New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-08

| He has eXerted his personal influence VIZ"
| powerful effect, and put an end to demagogic
agitation. After governing the country
| through his political associates, he has emerged
| from retirement for day, accepted ms 1uh
share of responsibility for public measure
and united his party. He is under no oDn2a-
tinns to remain at the front, but can retire 10
the background, delegating his power TO DC
Freycnet, or, In a new emergency, TO Brisson
or TO Challcmel-L acour while President G1eVy
will continue to preside at Republican cere-
| monies.
Under n tentative constitutional system sucl
as was framed in 1875, the great offices are
precisely what the responsible leaders or the
dominant party make of them. When Gam
beta was chairman Of the Budget Committee
he was the leader of the lower house, and ex-
creased commanding influence, whereas the
deputy who now occupies that position Is
less conspicuous figure. AS President OF the
Chamber Gambetta is now the strongest man
In public life, while his predecessor was quiet
presiding officer who never assumed to direct
the policy of his party. Gambettl may become
either Premier or President but neither office
will remain as 1t now is when be has once
taken possession of it. His acceptance or
either office will be a new point of departure ID
constitutional government. Let him become
Premier, and closer approach will be made 10
Cabinet government. Let him succeed fresi-
dent Greyy, and the English pattern VIII DE
discarded, some of the Characteristic features
of the American or Presidential system taking
its place. When the consequences of his po-
ltical action ale likely to be so momentCus, is
it strange that he insists upon choosing his
own time 4?
Neither Dufaure, Waddington, nor De
Freycinet has been q Premier In the English
sense and neither the Constitution as 1t
stands, the traditions of Parliamentary gov
ernment nor the habits of thought formed
during centuries of French history, justify the
expectation that the Premier can become the
| first power In the State. Guizot who under
stood the genius of the English Constitution,
sought to reproduce the system under LOUIS
Philippe but made a signal failure of 1t. AT
the present time, neither the political parties
nor the legislative chambers have been organ
| lied on the basis of Cabinet government.
| Moreover, under such a system, one Of royal
blood alone can reign without governing, and
there are no great personages of this class
who can be admitted to the Office of President
q Premier. If we read the signs of the times
Alright, American ideas will ultimately prevail
in France Experience will teach the legisla-
tors that the logic of republican institutions
dspenses with the necessity of any such State
figure as q constitutional monarch, and that If
they retain the power Of electing and impeach-
| ing the President they can safely allow him to
choose his own advisers and administer the
Government. The reluctance of the strongest
leader in French politics TO become Premier
not only indicates that he expects to be Presi-
dent, but that he aims to be very different
President from GT6vy.
Gambetta's plan of reaching the Presidency
is said to be this: To bring in the scratin de
liste rs party measure, and then in the first
election under the new system TO appear at
the head Of the Republican ticket in every de-
partment. This would be n test of his pOpu-
larty and would make HIM the leading candi-
dare for the Presidential succession. But he
is that already, without this irregular pebiscte,
although it would give him increased prestige
with the next Chambers Without resOrting
to any electioneering device, he can make the
substitution of election by department for cleo
ton by reimbursement the closing act Of the
present Chamber of Deputies before its term
expires in 1881, and control the revision of
the Constitution during the remainder of Presi-
dent CREWS septenate. While these ideas,
however, may be dominant in his mind, he will
do nothing in haste. The Upportunist leader
will naturally prefer to wait until he can be-
come tie Opportunist President