New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-26
deception. Nor can any cause be worthy of
support which needs to resort to such methods.
THE FRENCH SITUATTON,

THE FRENCH SITUA7TON.
The political situation in France is serious,
but not by any means so alarming as the proph-
cts of the boulevards represent 1t to be. The
Duclerc Ministry may be on its last legs, but
Cabinet crisis is an ordinary event. Since the
downfall of the Empire there have been sixteen
Premiers and twenty-four Ministers OF the In
terror, their official terms averaging nine and
six months respectively. Obviously the per-
manence of republican institutions W Ill not be
affected by premature necessity for the seven
teenth Premier and the twenty-flfth Minister OF
the Interior. OF course, regulations have Deen
exhausted so rapidly of late years that new
Ministry cannot be readily mustered Nine days
passed before the Duclerc Ministry could be
formed, and when the names were gazetted the
gossips of the cafes amused themselves by con-
featuring whether it would be nine months,
nine weeks or nine days before another Minis
try would BIZ required. That Ministry has al
ready outlived the expectations of its most san
guine supporters, and if it be now overturned
1t will be far more difficult to organize another
as weak as itself than one that will be stronger.
The downfall of Ministry OF Under
Secretaries and worn-out public functionaries
cannot be a national disaster. A change OF
Ministry can scarcely fail to yield distinct
gain in administrative capacity and political
authority.
There is q grave contingency which must not
bs overlooked. Premier Duclerc may not
abandon office, If the Deputies throw out his
bill for dealing with Royal and Imperial "sus-
pects.p He may persuade the President to dis
solve the Chamber with the consent of the Sem
ate. Last September he surprised his friends
by announcing his determination to remain In
Office as long az he was allowed to do 50, and
possibly even longer. Referring to comedy
in which the future fatherin-aw, listening TO
the reading of the marriage contract. exclaims
"Wby, it speaks OF nothing but my death !"
he remarked dryy that since he had been in
Office he had heard of nothing but the collapse
of his" Vacation Cabinet" Naturally the tests of
the boulevard wits had rritated him and he
was anxious to afford them practical demon
stration of his DO itlcal capacity, so rs to re-
lieve himself from the odlum of accepting an
Office for which he had no special qualifications
and which nobody else was willing to take. He
would introduce positive measures, he said, and
rot beat the air IN a Ministerial programme,
and f, in consequence either of the rejection of
blls which he should feel bound to defend out
aud ont, or OF the adoption of measures which
he should be called upon to oppose with all his
might, dissolution became necessary, he
would resolutsly demand it. The crisis which
he anticipated during the long rece IS may now be
close at hand. If VI. Floquets measure be subst-
tuted for the Governments force bill, he may de-
mand dissolution OF the Chamber. But 1t
will be demand which can only be enforced at
the discretion of the President and the Senate.
NJ. Grevy will naturally hesitate before appeal
ing to the country in period of dsquietude
and apprehension, when the constituencies may
be swayed by vague dread Of the 10 stability
of republican institutions. He will be more apt
10 accept NJ Duclerc's resignation than to order
general election.
This contingency being excluded, tho most
probable solution OF tins complex problem is the
organization OF a new and stronger Ministry.
Even if the Duclerc Ministry succeeds in effect
ing compromise on the law of the suspects"
it represents only minority of the Deputies
and cannot remain IN Office many weeks. It
will give place to another Ministry. Now there
are two reasons why that Ministry will DO
stronger than the present one. First, these are
recognized as troublous times, when the public
mind is agitate by approximations, which are
real even if they are vague and unreasonable.
The Deputies will not tolerate another Vaca-
ton Cabinet when the constituencies need TO
he treasured 10y the formation of government
having some sembance of stability and author
ity. Secondly, any Ministry that may be or
gained will have a more positive assurance OF
permanent support than that which is now in
Office. The reason is plain there ia one group
the less in the Chamber of Deputies. The
Gambettists forming the Republican Union can
not maintain their organization now that their
leader has disappeared. One section of them
will inevitably coalesce with the moderate men
of the Pure Left while the remainder will I've
drawn toward the Extreme Left under the di- |
rection OF NJ. Clemenceau. This fusion OF tho |
groups would be gradual process under or
binary circumstances, but the pressure of |
necessity may facilitate it. What we look for |
is the SPECIFY formation of "A toerably strong |
Ministry which will DO headed either by NJ. |
Brisson, NJ. Ferry, NJ de Freycnet or NJ. VIII |
son. NJ Brisson would be the strongest Pre- |
mer 80 far as political prestige goes, but he is
already known as the heir to the Presidential |
succession. A more moderate Republican may,
however, fairly count upon temporary support
from the Deputies until with the acquiescence
of the more conservative Senate an appeal TO
the country can be had under favorable con-
ditions.
THE WORM TURASl
We detect unOn the mart of meek man nm in |