National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-11-07


the excitement dying out, we have time
for such careful consideration Of the affairs Of
our great European sister, the French re-
public, rs has not hitherto been practicable.
Telegraphic advces have kept the reader
Informed Of the results Of both the recent
elections for members OF the new chamber
Of deputies. II is known that the repub-
leans, by q sudden change In the current
Of public sentiment between the first and
second elections, succeeded In obtaining q
strong majority, but there is no Disgusting
the fact that the party has received a seri-
Gus warning from the country. On the
first ballot the reactionarles about doubled
their number Of deputies, and on the sec
ond trial they gained twenty.six more
seats. On Oct. the country elected 1870
republicans and lT6 reactlonarles; on the
18th II chose 2i2 republicans and 20 re-
dictionaries II to these 372 republi-
cans we add the ten elected by the
colonies-wherc there were no reactionary
tickCts-it will be seen that they will have
in the next chamber a majority Of $50 votes.
The new chamber will contain pos members,
or more than one-half, who belonged TO the
old assembly; Of this number 223 are re-
publicans and ~ rcactlonarics. classlh-
cation Of the new chamber shows that there
are 1SS moderate republicans, 1875 radicals,
90 independents, and 202 antirepublicans.
There are already numerous demands for an
investigation against reactionary members,
and II is not unlikely that some Of these
elections will he annulled, but for all prac-
teal purposes we now know the respective
strength Of the parties In the next chamber.
To show the warning given TO the rcpub-
licans we may say that at the last general
election in 1881 the reactiOnaries polled
only 100000 votes, while this year they
have polled 3,jOO,OO0
With n majority of $50 votes the Republi-
cans would he able to have their own way
If they were united, but the great question
at this moment is, Can they sink their petty
ambitions and agree upon common policyl
While the moderates are numerically little
stronger than the radicals, they can form no
ministry without their consent, for it is the
radicals who have gained the victory and
who will practically he the masters of the
new chamber. The progress of the country
toward radicalism is shown by the fact that
while the chamber of 1877 was pure left,
that Of 1881 was union republican, and
now 1t will be extreme left. From 20 or 80
the radicals have jumped to $50. This in
crease has naturally led them to claim that
the country demands more vigorous policy,
and different one from that pursued by
the opportunities in the last chamber, and
they are already indicating the principal
| points in the new legislative problem.
While extreme partisans like Rochefort
| Micheln, and Camelinat consider that the
first questions to be decided are the sepa-
ration Of church and state, the election of
magistrates, suppression of the senate, and
reduction Of taxes, the more serious men,
| bers seem willing to agree upon policy
that shall have for base the abandonment
Of colonial expeditions and the reform OF
the home administration. In fact, an ex-
animation Of the manifestoes issued by the
candidates elec.ed shows that 200 republic
cans were chosen as opposed to an immedi-
ate abrogation of the concordat, and as for
the suppression Of the senate 22O candidates
| declared themselves hostile to this change
| The election Of magistrates was not lead
ing issue In the campaign, and there were
very few republicans who promised this re-
form. Another demand made by very few OF
the extreme radicals is the trial OF NJ. Jules
| Ferry, for his action as minister in the Ton
| quin affair, but this wild idea will certainly
not meet with sufficient encouragement to
become reality. Upon two points 1t will
be possible for the various sections of the
party to agree, viz, the abandonment OF
further colonial enterprises and the realiza-
tion of a policy of economy. 1t is upon
this basis that an attempt is now making to
bring about an understanding.
| The session of the chambers will be e1-
citing, II not stormy, but friends OF the
republic on this side Of the ocean have
learned that storms and crises are not signs
Of imminent danger.
The results of the warning Of Oct. 4
have been salutary and the good effects
will be lasting The republic will give up
its dangerous foreign policy and the gov
eminent will address itself to domestic
concerns. We believe the French republic
has come to stay.