The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-04-08
OUR FRENCH LETTER.
Special correspondence of the HraA1D.)
PARIS. March I, 1888,

PARIS. March I, 1888.
Gambetta was voted out of office
because he contemplated among
other parliamentary benbons, the
revision of the Constitution. The
present premier of cabinet of
eleven premiers, is next to threat
ened with election if he undertakes
the revision before 1885. The
whole question recalls the famous
slgnboard of a barbar: ITO morrow
we will shave people for nothing"
The morrow never came fer the ex-
ercise of that philanthropy, and
there is no proof that the Ferry
ministry will remain a thing of
beauty till 1856. The real revision
! lists consider 1885 as the Greek
kalends, and insist that when re-
form is to be done. then 'twere we'll
9it were done quickly. M. Ferry
has this redeemlpg feature, to ex-
press his intentions as plainly as
Bismarck. But the deputies dis
i like what they sadly need, a whip
4 per in, and to effect this they must
/, be elected on other lines than the
present.
Since a century ago France is the
country of all others which has
most cried out for liberty AMI
equality, and where these are least
Ipracticed. Jules Simon has made
a brilliant speech in favor of repeal
ing the code which letters the right Of
association. Where gain is simply the
end. commerce, industry and trade
ought to be free to find strength and
profit in unity. In the case of asso-
Citations for opinions, that is another
matter. Judging from the reunions
of the anarchists which are only
tolerated, those have done good, as
the drunken Helot for the Spartans,
rather than harm. The difficulty
lies in each party aiming to have
liberty only for itself. "You above,
and your adversary beneath"as Dan
ton reprOached the equality of his
followers.
1t seems to be forgotten that
France hungers and thirsts after
political repOse. Since fifteen years
she has been in political fever.
This is evident on all sides. Neither
the expulsion of the princes, nor the
frequent changes of cabinets;
neither the eccentricitieS of Mile
Louise Michel, the Violences Of the
extremes of all parties, nor the rabid
circulars of but too many, have
{ touched the nation. AS in 1871 it
demands peace, and were general
elections to be decreed, the public
would prefer candidates partizans
of tranquility, irrespective of their
flag.
By common consent the French
journals have become seized with
the idea that England has been
brought to stand still by the re-
fusal of France to cooperate with
her in the work Of reformation,
and proclaim that noW's the
day and now's the hour,
to dictate the conditions in exchange
for the abolition of the joint control.
1t is further urged that as England
cannot get on without her old ally
| of Dulcigno and Alexandria per-
haps, the occasion ought to be i'm
proved to make her swallow the
leek in respect to the other ques-
tiens, TuniSia, the Congo, Madagas-
car, ETC., pending. Indeed it is
limited, if she handsomely knuckles
down, France might condescend to
make treaty of commerce. Eng
lish statesmen ought to we'll study
their next moves. A little Irritation
with Italy and Germany would not
be bad conductor against the thun'
der and lightning of the French
press. In any case it behoves Eng
land to speak so as not to be mis-
understood. Bluntness, not blarney,
is the one thing needed.
The French nation is becoming
alarmed at the relative depopulation
of the country; One-third Of the
departments indicate falling off.
The inhabitants Of the cities in
crease, but this is due not so much
to immigration from the provinces
as to arbitration of foreigners; the
Italians and Spaniards in the south
and centre: the BelgianS in the
north, the, Germans in the east and
everywhere. In fifty years Germany
will have double the population of
France; England wants only one
and-a-half million to be equal to the |
present population, and that few |
years will surpasS.
How France can ever become a |
colonial power or realize Provost |
Pavadols day dream Of eighty mil
lions of Frenchmen occupying the |
African side of the Mediterranean.
is a mystery. a legislator has
brought in a bill to diminish the
taxes of such fathers in proportion
as their quivers may be filled with
children. He ought to try Disrae-
lis recompense, the donation Of
pair of scarlet pantaloons to the
laborer who owned the /
most fruitful vine.
The National Opera has to score a
splendid success in Henri VIII"
opera in three acts; libretto b
Messrs. Detroyat and SilYestre,
music by Saintsaens. For the first
time in the history of theatrical
the press was invited to
ba ooDnroI rehearsal mora IN nh