The sun., 1893-08-04
The Coming Elections in France.

In little more than a fortnight the
French people will elect new Chamber Of
Deputies. which. unless dissolved before
the close OF Its statutory term. will con-
tlnue to act until midsummer. 1897. The
election will be one OF unusual Importance,
not only because the Deputies to be chosen
will take part with the Senate in selecting
the next President of the republic. but be-
cause, for tho first time. there will be q
chance of testing the numerical strength Of
the Conservatives. who. In pursuance Of the
advice given by Pope LEO Kill. have rallied
to the support Of democratic institutions.
Another question Of great moment will be
interests as agriculture. manufactures. and
answered. namely. whether such national
commerce will be adequately represented,
or whether the next Chamber will be con-
trolled by substantially the same body Of
professional politicians who have been dom
inant during the last fifteen years.
How the last-named question would be
answered might have been more easily pre-
dicted had the election taken place when
the popular evaporation at the Panama
Canal scandals was at its height. The ex-
posure Of corruption on the part OF
some Of the Deputies and even OF some
Of the Ministers had the effect OF fix
ing attention on the general character
of the assembly which isinvcsted with the
power Of making laws for a great nation.
The results OF close inspection and class.
fcation OF the members were by no means
reassurinG. The landowning aristocracy,
whose patriotism, at all events. cannot be
disputed in view Of the sacrifices made by
1t In the war Of 1870. was represented In the
last Chamber by only small minority.
Few as were the delegates OF the larger
landowners. these greatly outnumbered
the men competent to speak for the princi-
pal fields Of French intelligence and energy.
One could almost reckon on the fingers the
representatives OF shipowners. merchants
engaged In foreign commerce. vine grow
ers, ironmasters, manufacturers OF wool
lens and silks. or OF any other class of cap
italists engaged in promoting the produc-
tive capacities OF the country. Even the peas
ant proprietors who constitute 80 impos-
ing fraction Of the population. were almost
destitute OF spokesmen. qualified by intelli-
gence and sympathy. in alegislature which.
at any hour might be called upon to deal
with agrarian questions. So far as the rural
cerned. these. as a rule. sent to the Cham
Der country lawyers or doctors, to whom
the pay OF a Deputy-9OOO francs. or about
81 ,70O q year-offered considerable attrac-
tions. In Paris and the larger cities the
voters elected representatives OF the prole-
tarat imbued with Socialist ideas. or else
barristers who were not sufficiently sue
cessful at the bar to cling to 1t. and
whose principal equipment for lawmak-
ing was readiness to speak at any
length upon all occasions. On the whole,
the composition OF tho last Chamber
was ludicrously unsuited to reflect the
qualities and direct the destinies Of such
country as France. whose power OF sup
porting q stupendous debt and OF evolving
iimitless resources In the three great chan
nels Of human labor. agriculture. manufac-
lures. and commerce. is among tho most
memorable facts OF history.
There can be. We repeat. but little doubt
that the new Chamber would have been
more truly representative OF tho French
people. had tho election taken place some
four or five months ago. But all attempts
to compel the dissolution OF the Parliament
failed: and. In tho interval. even the poll-