New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-26
THE HANDSOME PREMIER.
BRISSON'S POLITICAL PLANS PERSONAL
INSTANTLY TIES

TRAITS FAMILY TIES.
lFRoM THE REGUIAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE ]
PARIS, AprIi 8.
France has new Government. 1t calls Itself
the Ministry of Cancellation and Electoral Honesty
The Radicals who have since 1879 been calling on
those in Office to keep their electoral promises are
no longer ostracised. Words of advice from NJ
Clemenceau are listened to in aurcular confer
ences with attention by the Premier and the For
eign Minister. Peace with China on any terms
that will seem honorable to the country is sought
for. General Campenon, who retired from the
Ferry Administration because he would not agree
. to mountain campaign in Tonquin. or see In BIS
marck friend who might be trusted, is again at
the head of the War Office He told NJ. Clemen-
ceau why nc broke with the late Premier, and
have had the explanation which he gave from
that orator. In his opinion Ferry was the sole
hindrance to peace. because France-the Nation
has no ambition to get hold of Tonquin and no
desire to plant French colony there. The hills
on the north side of the Delta are supposed to be
rich in minerals. But if French spectators want
to work them let them do so at their personalr x
and expense and under the protection of native
government General Camr enon was in China
with Count de Palikao, and went with that mill
tary chief at the rhead of victorious army to
Pekin. He assures NJ Clemenceau that although
armeI with bows and arrows, hatchets pixies and
some intlock blunderbusses. the Celestials fought
with fierce and persevering bravery, and he
believes that If the French and English had not,
after they imposed peace at Pekin, hurried away
thence, they would have met with q disaster.
General Campenon thinks that European lace
can permanently overmaster Asatic in
Asia which has apttudes for the arts of peace.
All they can do is to implant germs of Western
ideas. He is also convinced that in a hundred
years hence the mastery will be every where to
the race that best suits the climate and soil Ton
quin, so far from being of profit to France,
would be milestone round her neck like Cochin
China. Tunis. and even Algeria. Tunis is kept
at outlay of 80 OOO 900 francs year and Cochin
China at an expense of 100000 francs more
annually
1t Is impossible to say exactly what an amount
of French gold has been sunk in the Tonqun
marsh. NJ. Riviere. the Deputy for Tours, has been
hunting for the last SIX months for documentary
evidence on the subject, and has been unable to
find it. General Campenon is satisfied that he
might continue his search for the next six years
without success. Care has been taken to muddle
accounts and get rid of vouchers. All the papers
in the archives of the Chamber bearing on the sub
ject which VI. Riviere is trying to clear up have
disappeared. The explanation is that they were
lent TO the Budget Committee when NJ. Rouvier
its President and mslaid by him." After
they were got rid of that parsonage. was given
Ministry.
The alleged peace with China of which so much
has been said is not So advantageous to France
as the Bouree treaty. which caused the disgrace
of It's negotlator when NJ. Challemel Lacour was
head of the Foreign department. AS both NJ. do
Freycinet and NJ. Clemenceau say, it is not the
cIowning triumph of the late Cabinet. but its
= l.
will be gained in return for all the blood and treas
which. since Commander Riviere sent to
Hanoi have been spent in Tonqun. There is not
a word in it about the indemnity offered by the
Chinese Government to the families of the French
soldiers who were killed near Langson. when going
to take possession under the Fourier treaty of
that fortress Mr.. Duncan Campbell is very reti-
cent about the NEGOTIATIONS in which he has been
engaged on behalf OF Celestials with NJ. Ferry and
M. Bilot an upper clerk Mt the Foreign Office
whom NJ. de Freycinet has IN a measure dJsgraced.
The imprc vlsed Scotch diplomatist might he q
trader, n banker. or n newspaper manager. He has
business-like air, face strong to coarseness. a
massive Jaw snub nose, high forehead, and enun-
clates when questioned maxim of his own coming
which it if were droll might pass for an Irish bull
1t is that dipomatist should always tell the truth
and never break silence.
resided for the LAST two months at the Continental
He organized at the Universal Exhibition of 1873
the Chinese department and was associated with
Sir p c. Owen, the Director of the South Kensing-
ton Museum, in getting up the Fisheries and
Hygenic exhibitions. He appears to regret the fall
of the late Premier. NJ. Ferry had pleasant, good
natured way of taking persons TO whom he wished
to he civil aud made them feel that in serving him
they would promote their own interests. l think
he is the most crafty politician that ever met ir or
out of France. Craft is a good thing if one is
driven into n corner. but bad permanent weapon.
It might perhaps be said that French Premier is
nearly always in a corner. Theirs constantly was
when he was ut Versailles. Gambetta ensconced
himself for three years. TO keep out of corners in
the Speakers chair at the Palais Bourbon. NJ.
Brsson followed his example since 1881. The first
thing he did on accepting the Premiership was to
ask the Chamber TO adjourn for nearly month He
thus secures four weeks quiet. He has also with
the Presidency of the Council taken Ministerial
department which will not throw HIM into relief
in debates on home and foreign atlaiTs-that of
Justice. / am told that he will investigate there
the papers relating TO the dynamite conspiracies
which the ex-P Project of Police, NJ. Andreux insists
were got up by the Duclerc and Ferry Ministries to
please Russia and njure the Radicals Prince
Krapotkine has been r0ttng in prison OH the
that he was allied with dynamiters
NJ. Brisson is just fifty He is a tall handsome
man. His superiority chiefly lies in the frmness |
and elevation of his moral character. l heard hum
speak on two great occasions in the Versailles |
Assembly and thought his Oratory cold and stted. |
Il was in the ddactic style in favor in the COnven-
ton. But some reports which NJ. Brisson drew mp |
when he was in Gambettas place, President of the |
Budget Committee. showed him to have a clear |
business head. He is for the severe application to |
the religious orders of tho law of mortman for the
abolition of the Concordat, and for no immunity
rom military service TO be granted TO divinity
,tudents Conservatives regard him as q harsh
Jacobin. They are mistaken in his character He
a very genial man in private life and is contented
With keeping down any faults that he may observe
n himself | never knew him to speak in a cen
,orious manner of friends and acquaintance. 1t