The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-04-05
IN. Y. Mail and Express.1
ALL THE WORLD SEES 1T.
The United States an Example
for Other Nations to Follow.

PARIS, March 1.-THE revision of
the French Constitution is one Of the
burning questions in this country
which must be met and solved sooner
or later There exists here small
but able American party" body Of
thoughtful statesmen who would like
to see introduced into France many of
the more important features of the
United States Constitution. M. AL
fled Naquet, the well-known French
Senator, stands at the head of the
body. His long letter on this subject,
which was published in the American
papers last autumn, has just been re-
printed here and has occasioned not
little comment.
M. Naquet's rather radical views are
not shared by all French Republicans,
as is proved by conversation which
I have just had with a well-known
Partisan publicist and journalist. M.
Timothy Colani belongs to the Op-
portunist wing Of the Republican
party; that is to say he is moderate
and European, rather than radical and
American. A friend and admirer of
Gambetta, at one time editor-in-chief
Of the grand orators organ, the Re
publique Francaise, and to-day one Of
the chief editorial writers on this i'm
portant French daily, M. Colani's
views are of value and throw much
new light on current politics. He
says:
''The essential points of M. Naquet's
proposed reform are as follows: 1. The
Ministers shall be chosen outside of
Parliament. 2. They shall not have
seats in Parliament. 3. The rejection
of bill introduced by the Ministers
shall not entail their fall. 4. Parlia-
ment shall have the power to revoke
the President.
II may say at the very start that
France will never accept such a
scheme. or at least would do so only
when yearning for rest in the midst
Of despotism-as, unhappily, she has
already done before. But as long as
we have republican institutions, our
people have no conception Of a gov
ernment that is not under the strict
control of the Chambers. Such a
government is considered by French
men to be the very essence of liberty.
IN, Naquet' is opposed to the resig-
nation Of the ministry on the occasion
of an adverse vote. 1 desire, quite as
much as he, greater stability in our
government, and [ must admit that
too frequent and even dangerous use
is made Of this prerogative Of resign
ing. M. Naquet appears to be con-
cerned only about the legislators lib
erty Of action which this constant
threat of resignation menaces. But
does not M. Naquetsee that it would
be impossible by mere law to make
a politician remain at his post, when
by so doing he would have to accept
ideas which his own conscience re-
fused to entertain-ideas forced upon
him by the Chamber?
''But nj. Magnet would not have
politicians in the Cabinet. His Min
listers would be chosen outside of Par
lament. In the United States it is |
easy to find Cabinet officers of this
kind. Your political personnel is
much more numerous than ours and
is not all included in the Senate and
House Of Representatives. Each
State in your Union has its own leg
islative body and there it is that your
politicians are trained and there it is
that they are to be found when need
ed. We have no s6ch legislative nur-
series in France. Our Deputies un-
dergo no apprenticeship save in the
and outside Of Parliament
there are but very fewsmen trained in
public affairs.
Furthermore, the Constitution Of
France does not restrict the choice of
Cabinet Ministers to members of the
Chamber or Senate. The President
may select his Ministers wherever he
oleases. The present Minister of For
,ign Affairs, M. Flourens, is not a
Of Parliament, although he
will soon be. But if M. Car
lot or his successors were to be called
lpon to purge the Cabinet of its Sen (
Itors and Deputies. he would have to {
urround himself with ex-perfects,
With high functionaries taken from l
he different governmental depart |
nents, with privy councillors, and, in i
hort, with men who would, I have |
10 doubt, be very distinguished and /
neritorious, but who would be embarr a
assed when brought face to face with a
urely political questions. Far from t
eing statesmen. they would be mere \
t
Zone Of the greatest difficulties f
7hich the Republic met with at the I
utset was that all it's partisans were, il
,ithout exception. simply theorists n
tho had never taken part in the man- b
cement of the eountry's affairs. o
ambetta was keeniy aliyeI to our in Il
,riority in this respect, and zealous- a
set about Transforming himself, as 81
ell as many among Us, into men ca G
able of governing. Ws afs begin y
ing to gather the fruit Of this slow 81
ork Of education. d,