The morning call., 1893-08-21
THE FRENCH ELECTIONS.

The result of the French elections, so
far as could be obtained last night, will be
found in another column. France went
into the election in perfectly Quiescent
frame of mind. No exciting issues were
involved; there was absoluteiy Y no differ
ence between the platform of one candi-
date and that OF another. The monar-
chst party appears to have ceased to exist {;
out OF 81 candidates registered in Paris
only one prnfessed to be in favor of the
restoration of kings. All over the country
the candidates prOfesSed devotion to the
republic; the differences between them
were in regard to the shape which the de-
votOn should take. In the cities party
which appears to be minority held that
socialism, which in France means much
more than it does in Germany, is the true
expression of patri otsm; in the rural dis
tricts conservative republicanism more
readily meets the views of the people
This latter party will evidently predom-
mate in the coming Chamber. possibly by
two to one. Premier Dupuy will probably
have considerable more than a working
majority.
The only candidature which attracted
attention was that of Clemenceau, who
ran in the van. He has devoted friends
and determined enemies; the latter were
so lmperfectly acquainted with practical
politics that they ran fourteen candidates
against him. The fault that is found with
him is that he was cognlzant of the Pan
ANA scandals long before they were ex-
posed, which is true.
Another candidate who ran some risk of
being defeated is FloQuet. who ran for one
OF the Paris districts. The Paris mob have
never forgiven him for telling them when
he was Prime Minister that il they re-
sorted to barricades or otherln of
the kind be would crush them remorse-
lessly. He had the force, he said, and he
would use it. He is an able man, and if
he has lost his election the Cham Der will
miss him.
There never was time when the pros
poets Of self-goyernment in France were
brighter than they are. The French seem
to have learned at last that politics is not
child's game. to be played with a huIrah
and laugh; but serious pursuit, TO be
undertaken with a s0briety of mind and
earnestnesS of purpose. Among the evil
iegacieS OF the third empire was a spirit of
political inuifferentism which impaired
the fiber of the French people. Under
Napoleon III the French fell back into
their old ha abiL of thinking that the public
business did not concern them; that the
EmI eror would take care of that. 1t has
taken twenty years to cure than OF this
delusiOn. But they seem 10 be cured.
How many votes were cast at yesterdays
election one may net know for a day or
two, but owing to the absence of exciting
issues the vote was probably light. At
the last election out of 10, ,3S7, $3.50 registered
electors 1858. $50 cast their ballots.
The present danger for the French is
not German invasion, but an exhaustion
of the strength of the republic through
overtaxation. No nation can endure per-
manently such load as the French people
are now bearing. II is standing invita-
ton TO the demagogue to preach revolution
and perpetual source of discomfort in the
class upon whose loyalty the French Gov
ernmenI has got to rely for support