Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06

step with the Minister of the Interior. When
YOU add to this the fact that the Prefeet su-
perintends the counting of the votes under
the superior direction of the Minister of the
Interior, you will see that il the American
machine" is unknown in France, this
country is saddled with worse curse-the
active participation of the Government
itself in the elections. do not exaggerate
this feature of French public life. 1t is Of
common occurrence in the history of politics
in this country that a Prefect is removed
simply because he failed to carry his de.
partment for the Government party by
''putting the screws on" Paris has not
vet attained to the political fnesse of the
New York boys by voting citizens. in
"blocks OF ive." but she surpasses Wash
ington in the use of the peoples money to
advance party interests So the friends of
reform in America will not find much COM
fort here.
WHAT THE RESULT MAY BE.
l do not care to make any predictions.
Popular elections are always uncertain,
day, over ], 500 candidates in the field, and
particularly when the voters are all French
men. But this much can be safely said,
perialists and Boulangists-succeed in hold
ing their own by electing 200 candidates,
about a third of the Chamber, the political
situation will not have changed. The down.
hill course of the Third Republic will not
be checked, Boulanger, or some undiscov-
cred man personifying the general discon-
tent, will come to the front again, and the
overturning of Ministries will 60 on, as
during the past four years, until the final
catastrophe arrives.
But if the Republicans succeeded in re-
ducing, say to 100 members, the combined
opposition, result which scarcely seems
possible, the Government will have gained
such a material and moral victory that the
republic will be able to bridge the abyss on
the very edge of which it has been trem-
bling for the past IL month so rmore, and will
go on its way rejoicing for another term of
years.
If, however, the Republicans triumph,
you must carefully examine, before jump
ing to any conclusions, whether it be the
Conservative or radical Republicans who
have gained in strength. The two groups
were about equally divided in the last
chamber, each like the right being about
200 strong.
BAD FOR THE REPUBLIC.
II the Radicals increase in numbers-and
it looks very much as if such would be the
case-the prospects of the Republic are less
bright than if the Conservative Republicans
regain the ground which they lost in the
election of 1856. There is nothing in the
doctrines of French Radicals to serious
ly brighten an American, and at heart
should like to see Clemenceau and his
friends increase their strength. But France
is excessively Conservative, especially pro-
yincial France, and if this Conservative
element sees the Republic in the hands OF
the Radicals it will go over to the enemy,
and then the third Republic will have
lived. Hence, in France, Americans should
be Conservative Republicans.
To sum up then: If the Right and Bou-
LANCER should gain majority in the Cham
Der, say 800 seats, fear we shall have to bid
goodby to the Republic. at least in its pres
ent form; if they hold their own and come
back 200 strong, the old danger exists and
the crisis is simply postponed; if the Re
publicans as a whole can muster 500 votes
in the new Chamber, for good time to come
the Republic can take care of itself and its
enemies; if the Conservative Republicans
increase their majority say to 300-it is now
about 200-this will be an excellent sign;
but if, on the contrary, the Radicals add
new recruits to their rather disjointed and
pbalanx of 200, then, as the
sailors say, "look out for squalls"
THEODORE STANTON