New-York tribune., 1882-12-31
FRANCE.

The year has witnessed remarkable decline in
lhe political authority Of the French Premiership
N GauLetta might have remained in Office for an
indefinite period if he had been willing to abandon
the measure with which his name WAS associated.
This Lo would not do. In proposing partial re-
yf,iou of the Constitution lie made the Scrutin dc
Liyte the contral idea oi his Ministerial policy.
The Deputies gave Warning OF their intentions by
appointing d Committee Oh Revision which was
a'llos; unanimously opposed both G." limitation and
IN nh, S.rutin de iiete. II. Gambettt attempted TO
sayr his measure by IN eloquent speech III WHICH
he rcue.led the charge OF seeking Dictatorship,
but be- was listened to with cD!incss and lmpa-
tieuee. HIS resignation was nominally based
OH a vote OF the Deputies IN favor of uninted re-
vls,on. This vote was - to ~. The ScrutIn de
Ilste. which was the main question at issuo was
defeated Immediately after his wIi1drawai by 4
vote OF .5O5 To ilO tJauUaIy 2j. The Deputies
were influenced partly By 'ague appIehenslonS eX-
cited by the aggressive character ol ms dpo-
macy bat mainly by secret dlStrust OF department
election, as tending to Increase the political author
ty of party managers ana 10 break mp personal
relations between constituencies aud theit repre-
sentatlyes Although lie had been IN ONCE only
ten weeks and uad been OVerthro"u Oy tudorty
ot three To one " Gambetta's cNlt made with
the dignity of great Minister.
The succession reverted 10 VI. de Freycinet
From the outset his Ministry was weak. On three
OCCASIONS It's measures were defeated and the Min
listers of finance, lntelicr ahd Justice were kept IN
Office only through the personal intervention OF the
President. lie was pOwerleSs however to avert
the consequences OF VI. 10 Freycmot's diplomacy
When tho Egyutlan crisis arose, the Premier fan
cIad that with little dextorty hes could ayold tho
opposing currents OF opinion IN the Chamber and
keep the Ministry aiiUat IN the sack-water between
ntery eutiOn and nOn-InterVcntOn. After striving
Tor n season 70 adhere to two lines OF policy that
were absolutely Inconsistent namely, To have moth
my whatever done in Egypt aud, simultaneously,
to join England IN active interyentlon-he asked
for IA small credit OF III 100000 for naval arna-
ments which readily granted. Then came
anutheT period Of vacillatIon and nal demand Tor
anOl her of credit Tor the protection OF the SuoL
Canal This was rejected July ~ by vote Oh
4JO TO -. The Ministry immediately resigned anu
Ia the course OF ten days a new Government was
formed Made np of Under-Secretares and Obscure
politicians and neaded by Life Senatur, NJ. Du-
cerc who had mover been conspicuous tor pol tloa
capacity il is tho weakest and least efficient
Cabinet tLlt has been organized since the Republic
was proclaimed. Tho Chambers adjourned ss soon
as the Ministry was gaLotted and dld not Icas
srmbls until November when the Premier pre-
senied o programme Of phrases rather than prIn-
ciplss This Ministry, representing the minority Ot
seyenty-five which voted WITH VI. de Freyvlnet.
still lags upon tho scene destitute of political au
thOrty.
Cabinet crises and diplomatic complications have
left very little leisure for domestic legislation.
Scan progress has hern made IN the rcot gsuilaton
of the municipalities and the iudiclny. Tho Di-
Ull has boon passed and EDrlt OF hostility