, 1880-01-28
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80 hy1RY waDNrsDAY AND SATURDAY.
THE FRENCH MINISTRY.
From the Tinles.J

The Ministry which M. de Freycinet has
formed, after some difficulties, in France
c~entaius no elements in4 themselves dis
tarbing or alarming. The new Ministers
are men of moderate opinions. Neither
M. de- Freycinet himself nor any of his
colleagues can be suspected of entertain.
ing projects dangerous to peace and order.
H. Wsddington himself was rot less open
to the charge of political temerity than
his successor. The most conspicuous and
incorporating representative in the new
Cabinet of What 10 this country would be
called /" Advanced Liberal'' opinions, III.
Jules Ferry, was also a leading member Of
M. Waddington's Administration. More
over, the change of Government has not
been criticized with bitterness by any
par! y in France, except those to whom
the Republic in any shape or form lie an
object OF adherence. The Moderate Re-
publicans, the converted Orleanists, the
commercial and industrial interests, which
were rallied to the Conservative Republic
by the leaders of the Lett Centre, have
shown q praiseworthy self-commar d in the
presence of q movement fatal to some
legitimate ambitions. The organS OF the
LEFT Centre profess confidence in the
good intentions and the reasonable views
OF tbs De FreyciDet Ministry, ard PROMISE
o loyal. though discriminating, Parliamon-
tary support. Even the most Coaserva-
tive Republicans perceive On advantage in
the formation of q homogeneous Cabinet"
resting upon the support of u working
majority Of the Chamber of Deputies.
There was something unstable as well as
equivocal, it is urged, in a situation which
placed one or two Left Centre Ministers
in the forefront of o Cabinet mainly drawn
from the Pure Left, and dependent upon q
msjorjty composed not only of the Left
Centre and the Pure Left, but also of the
Advanced Lett. But while oil this may
be admitted, and while the new Cabinet
wilt meet with 10 factious opposition ex-
cspt that with which Imperialist intrigusrs
OF irreconcilsble zealots have idly threa.
tened every recent Government, it remains
nevertheless true that the Ministerial
changes have shifted the pivot Of power
10 the State. Ministers are more or less
the creatures and the instruments OF the
majorities upon which they rely, and NJ.
de Freycinet does not rely upon. the same
combination of supporters as M. .Waddipg-
ton. The question which Frenchmen,
and foreigners too, are asking themselves is
not whether the new Ministry aud the
new majority are menaciog to tranquility
at home and abroad, but whether the late
movement towards the Left will not i'm.
mediately be renewed, and the centre of
gravity be carried further away from the
point at which it was found that the Re.
public was the form of government which
Divided France, the least. M. Theirs. III.
Jules Simon, N. Dufaure, and NJ. Wad-
dington were careful not to compromise
this advantage Of Repub.icanism and We
have no reason to suppose that the policy
Of N. de Freycinet will depart from the
spirit Of his predecessora' conduct. But
Behind aud beyond the present Cabinet
there are competitors for power whose
1ocess would give just cause for disquiet-
ade both to France and to Europe. 1t
thee who have q commanding influence in
sAbenRepublican RANKS, and who aspire in
aAsettme IA. administer q Republican poll.
-, 5duU1 wiss and farseeing, i they will
sk1ejjapso give unmjstakabhs proofs of their
s60eWGelGaf6iHH6siodI stoutI5 to'Iresist d descent
towards revelation not less than q reaction
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