerical, whose votes
are invariably given in opposition to the RepuO-
licans, but they are reactiOnary rather than con-
seryative IN their tendencies. They dctest Re-
publican institutions they would not leave
anything unchanged; they would go back to
Monarchy or an Empire. When they were In
majority the factions could not agree upon
substitute for the Republic, and now that they
arc in minority they are still of different minds
1t is an Opposition made up OF hostile factions
In like manner the Republicans are divided into
three distinct groups. which act together on
supreme occasions, such as the election OF q
President or the revision Of the Constitution,
but are widely at variance in many matters OF
pubhc policy. After the defeat OF the leac-
tionary movement of the 10th of May, NJ. Du-
faure organized Cabinet which represented
one of the smallest groups i'll the Legislature
thc Left Centre. Next came the Waddngt0n
Cabinet, made up from the Left Centre and
the Left Finally, NJ. de Frcycinct became
Premier, with the understanding that the Lett
Centre should be excluded and that the Left
should have every Cabinet Office. Three Cabi-
nets have been formed without an appeal to the
constituencies, and in each instance the rca-
| Al. war np IN a..
| The control of the Ministry passed from one
group to another within the same party ana
! if the Opposition were restored to power the
result would be the same. This is government
by political groups, but not government by p0-
litical parties Us it is understood either III Great
Britain or in the United States.
The next change of Ministry which Is likely
to take place will bring into official life the
third group of Republicans, known as the TX
IRENE Left. The Left are for the moment sat
isfcd with the DEGREES against the unauthorized
religious associations. The Extreme Left re-
gard this as halfway legislation, and clamor Tor
fine spnaration of Church and State and liberty
of association as the real remedies for tie po-
litical evils of the time. The influence of a
radical clement in the party is very strong IN
asmuch as Republicauism is considered con
slant growth, and every Republican has a
morbid dread lest he shall not keen pace with
the times. but lag behind a. n Conservative.
New ideas take root at once and spread fast.
The Left may adopt the programme of the
Extreme Lett before the year IS out ; and i 1t
does that sooner or later 1t must put the leader
Of that-group in Office DR.. ClGmenccau il al
ready n commanding figure in French politics.
| His candidate has been elected over Gambctta 5
rs q successor to Albert GrGyy in the Chambers
His journal is gaining influence aud circulation
every day. He has reached height where he
is recognized as a rival to the APOSTLE of OppOr-
turism, and large body of Republicans look
upon him as the coming man. lie may not he
NJ. de Frrycinet's successor, but he has good
chance of being the successor to that successor
But if the groups arc rearrangcd, II the
Gambettist Cabinet goes down, if new
Ministry representing the Left and the Ex-
IRENE Left is organized only to give place to
another Ministry made up exclusively from the
Extreme Left what will be the next change
What will come after the Extreme Left II
NJ. Gambetta is a cautious DanlOn, and NJ
CIGmenccau a rational Robcspicrre, and eacl
in turn has his day, who is to take
RobespicIIc's place. Government by pO'
litical groups may in the end bring France to
the abyss of anarc y. 1t is Il poor substitute
for government by political parties.