The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-15

the fact that they wero merely instruments O
outside aRitators, who, while compelling then
TO abandon their work. and formulate mad
Missile claims. had quite another thing II
view than forwarding their interests. The,
went back to the workshops and the mines
the greater number OF them receiving no con
cessions whatever from their employers. Thu
goes to show that the demands that had beer
suggested to them we're simply pretext. The
| truo character Of those artificial strikes wnt
! clear enough. These movements were Q
part Of preconceved plan to create
trouble whenever tho signal came from Paris
Tho smallest flRht in the streets OF tho cari'
tai would have sutliced for the leaders in tho
provinces to persuade the workmen that the
time for general rising had come. The eN-
pectod event having failed to occur. the execu-
ton OF the plan was reduced to isolated mani
festations. Two or three OF these manifest a.
tIons werc OF alarming proportions. especially
in tho Department OF the North and In the De-
partment OF the Gard
Now that the danger Is over a good result
will probably follow. 1t has certainly shown
to the workr1en. who really have In view moth
ing beyond their rights and their interests.
that before lending an ear to the organizers OF
strikes they will do well to examine what they
are asked TO do. and how far they are expected
to 20. 1t has also shown that the workmen are
beginning to know when to halt when they
find themselves on the wrong road. provided
they have time for reflection. They must be-
como masters Of their FIRST movement before
France and Paris especially, will be able to
permit. without danger to the public tranquil
lily. the spectacle OF o procession OF 100000
men. like the one which. on May A. marched
through the streets OF London. These great
manifestations require an experience OF liberty
somewhat longer than ours and, perhaps. also
q temperament less excitabe. and less prone
to believe that the foundations Of society may
DO renewed in a few hours.
HI.
These interludes OF agitation. which will
yet be repeated more than once do not
hinder our internal situation from devel-
oping favoraby. On the contrary. each
new danger. safely past consolidates
the progress accomplished and renders
1t more apparent The warning of May has
had it's happy epilogue. Ordinarily when an
incident OF this kind occurs the Government Is
placed between two difficulties, from one or
other OF which 1t cannot escape. II 1t takes
precautionary measures, and the day OF peril
passes without trouble. Il Is sure to be &C.
cused by the opposing parties OF having
liberty and flung a challenge
men and soldiers. II. on the other hand. in
order to escape this reproaoh. 1t allows things
to take their course. and fighting occurs. it is
charged with want OF hrmness and foresight.
In this case NJ. Constans has had the good for
tune to find the plans thut he adopted to him
der disorder unanimously approved. The
whole population lost sight Of its political
opinions in the great fact that il the manifes-
tation of the workman had not degener-
ated into troubles. perhaps very grave. 1t
was due to the arrest OF certain leaders
IF the movement and to the display OF
The means Of repression by which the Minister
Of the Interior had notified the agitators that
10 was ready and resolved to crush them II
hey showed any disposition to trouble the pub
ic peace. This general appreciation was re-
lected in Parliament by q vote that may be
considered as an event in itself. Two OF the
members OF the group that profess to repre-
ent in the Chamber the interests and the
lights OF the laboring men tried to have re- |
course to the old tactics by condemning the
conduct of the Government. The result was
hat they succeeded in procuring for that con- |
luct a brilliant parliamentary ratification. BY |
majority Of 3T4 against 56. the Deputies gave |
vote of confidence to the Ministry. vote no |
ess significant ratified by 403 against So the |
lecision OF the Minister of tho Interior
einstatinR the Project Of the Seine In the |
Hotel de Vile. The figures Of the maJorities
re not the only things to be considered In
hese two circumstances. The important and |
ovel fact OF the case is that the Deputies who
ormed the monarchical oppositions aban-
oned their hostile attitude. More than half
them voted with the Republicans in favor OF
he Government The factions OF advanced
also gave their suffrages to NJ. Con-
tInt,
one when they were afraid Of compromising
leir popularity by favorinR apparently re-
ctlorary measures. The same spirit was
infested in the Council OF Ministers. The
To representatives ofthe radical Left and Of the
xtreme Left approved. with their colleagues,
feverythinR that was done and resolved With
10 old parliamentary politics We would inevi-
IDLY have had n crisis. or at least dissolu-
on OF the Ministry 1t Is only just to say that
|. Constans unites admirably In his language
nd in his acts the spirit OF liberty and the
brit OF government. He puts into his ad-
resses extreme candor without rudeness,
nd a practical exactness which go to the bot
I'm OF things. avoiding the hiRh-sounding
ords OF eloquence. He possesses above all
lings. tranquil firmness and a resolute
me- without bluster. which disconcerts his
iversaries. His manner forms q striking
'utrdSt Will INC bmUlRultoS ana the tlLnor-
ls compromises which his predecessors ex-
bited. There Is. consequently. a large per-
'nal share to be given to this Minister In the
MON OF parties which Is going on. as the re-
lit of his policy and that OF the Government
'ho could have imagined year ago that We
lould 80 soon see Moderates. Radicals. and
anarchists all voting together?
For the first time since 1898 1t may be said
at France Is about to break of the habit of
Ron or latent opposition to her governments.
| the varied ordeals through which she has
lssed In the course Of a century under every
gime, her statesmen have found themselves
by some opposition. which appeared
form the very foundation of the national
lRracter. This disposition seems to be dying
It. l will not go 80 far as to say that the
nGing and the perpetual dream OF change
hich occupy the mind OF portion
our people, even in the calmest
Lys. have disappeared forever. For
at 1t would be necessary to suppose
Mt we haYA chanpad our mnaramant Rut