New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-20
Administration and with the Republican Sena-
tors from other States.
THE PTTAL SCRTTTNS.

THE RIVAL SCRUTTNS
The distracting controversy over the nVh
scrutns in France has been brought to close
after single sessions debate. The territorial d.
visions on which these systems of election are
based are the department and the reimbursement.
Each mode has been tested under imperial
and republican rule, and the results are SO con-
Trajectory and confusing that experience does
not afford firm ground for deliberate choice.
DEPARTMENT elections under which a group OF
IDENTITIES il chosen on single ticket in n large
area. brought into existence a patriotic Assem-
bly, after the Revolution of 1913, and not
long aftarward subservient Legislature
that enabled Napoleon Ill. to cheat the
Nation out of its liberties Arrondlsse-
mcnt or district elections, under when
each constituency chooses its own rep
resentatiye. were subsequently introduced by
the crowned intrigler and proved a conve-
nient system for distributing administrative
pressure vet the present Chamber or Depu-
ties was elected in the same way, heacuOn-
ary Cabinet being poweIlcss 10 Affect It's CHAR
acter by the old-time processes. he Assem-
blv of 1871. which was willing to betray the
Rcpublic and restore Monarchy, was chosen by
denartmcnts. and Louis Napoleon took adyan-
taor of the same system in bringing his name
before the people as a candidate for the Prrsl-
dcncv vet the department is a tradition OF
thc first Revolution which created il, ana
tbe Rep,lhlicans clung tcnaclously to that
system of election IL H." proira't'd d'-
hates which preceded the adoption OF
the present Constitution. At that time
thew were forced TO accept The district
mode of election, but now they are free To
substitute for Il, the system which they then
urcfcircd. Willie thc y,iec q experience has
an uncertain sound. political consiatcncy seems
Ia demand the change.
OF the cor,paiutiyr merits or the two svs-
tens Americans should not judge too hastily.
The ACCOMPLISHMENTS naturally conmcndS itself
to them ON account of it, close resemblance 10
their own method Of clrcting members OF Con
l.rcss. By The scrlItir de- l>tc thlrly-thTcr Con-
.,rrs,ucn would bc elected from Ia; state on
single ticket nominated 10y political con-
vcntion and made Up IL advance 10y the dom-
nant section in the party. tntranmelIrd
district representation will naturally be
prcfcrrcd in "A country who're the politicians are
already too powerful and tho people too IN
different 10 their public obligations. But q
ical control by party managers is not To he
condemned rs Objectionable for France simply
becausc il would bc objectionable here. There
NAV be peculiar conditions in the public He
of the European Republic which render tins
dcrarture from our own habits desirable, II
not positively necessary. The English have an
offensive way of rejecting. not only IA ineIpe-
dent but even rs irrational, every legislative
nrocess or constitutional method which Is I'M
English and when the objection Is raised that
each nation has its own traditions, character
istics and tendencies, and that what Is
best for one may not be rs good for another
il is met by the assumption that If every
country is not like England it ought To hc.
Habits of intolcrant criticism should bc avoided
in our judgments of other nations The French
way may be the best there although It Is not
so here.
1t is safe to assume that the adoption Of the
scrutin de liste will thin out the ranks of the
Monarchical factions increase the Republican
majority and nj the same time make the party
compact and homogeneous. With the diHp-
pcarancc Of the Lcgitimsts and BonapartistS
the ground may hc cleared for the formation
of a genuine opposition. With the reorganization
of the Republican party, the groups which now
break the force of every Ministry that Is
formed nav coacscc aud representative
Administration may receive united and conun-
uous support. political organization that can
be AT once conservative and progressive under
proper Guidance may rcca~t the Constitution
and give form and direction 10 the br-t i'm
pulses Of Frcuch Rcpubcari-m. These viii
be- great gains. On the othcr hand, there
will be- great risks. I'll" personal ascondancy
of VI. Gambctta will be- increased, and it may
not be safe to intru-t Tie sinccrcS, and most 81
gaciou- Of Republicans with such oycrma-'er-
ins influence in a general election. The old
system gives every constituency direct voice
in the Government. and it may not lee prudent
to substitute for it more effective scheme oi
political reorganization.
1t i. announced in to-dIy'- diepl'rhc, that
VI. Gambrtta himself has taken pant in the
debate which closed yesterday. He had sue
cccdcd in silcncing the President and in fore
ing the Cabinet to remain neutral, 80 that the
question could hc decided without npprchcn-
sions of Ministerial crisis. VI. BardouNs bill
has been accepted by the mass Of the party,
80 that there will be no serious divisions of
opinion on this question. This X fortunate,
for the country il now on the eve OF gem
crnl election, the importance of which can
scarcely be- ovcrc,timatcd. VI. Gamh,ita has
rrappcarcd in the tribune with all his old time
force and carried everything before him. Ills
will is again law in France
rs1rT-f.