The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-04-10
THE CHANGE In FRANCE.

Whilst the overthrow of the Ferry
Cabinet was AS easy AS to upset house
of cards. the establishment OF new
Ministry on it's ruins is quite different
thing. M. Frsycinet, who has been in
yited 20 form the new government, IS IN
entire harmony with President Grevy,
but he finds it extremely difficult 20 OBJ
tain a Ministry that can command q
majority of the Republicans in the
Chamber of Deputies. Meanwhile tie
world wonders what was the occasion
of this sudden change of administration.
NJ Ferry is overthrown not only, but
subjected to every indignity short of vi
olence to his person, but the Chamber
sdheIes to his policy and votes the llber-
al supplies he asked for just before his
fall. Only day or two ago he posses
sed in the highest degree the confidence
of public opinion not only in France but
throughout Europe, and suddenly falls
a victim not on account of his for
eign policy, for that has received vote
of confidence, nor because of the Ton
quin quarrel, which he Inherited, but
because the French have suffered mil
itary reverse in the East for which they
had not been prepared.
For many months, that have stretched
iutG years. the French have waged an
adventurous war in the far East without
even the formality of a declaration of
hostiIities. In this conflict with semi
barbarians, whose military prowess they
despised, they have sacrificed thousands
of men and millions of treasure on the
altar of glory. To raise the necessary
finances they have even submitted to
increased taxes on their bread and pro-
visions. But when an unexpected re-
verse overtakes them in this distant
warfare they drive the Ministry from
power and threaten its members with
prosecution for treason and coDhScation
of property. This is not the sober act
of a great people. 1t is Carthagenian
rage, which renders the wise govern
ment of the French Republic an ex-
tremely difficult task. When a states
man so circumspect and conservative as
Jules Ferry, whose power seemed SO
firmly established. can be thus easily
overthrown it is not strange that the
MonaIchists on one hand and the Anar-
chists on the other should take fresh
courage. For two years these malevo-
lent factions have been kept down by the
strong hand of Ferry, but over his fall
the clamor % the BOurbons and the Bo-
napartiS.s answer the howls of the Com
munists for the destruction of the French
Republic.
The moderate French newspapers are
confident that a change Of Ministry will
not adversely affect the foreign relations
of their country. Possibly not. AS
long as the French have this contract
to subdue the Chinese on hand they are
not likely to cause much apprehension
to their neighbors in Europe. NJ Frey
cinet is a statesman who has already
given signal proof of his abilities. He
was at first one of the ablest of the CO.
adjutOTs OF Gambetta, but was subse-
quently driven into opposition by the
latter's projects Of ambition. If he
succeeds IN forming a Ministry in harmo-
ny with the Republican majority in the
| Chamber of Deputies it would te rash to
/ predict tne duration of his government
/ The longest duration of French Min
/ istry since that of Theirs is the one that
J has just fallen, and which last ed little
/ more than two years. Since 1871 there
/ bave been not less than sixteen Presi-
/ dents of Ministry in France, the chan
! ges coming with so much suddenness
/ and frequency as to frighten quiet peo-
/ pie with the fckIeness of republican rule.
/ Whether the new Government has come
( to stay for any reasonable time will de-
pend much on the war in Tonquin and
} the willingness of the people to bear its
| increasing burdens and sacrifices ANY
reverse in the East. no matter how
slight. will enGanger its stability. Phil
! ddelphid Record.