The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-20
NJ. CLEMENCEAU'S WORK.
THE TRENcH MrNIsrnKrAL CRISIS
Sprung so Suddenl, Tint IL Ras Little or No
Disturbing Eject Upon the Public.
Foreign Affairs.

PARIS, Feb l9.--Thc mi isteral crisis was
spruug 80 suddenly and with SO little cause
upon the Chamber YESTERDAY that u has had
little or no disturbing ect as yet upon the
public. There is some excitement but it is
confined to pare.y political circles. although
it is capable OF extending Il famed into
flame To-day Paris is perfectly quit Affairs
in the ministries auI at the Palais Bourbon
90 on the same as ever. Everybody awaits
the result with tranquility.
The prevailing opinion IL that there will
be dissolution OF the Chamber unless tho
ministry. which has lust resigned. is patched
up. VI. de treycinet. who d!ned with tre>i-
dent Carn0t last -ht was clOseted with him
to-day 1t is evident that the President Is
reluctant to accept his resignation and the
separation Of q ministry which has Deen so
beneficial TO france.
CLEMENCEAU LAID THE TRAP.
N. Clemenceau. leader Of the Radicals, was
at the bottom OF the crisis. as he has been OF
nearly all crises of the kind tor many years.
He IS quick 20 turn others out of office. but
never takes office himself. In the present
case. M de Freycinet had no intention OF
pressing the associations bill, whichwas de
signed merely 10 frighten the bishops and
please the Radicals. The demand for urgency
placed the Premier In difficult position. IL
he accepted the motion 1t would be equivalent
to direct attack on the Church and would
bring down upon the Government the hos
tllity OF the Right. while to refuse urgency
would betray insincerity on the part of tho
Government.
In this situation NJ. de Freycinet tried TO
eQuiyocate. whereupon NJ. Clemenceau
sternly called upon him to drop his political
subtletes and state plainly whether he was
for or against separation OF Church and
State Stung 10 the quick. NJ de Frey cinet
called for a vote of confidence. He hoped TO
be supported by coalition of the mOderates
with the Radicals or the Right. He was
baiiied in both. as Clemenceau intended he
should be. and beaten by the combination of
the Radicals with the Right. which Clemen-
ceau, the most artful tactlcan IN the Cham
Der, had quickly arranged.
THE REsIGEATIoNs ACCEPTED.
President Carnot accepted the designations
of the ministers lie had long conference
with NJ De Freyclnet before concluding &C
ceptance. and the Premier told the
President that his action could not
be recalled. and that the course oi
the Chamber allowed no choice between
dishOnor and resignation. NJ. talliers, the
minister OF public worship. Is looked upon
with coldness by his colleagues as the pri-
attitude towards the clergy. and the support
ers Of the Government Join in c0ndemnine
his policy az rendering the catastrophe OF
yesterday inevitable.
After the defeat of the ministry yesterday
there was a remarkable scene in the chamber
At first the majority were as tbunderstruck
as the minority. They had hardly expected
10 overthrow the ministry by such an extra
ordinary vote. The followers of the old
regime who had sat in calm hauteuI
day after day. watching the onward sweer
of the current beyond their control sud
denly awoke 10 sense of the result
They threw aside dignity and began embrac
ing. some even kissing others. Stately MOBILES
from remote parts of France where loyalty "a
the church and royal house is born IN the peo-
ple forgot their reserve and danced about Ike
deryisnes in their delight at the defeat
Of the ministry. The minority. on the other
hand. was first dumfounded and frantic and
answered the shouts Of JOYS with yells and ex-
clamations The prudence Of the ministry IN
promptly retiring without threats prevented
serious disturbance.