The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-10-15
The Republic Of Trance.

It is a question whether French Repub-
ic such as the conception of Gambetta and !
hose who thought with that brilliant |
statesman, during his life. and adhere to
lis ideas now, can be permanently estab-
lished in this generation. The processes of
education in Republican ideas have not
been such as&o lay deep down in the con-
seriousness of the people sense of their
individual relations to government and the
part it is necessary for them to act in
forming government based upon popular
suffrage and rejecting Republican aspira-
tions. 1t is not there as it is in this coun-
try whe.e liberty is drank with the moth
er's milk and the traditions of genera
tions have impressed Republican princi-
pies. In the creation of what is called
the French Republic, it was a sudden
transformation from monarchial govern
ment. in which the people had been edu-
Gated, to popular government, in which
they had not been educated. Consequently
they were not equipped for their new rela-
tions and responsibilties.an and could not adj
just their notions to political system that
had been sprung upon them whenthey were
unprepared for it, and did not understand
it's operations.
The recent elections in France have
fully demonstrated the reasonableness of
these reflections. They will be made more
ineligible to theayerage American reader
by brief statement of the various pOlit-
cal parties. The Conservatives, who have
made extensive gains are the Monarchists
of one faction or another. Some of them
are the adherents Of the Comte de Paris,
others of the Bonaparte family. They
would like to SEGA monarchial government
restored in France. The Republicans
or Moderates are the supporters OF
the present ministry, with Brisson and De-
Freycinet as the representative leaders.
They are likewise partisans of M. Jules
Ferry, who was formerly prime minister.
The Radicals look to NJ. Clemenceau as
their leader. They are as eager as the
Monarchists for the overthrow Of the re-
public, but only that they may give the
government more radical leanings. The
Republicans wish tomaintain parliamen.
tary form of government, but the Radi
Gals wish to abolish the Senate, and sub
stitute in place of the Senate, as at present
constituted, some body like the old con
vention of 1888. The loss Of seats by the
Republicans will lead to a reconstruction
of the present ministry. 1t seems doubt
full at this moment whether the ministr,
can gather about it working majority il
the new chamber. Shrewd observers be
lieve that the new chamber will be short
lived that no ministry can be patched III
that will long command support, and thai
consequently there will be another disso
luton and another general election in thu
near future.
The republican majority in the Chambe
of Deputies after the last general election
was made up of 80 Deputies of the LET
Center, 1853 of the Pure Left, 2O6 Of the
Advanced Left, and 46 of the Extreme
Left. The Right, or Conservatives, Com
manded SS votes.
| at the end of two years the Right count
ed membership of los. the list including
Royalist, Imperialists, and Conservatives
The Centre and the Left Centre had :!
members. The Left had $50 members
Including 210 OF the Republican Union, o.
| Gambettaists, 40 of the Democratic Union
and go Irreconcilables. In the Chamber.
Gambetta at one time mustered vote Of
435, these including all the Deputies thai
favored Republican regime.
Within the last year or two the groups
have experienced upheavals and changes
the Opportunist, the Moderate, and the
Radicals standing out prominently in the
recent campaign. M. Ferry, the expire
mier, favored the Republican Union, but
had offended some of the Moderates by
concessions that he had made to the Radi-
Gals. Brisson, the Premier. went to the
country with ministerial programme,
and the Radicals with pronunciamentos
that demanded extreme changes in
the constitution. The one significant fact
| that stands out in the incomplete re-
turns is that the gains are for the Con.
servatives and Radicals rather than for the
followers of Ferry and Brisson.
There are in France eighty seven de-
partments OF states, these taking in 36s
ACCOMPLISHMENTS or districts. Under the law
of 1875 each reimbursement had at least
one Deputy, and if its population was il
excess of 100, 900 an additional Deputy fol
each 100000 or portion thereof. On this
rule the 1862 ACCOMPLISHMENTS were repre-
sented by SIT Deputies.
The notifications in the election law
made at the last session of the Chambers
were supposed to be favorable to the re-
publicans, and the municipal elections Of
last year indicated growth in radical re
publicanism. All parties made an active
campaign this summer, and the elections
of Sunday indicate something of reaction
The number of Conservatives elected is
1873. 1t is believed that the several ballot
ings. made necessary by the failure tt
elect, will raise the number of C0nserya
tives to 210. The defeat Of four members
of the Cabinet has caused their resigna
tion and speculation is rife as to what will
be the outcome of the unexpected unpopu
larity of the ministry and the Republic and
the apparently growing strength of the
Conservatives. or really the Monarchists.
/ 1t was stated several weeks ago that the
Bonapartists and Orleanists had come to
an understanding and that their strength
would be united in the recent elections,
with the Interior design of fayoring the
claims of the Comte de Paris of the Or
leans faction.
| Although France has been Republican
in name, ever since the overthrow OF
Louis Napoleon, the relations of the peo-
pie to the government have not been mate
rally changed. 1t has been more in name
than substance. Revolutions in thought
and ideas do not occur suddenly. Spo-
radio eruptions may occur, denoting dis
satisfaction and desire for change of some
| kind, but it is difficult to conceive how a
people living under the government of
Louis Napoleon and trained as the French
people have been in monarchial notions,