Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-01-01
TIE FRENCH Crisis.
DE FREYcINEr UNWILLING.


PARIS, Dec 3l.-Gfevy accepted the
resignation of Brisson last evening and
this morning summoned DeFrsycinet
to form . new Cabinet. De Freycinet,
however. is reluctant to accept such
responsibility at the present msment in
view of the gravity of the political stu
alton in France. He has asked the
President to grant him time to consider
the proposal and to consult with his
friends and the Republican leaders.
The FRAScK OF TODAY.
An English observer has recently Civ
en- the following picture OF the com
mercial and industrial situation in
France: For the month of November,
figures of French imports and exports
show decline of $15,00O,o00 as com
pared with the same month of 1884
There was q decrease on both sides of
the account. There is no doubt that
France is approaching a crisis in com
mercial and finaneisl affairs. and one
that will long be felt by the French peo-
pie. The causes which are slswly
and. surely bringing about this
state of sffairs are several, but the
most prominent one is the extravaeance
eral years. The Government. since
Marshal MaeMahon retired to private
life, has built thousands Of miles OF un-
profitable railroads and thousands of
schools. of which four-fifths were not
wanted. From 500 100000 to 800
coo coo for ths roads and from $50, ,000,- :
900 to $4,000, 600 for the schools were
thrown into circulation and created the
false prosperity of which 1881 marked
the eliminating point. The psople
literally did not know what to do With
their monsy. and as they could Eot find
any profitable employment for il IN
agriculture and industry. 1t went into
all sorts OF stock exchange speeu-
lations aud building operations.
Nov has come the reckoning and il is
by no means 3 cheerful one. Although
taxation in every form and shape pas
reached heights undreamed of before,
the income from this source has fallen
of during the last few years, and the
most ingenious bookkeeping has not
been able tn hide from the public the
constant deficit. A floating debt is roll
ing up Of which nobody knows the
real smoan,, and 20 long as money can
he had IL Is not supposed TO matter.
Near after wear France has been spend
ing millions beyond its income. II II
proceeds much loaeer in its habits of
exsravagauce, the French treasury sim
ply will have TO confess that 10 is insol-
vent.
The prospects of agriculture and in
dustEy are not mere cheering TO the
competition from America and Aus
tralia. French farming has been less
profitable Of late years snd the
value of the cattle has de.
creased b per cent. The investor
in hoose property are not much better
OF. In the provinces such property has
become very difficult Of sale uniess At
an snormous depreciation and in Paris
the state Of things 10 not much better,
though there - Of, course, q
large market. More than 5000 sppart-
msnts are to let In PARIS. Rents have
gone down 10 TO 20 per cent. and even
at the reduced amount, 10 is Impossible
TO let. la the Boalevard HousInaxn
and the Boulevard des Italis ns, in fact,
In every part Of commercial Paris, you
can see every where for months. nay
for years, bills stuck up TO let, where
formerly il vss mos: dific1lt 30 2es q
rooH.