New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-15
4 NEV CARINET IN FRINGE.

M. Gambetta energies at last from retire
ment. The designations OF NJ. Ferry and his
associates are inevitable, although the formal
announcement may be withheld until the
Legislature meets. The transition period in
French politics has drawn to a close. Hence
forth the natural leader of the Republic
cans will direct the policy of the Government
on his own RESPONSE ''lity instead of governing
by proxy and upSctting Cabinets at pleasure.
The season for parliamentary makcshifts and
irresponsible power has passed. The strongest
individual force in the country, so long held
in reserve. is to be directly applied to the
mechanism of administration. If we read the
signs of the times Alright, republican institu-
tons are entering upon Il critical stage of de-
velopment, in which they will take new di-
rectiOn, possibly new form, and require what
they have lacked 50 far, permancnce and sta
bilty.
The new Chamber of Deputies, which NJ.
Gambetta will be required to face in assuming
the Premiership, comprises 90 Bonapartiss
and 467 Republicans. If the majority be
classified according to existing groups, the
Left Centre Will have 81, the Pure
Left 16S the Advanced Left 2OG, and
the Extreme Left 46. 1t is safe to assume
that as many as 80 possibly so, of the Adj
vanced Left will vote steadily with the Ex-
IRENE Left. This reduces the voting strength
of the sections upon which NJ. Gambetta can
confidently depend for political support to
3Gl, majority being 30. A fantastic com
blnation OF the Extremes of the Chamber with
the doubtful members of the Advanced Left
cannot be expected to muster more than 1872
votes under the most favorable circum-
stances. The new Premier therefore,
will be strongly cntrenched in power
| AT the same time he cannot dispense with
| the political aid of the Advanced Left.
| for the more moderate sections of the party
do not comma al a clear majority of the Cham
| Der. The real centre of political force has
shifted from Left Centre to Pure Left until il
is now in the Advanced Left and if the groups
are to be welded into compact, homogcne-
Gus organization, that element will be repre-
scented in the Cabinet. The fact that NJ. Gam
betta's radicalism has been discrcdited mt
Belleviile will make it necessary for him to
gather around him the leaders of Advanced
Rcpublicansm. While he has won the support
OF the great mass of the rural constituencies
he no longer represents by an over
whelming majority the most radical CON
stituency in the Capital. The secret of his
strength before the country was the fact that
timid and cautious Republicans had confidence
in his ability to keep the radicals under con-
slant restraint. This reputation he may re-
gain If he succeeds in existing in his service
the strongest men of the Advanced Left
When Mr. Gladstone became Premier he had
| the reputation of being more advanced in
| Liberalism than the mass of his party. What
he dld was to give the best positions TO the
| Wings and thus make his Ministry seem more
| moderate than he was himself At the
same time he has already given in his rem
eral policy powerful impulse to English
| raoicalsm. Reversing the process, NJ. Gam
beta may improve his political position nv
making his Cabinet far more advanced than
he is himself accounted in Paris, and by ,.xer
ciSlng restraining influence over his radical
| colleagues. For example, he may select -
Cabinet that win be heartily in favor Of thn
| dlSeStabshmcnt of the Senate yet succeed il,
| holding the question in allegiance until tho
| elections which occur early in the v,or
| nave changed the political conditions in
that body so that there will be no danger
OF a deadlock between the houses
IL would he presumptuous, however, for us TO
| forecast with any degree Of confidence tho
general lines Of legislation which are likely to
be followed under his administration. II
would even be unsafe to assume that his Min
istry will hold together single session
700 Pi'f" tP LONG CaOlhct" for
! which France has been waiting since President
MacMahon resigned. The permanence and
efficiency of his administration will dencrd
largely upon his success in fusing the sections
OF his party into homogeneous organization
| II he can do this new future will be onencd
| for France-a future in which conservative
preJudlces will be respected and progressive
tendencies powerfully stimulated.
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THE PRODIGAL And THE PROTEST
Too little attention has hoon ,,;,,o, A. .