New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-19
GAnRFTrl IND TIE GROrPS.


Another political group has been formed in
the French Chamber of Deputies. The Repub-
lican majority, exclusive of the colonial repre-
scntatiyes consists of 80 Deputies of the Left
| Centre. 16S of the Pure Left, BOG of the Ad-
yanced Left, and l6 of the Extreme Left. Inc
amalgamation of the two central groups would
have given the Ministry permanent majority
for the Right commands only 50 votes. In the
| former Chamber there had been an influential
section of the Advanced Left which habltuaIly
| voted with the Extreme Left This section was
reinforced during the recent elections ana
voted as before with the Extremists when the
first division took place after Gambetta had
read his Ministerial declaration. Clemenceau
obtained on a question OF urgency 10 votes-a
demonstration of political force winch must
have caused uncasincss in the Ministerial
ranks. These irregular supporters of the Tx
IRENE Left have now formed a now group
known as the Radical Left, numbering sixty
eight members and holding an intermediate
place between the GambettStS and the In
transigrants This new group has three promi-
nent leaders: Floquet, who was recently de-
featcd rs a candidate for Nicc-PrcSdcnt of the
Chamber Naluct, best known for his efforts to
legaze divorce; and Lockroy, the stcpfathcr
of Victor Iugos grandchildren. Iloquct Is the
rcadicst dcbater and Lockroy the most iDhuen-
tial politician; but the real leader is Clcmcn-
ceau. who by uniting the forces OF these cX-
trcmc factions will have III supporters.
An alliance between the Extreme of The
Chamber, Right ana Left, would mass against
the Ministry an Opposition vote OF 2u2. The
contingency would not be alarming if the
central groups were fused into a homogeneous
party, for the majority would number as many
rs 3l2 members. Bat TIN, reorganization has
not been elected. The Pure Lett and the Ad-
vauccd Lett are still distinct groups; and the
Left Centre, which Of late years has exercised
an influence i'll proportional to lis mcagre
strength, is Jealous Of its powerful allies
President Grevy is reported to have declared
that Gambctta is completely a. the mercy Of
the Centre and the Right-scctions which be
has imprudcutly offended 10y making Paul Bent
Minister of Worship and Public Instruction
That is to say, ClcmCnCeau, with the all ol the
Left Centre and Right, can upset the Ministry.
The support of the Left Centre is therefore in
dispeu,able. Yet this group, which has so
many statesmen OF capacity and reputation, has
only one representative in the Cabinet. Gam.
beta seems 10 have made little effort 10 form
Cabinet that would represent the groups of the
majority. lie recruited his political council
mainly from the staff of his newspaper, making
the financial writer Minister OF Finance, the
scientific contributor Minister of Public In
structon, the market reporter Minister of Com
mcrce the military and naval editor Minister OF
Marine, and the foreign editor Under Secretary
for Foreign Affairs. IL Is Gambcttst Cabi-
net and cannot survive the dccadcnce of hi,
political influence. 1t execute, his viii, but
cannot materially strengthen his position with
any of the groups unless Dcyes has some
special talent for making terms with thr Lett
Centre. Gambctta is served by an efficient
staff, but he must have the best elements Of
pcncralsGp or he will be- unable either To keep
his forces properly ma,,cd or to rcpcl the as
saults Of his yigIlant enemy, Clemcnccau.
The Extreme wing of the Lett has IN o1tn-
sivc name, the lntransigcant-, ~ No-Comrro-
mise faction. The more Radical member, OF
the Advanced Left have objected to the name
rather than 10 the principles OF the group, and
accordingly have erected a standard of their
own under which to cooperate more effectively
with them. They may not share some of the
socialistic vagilres Of the Extremists, bat they
are in full accord with all the political features
of their programme, such as judicial reform,
the abolition of voluntary service for one year,
the reduction of the military term to three
years. the separation of Church and State and
the revision of the Constitution with a view to
abolishing the Senate aud the Presidency and
making the Chamber of Deputies the supreme
force OF the State. Under the leadership Of
Clcmcnceau the two factions Of Radicals will
have definite aims, elective discipline, and ora
tory and argument which will challenge the at
tcnton of the Chamber. Gambctta may be
successful in overcoming resistance session
after session, but he can only do it by manifest
ing the best qualities Of political leadership.