New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-01
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THE FRENCH CRISTS.

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his tastes, austere in his manner and consclen-
tious in public service. If he has failed to give
a strong personal impulse to the two Cabinets
which he has directed, it Is not because he
lacks political ability or determined pur-
pose. but because he has exhausted his inllu-
ence in futile efforts to adapt himself to lIrec-
onclable conditions. His first Ministry went
down when he proposed compromise by
which the DEGREES against the unauthorized
societies might be accepted by French Cath
olcs. A sincere Protestant himself, he Ia
| vored religious tolerance and thought that IL
might be possible to draw the line somewhere
| between the fanaticism of ClerCalism and the
| fanatcism of unbeief. A moderate course
was impossible when the Deputies were con-
| WINGED that the constituencies were swayed by
| "a growing dislike not only of Clerlcallsm as
system, but even of religious ideas. In like
manner, his second Ministry Las been wrecked
| on the shoals between opposite currents OF
| opinion in foreign policy. Those currents
were not very strong. The Gambettists were
| opposed to Turkish Intervention III Egypt
and would have favored active cooperation
with England, but the Deputies were sus-
piciOus of their leader and not inclined to take
his advice. The stout-hearted Radicals, who
recognize Dr. Clemenceaus leadership. and
their timorouS allies of the Left Centre and
the Right, objected to Intervention in any
form and advocated peace at any price but
their influence was not predominant There
was so much slack water in the Chamber that
NJ. de Freycinet fancied that with a little dex-
terity his Ministry could drift along in the
broad reach between Intervention and non
Intervention. Scarcely has he trimmed
his sails before he finds himself aground where
he cannot float of.
Now we have no idea that either the Cham
Der of Deputies or the French people know
precisely what they want to have done in
Egypt. Joint intervention has no charm for Il
nation which dislikes diplomatic restraint and
international obligations. Its attention is fixed
upon itself, and its campaigns and diplomacy
must minister to its self-lOve or greed. An
expedition planned in connection with England
and designed to promote the interests OF
Europe is an enterprise from which it instinct
lively recoils. On the other hand, nOn-lnter-
vention seems TO imply the placement of ma
tOnal influence in quarter where 1t has been
exerted since the Napoeonc era. The mer-
camille interests of France in Egypt may be in
considerable, and evidence may be wanting of
anv marked revival of commercial enterprise, but
the traditional glories of achievements and
diplomacy in the Levant have not been for
gotten. A Frenchman has ceased to be a French
man if his vanity be entirely ciaccd and
practical as tie nation has become under re-
publican institutions, it cannot be expected to
regard without irritation or emotion the de-
cadence of its influence on the Nile. The Dep
I,,fio mot nm L
not know, precisely what should be done in
| Egypt; but they resent a policy which Is
neither one thing nor the other. Non-inter-
ventOn would have implied cynical ndiiter-
ence to traditional interests Intervention
would have required courage, energy and
sense of power and responsibility; bat inter-
venti0n restricted to police duty on the Suez
Canal would have been confession of weak
ness and vacillation. The Deputies may or
may not have felt the pressure OF their cOnstit-
| uencies. but they were too shreWd, perhaps too
patriotic, to support policy Of mere shilly
shally. They have accordingly voted against
| the Government precisely as the Italian
Chamber has repeatedly DONE when, without
having an alternative diplomatic policy TO
propose, it has condemned the helplessness of
| the Foreign Office
The inherent weakness of the Ministry must
not be overlooked. When accepted as Il sub
stitute for NJ. Gambetta, NJ. de FreyciLet
summoned to his cOuncil-chamber the Ministry
which he had previously headed. when the
| Deputies were willing to tolerate the ascend
| cncy of moderate Republicans. The Repub
| icanism of the Chamber had become more
pronounced, and the leaders of the Left
| Centre and tie Pure Left no longer rep
resented the average sentiment of the Depu
ties. This lack of sympathy has been shown
on sthree occasions when the Government
was defeated in matters of practical legisa-
ton, the Ministers who gave offence to the ma
jority retaining their places through the per-
| sonal exertions of President Greyy. The Dep
uties have been determined TO keep W. Gam
beta out of Office, and il has been a matter OF
| indifference whom they should have in his place
any stick as Prince Bismarck wOdld say,
! being good enough to beat dog. But such
| havoc has been made with Ministerial reputa-
| lions under the absolute sway Of the Chamber
| that it is not easy to find substitute for the
substitute. A Legislature which insists upon
| exerting a supreme influence in executive and
department administration as we'll as in law
making and President making rapidly uses
up the available material for Cabinets. NJ
| BrssOn has been named as VI. de Freyclnets
| probable successor He may well hesitate
before accepting what has become a head
clerkship under the Chamber and giving dlrec-
ton to diplomatic policy which that
| Chamber cannot be induced to define
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COSTLY SYSTEM
| There is nothing in the political situation in
PENNSYLVANIA calculated to afford Republi