New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-30
TILE FLERRY ~ FENCE.

THE FLURRY ~ FRANCE
Apparently the Cabinet crisis in France causes
more apprehension in London than in Paris.
In England the overthrow of Ministry ia
political event Of supreme Importance. because
it either follows or involves an appeal to the
country. The public is seldom left in suspense
or uncertainty in regard To the political sue
cession If tho Liberals should be deprived oil
their greatest statesman, Lord harrington
would become Premier and a single vacancy
would have TO be filed in the War Office. II
Mr. Gladstone should be defeated in the Com
mons, either Sir Stafford Northcote or Lord
Salisbury wonId succeed him, and the dullest
reporter of Parliamentary debates rould name
in advance the principal members OF the Con-
servatiye Ministry. EnRlislmen would not
have any peace Of mind il the downfall OF the
Government of the day were not a contingency
distinctly ioreseen and amply provided for;
and indeed, there is at present feeling OF I'M
easinesr in influential circles because in the
event of a reversal of the political conditions
the choice of a successor 90 Mr.. Gladstone
would lie between two leaders differing widely
III temperament and views of public policy.
The dual leadership of the Opposition is gen.
orally regarded 10y English political.crit as a
radical defect IN organization. which should be
speedily remedied. although the chances OF
Conservative reaction in the country are scem-
insly remote. The English sy stem is precise.
Nothing is left to chance.
Now in France there is Premier and there
is q Ministry, but the form of government
bears only a superficial resemblance to tho
Cabinet system as it Is known In England.
Ministry may succeed Ministry without All ap-
peal TO the country. Premier Ferry consulted
the constituencies with signal success in 1881,
the Republicans making substantial gains In
the general election, but he resigned as soon az
the new Chamber OF Deputies assembled. II
he had returned to Office this week 1t would not
have been because ne was the recognized
leader OF the majority. but because President
GIeyy considered a moderate Republican ne
cessaIy, aud VI. Ferry had only been defeated
once whereas VI. de Freycinet had failed twice.
The popular Chamber does not govern, as in
England, through an Executive Committee
comprising the leaders of the majority, but
through it's own select committees, which con-
triye to discipline the Ministers of the day as
well as to revise their legislative proposals.
There is no regularly organized Opposition.
When Ministry is defeated, some of its mem
are searched for an available Premier. few
new men are hastily recruited, and the new
Government Is formed. Sometimes the Pre-
Inier emerges from obscurity 50 dense that eI-
perIenced 0iplomatsts of the press like VI.
Blowtz, have almost forgotten who he Is, and
consequently are forced b leave their cards at
his door in order to revive their recollectiOns
and it may be nine days before the names of his
colleagues can be gazetted In fact, whereas
in England an alternative Premier Is nominated
in advance aud all the processes of change of
Ministry are orderly aud methodcal, In
France everything happens by haphazard, and
there is period of perplexity and suspense
during which the foreign correspondents at the
capital are utterly at sea. IL makes NJ. Blow
itz very uncomfortable to feel that he cannot
tell at any hour Of the day who will be the next
Premier, and his apprehensions are naturally
shar ed by the London Underwriters, who like
to have everything happen in the orderly Eng
lsh way, SO that they can write long articles
about it in advance. Since there is Premier
ship In France, they assume that of necessity it
will work precisely az it does in England and
when the principles Of political organization
and procedure recOs 1ized at Westminster as
fundamental are not needed in Paris, they con-
clude that the situation is of "a most moment
Gus character" aud that the immediate con-
sequences cannot at once he OWNED
The facility with which the Duclerc Cabinet
has been re-organIzed illustrates the faulty Of
exaggeratng the political results of every Min
isteIial furry III France President GIeYy
summoned to his aid the most available of the
ex Premers, NJ. Ferry, and the strongest
member OF NJ. Duclerc's Ministry, NJ Fall
eies. When NJ. Ferry declined the Premier
ship NJ. FalleIes volunteered for the post, and
the "IeOrganizedn Ministry was ready TO ac-
cept the Deputies force bill relating to the
pretenders. NJ. Fallieres is one Of the veteran
under-secretarics, who Obtained q portfolio
under NJ. Duc!erc when It was to be had for
the asking. He has now been promoted to the
Premiership where he will be as weak and in
offensive as NJ. Duclerc has been. So easy is it
in France to form = Ministry which the Dep
uties will tolerate for q season. 1t is, of course,
only q temporary expedient, and before long
there will be another furry in the bouleyards
and the London Underwriters will again de-
spair of the Republic President Gr6gy is cred
tied with the words: q am firmly resolved on
dissolution. Nobody can govern the country
with the present Chamber" Ii he will agree to