New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-19
EUROPEAN EPISODES.

Several episodes recounted in the tortnlghts
European news are likely to have an Important
bearing on the political history OF the time'
The most conspicuous incident Is the retirement
of lgnatieif from the Russian Ministry or the
Interior. When the present Car entered upon
his reign after the assassination of his father,
he selected as his chief adviser the most aurolt
diplomatist and the most patient administrator
in the Russian service. At Constantlnople
Ignatieff was as supple as an Oriental and gen
orally continued to have his rivals in diplomacy
play his cards for him and when he was made
temporary governor of Mini Novgorod he
Iepressed revolutionary disorder by taking the
people into his confidence and enlisting their
support in matters of police. He was the nat
ural leader of the National party and was
hailed in many quarters as the lnchoate Bis
marck of Pan-Savism. 1t was thought that II
anyone could plan o way of escape from the
brink Of the precipice whittier the Government
had been dragged by the apathy of its officials
and the sedtion of its subjects the willy
Ignatieff would succeed. Certainly he was not
without ideas. He proposed several agrarian
reforms of the first magnitude, advocated
distinctvely Russian policy, assailed the cor
Iupt bureaucracy and seemed disposed to favor
a closer approach to local self government
than had previously been made. lie has failed,
however, to restore tranquility TO the country
and to maintain his own ascendency at Court
lie is succeeded by Count Tolstoi, who represents
the official aristocracy in St. Petersburg and
shares its faith in autOcratic and reactionary
measures Even if Katkolf and the writers
of The IHoscor Gazette retain their influence at
81. ,be+;t Of dull
arbitrary intrigucr for the strong, quick
witted and progressive Ignaticif must be re-
garded as an ominOus event. The Car is ILL
ing the great Offices Of State with mediocre
reactionares at a time when another assassna-
ton may plunge the Empire into anarchy.
Another episode equally characteristic is the
defeat OF Blsmarcks Tobacco Monopoly bill in
the German Reichstag. This scheme has been
repeatedly brought forward by the Chancellor,
but never when there has been the faintest
probability that the Deputies would accede to
his wishes. This time it has been rejected by
a vote CT 276 to 43-more than six to one. 1t
has been cOntemptuously set aside, although he
offered the direct menace of a dissolution OF
the Reichstag. That was an empty threat, for
in Parliament the Chancellor has an uniortu-
nate habit of firing pistols in the air, but the
taunt which followed the vote was heavily
loaded. He declared that party government
was impossible in Germany. 1t is impossible
while he remains Chancellor The fact that he
can snap his fingers at the overwhelming
majority against him proves this to be true.
1t is impossible, not, as his adversaries
charged, because he cannot govern with Par
lament, but because he prefers to have his own
way and to reduce the Reichstag to the level of
"a national debating society. That the Father
land will ultimately have Parliamentary gov
eminent cannot be questioned. There cannot
be a second Bismarck.
A third incident is the resignation by-play
in the French Ministry. The Chamber of
Deputies tocrates the present Cabinet not be-
cause it is satisfied with their measures, but
because it is not willing to take Gambetta on
his own terms. On several important points
the majority of the Deputies are at variance
with the Cabinet. They do not favor VI. Says
financial methods, and are anxious for a more
popular solution of the railway question than
he will sanction. They would gladly exchange
him for anyone, even NJ. Wilson, who could
bring in budget that would please the public.
Accordingly they defeat one of the measures
with which he is identified and in like manner
snub the Minister Of Justice because he will
not carry out their ideas in regard to an elective
judiciary. But i'll neither case, although their
opposition relates to fundamental questions of
public policy, will the Deputies consent to have
the Ministry stand or fall with their associate.
1t is made an individual and not q Cabinet
question and the President, shrewd in turn
as the Deputies. dispOse3 of it rs an individual
question, by refusing to accept the designations
of the two Ministers. The incident shows what
a curious anomaly Cabinet government is as it
is practically understood in France. The
Chamber, which without mourning the risks of
a political crisis seeks to force out of the Cabi-
net the Ministers whom it dlslkes, evidently
has very different ideas of Ministerial respon-
sibility from those which prevail i'll England.
COLLAPSED.
The hot weather is evidently too much for