The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-02
A san CHANGE IN FRANCE

A SAD CHANGE IN FRANCE
Renewal or Hostility netvesA Church
aaa state-Fope leo XIII. saa HIS
fruitless ERers 60 Produce Marmony-
Politics conOnsed-The Fature Doubtful.
PARIS. March 1a-My presentimcnts were
only too well founded when foresaw that the
religious question was once moro about 10 play
part In our internal politics. offer tho hostile
manifesto issued by the Cardinal Arch bishops.
Tho consequences were not long In arriving.
They have cvon advanced at more rapid rate
than expected, and they are moro serious
than Thought they would be.
Our parliament began its session on tho 10th
OF February. Three Days afterward the Min
istry was overthrown In q discussion upon tho
relations between the Church and the State.
The great progress obtained for the past two
years consisted In putting aside this irritating
debate. which invariably has the unfortunate
popularity OF bringing about confusion
In parties and aronsing opposing pas
sions to q point In which overy political
and even patriotic consideration is lost
sight OF. A few days sufflced to lose ell the
ground that had been gained The Chamber
OF Deputies forgot In On instant the Mood OF
stability In the Govornmen the services rem
dered for two years by the Freycinet Cabinet
abroad as we'll as at home. and the esteem and
personal sympathy which had boon Justly won
by several OF It's members. Guided solely by
religious antagonism. It has thrown France
back again into Ministerial crisis as untore-
seen as 1t 10 unfortunate; and It cannot be
looked upon as simple incident There
is complete change In the situation. We
have had tho immediate proof OF It In the
difficulties encountered in the formation Of .
new Ministry. At the commencement II was
thought that the thing might be all settled
In twenty.four hours; that the Chamber
BY new vote would reopen the door for the
deposed Ministry. and that the latter. sllRhtly
modified. would hold the direction OF Affairs
under the continued presidence Of N. de Frey.
cinet But things have turned out quite Diff
ferently. The Cabinet persisted in It's resig-
nation. The President Of the Republic. after
four Of i've days passed in interviews with sew.
eral members OF the two Chambers. and three
fruitless attempts at a Ministerial reoonstitu-
ton. at last brought about a combination that
seems to be very precsrious.
An obscure member Of the Senate. Loubet.
was placed at the head Of the Council. Six
OF the former Ministers retained their port
folios. and the change was limited TO four
names without Significance or marked po-
liticol influence. This solution. preceded By
almost an entire fortnight OF cropping In
the dark. caused surprise rather than sat-
isfaction. because 1t is not considered as q
real and final outcome Of the crisis. In re-
gard to three OF the former Ministers, every
body Is OF the opinion that they ought to keep
their respective departments. on account OF
the special ability OF which they have given
proof: NJ de Freycinet In the War Ministry.
In order to continue the military organization
OF the country: M. Rouvier in the Finance De-
partment. into which ne has brought order
and regularity: and NJ. Ribot In Foreign AZ
fairs. which require to-day more than ever Q
steady line Of policy in the hands Of q man
recognized by the European powers. and In.
spring them with confidence It was ex-
pected that NJ. Constans would be retained In
office as Minister Of the Interior. in which post
he displayed IN energy which won for him Q
certain amount Of popularity.
But beside these foreseen and well-ground.
ed retenttons In office It was thought that
N. Csrnot would call around him men chosen
from among the important personages Of
one or the other Chamber. principally from
he Chamber Of Deputies. The latter in ef-
feet WAS thrown into confusion by tho vote
which overthrow the Ministry. The ma
jority formed since 1850 by the almost COM
plete fusion OF the Republican party is now
broken. and the difficulty is to reestablish It
and bring back cohesion into the disintegra
ranks. in order not to fall back into that par
liamentary anarchy In which We have lived for
nearly ten years. Will NJ. Loubet and the few
new colleagues. with hardly any political ante
cedents, that he has brought with him
into the Ministry DO equal to the DIM
cult task which Is before them2 It is
doubtful: and we find the contrary Of what
happens ordinarily under such circumstances:
t.. kh> rlotu {na ~ kron IT,
ing public opinion. leaves It under the impress
sion OF an uneasiness greater than that which
was caused BY the crisis itself. Anxiety for
the future Is augmented rather thap dissi-
psted. and people have the presentiment that
from behind the crisis momentarily termin-
ated others will arise. I believe can discern.
according to the comments OF the foreign
press. that this instructive distrust is not felt
in France alone.
Tho FIRST appearance before the Chamber Of
the reconstructed Ministry has only partially
dlssipated the uncertainty that. its compost
ton created. It Is true that 1t has squarely
laid down the programme OF its policy upon
the essential question of the moment BY de-
clarlng itself opposed to the separation Of the
Church and State. and by affirming the neces-
sity OF maintaining diplomatic relations with
the holy See. It Is also true that this pro-
gramme has obtained an approving vote Of
325 against rs. But this vote says nothing
for the future. It in no Wise assures the for
nation OF q compact and permanent Min
isterial majority. The deputies, while 10
cording sort OF provisional sdtisfecit have
displayed very undecided dispositions: and
thoir attitude indicates less solid sympathy
for the new Cabinet than doubts In regard
to Its torn OF existence. They have accepted
It, butthey have not adopted It. We find the