New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-26

Today he l. President Of the Senate, and III, 81
dent Of the Senate is the second place i'll the
political hierarchy Of the Republic lie is one
of the recognized advisers Of President Carnot.
lie would have In case Of a proposed dissolution
of the Chamber greater authority than the Prime
Minister In case Of congress, he would pre-
side over it with command Of the troops. Any
President of the Senate would, buo NJ Ferry be-
comes President in circumstances which II greatly
10 his influence. We have been hearing for the
last two months that Opportunism is deaf. and
the greatest OF the Opportunsts is suddcnly
chosen to the greatest vacant post in France
He completes the OpportunlSt Quadril1tcra. Op-
portunism stands fair and square to all the winds
that blow. The President Of the Republic the
President of the Council. the President Of the
Chamber and now the President of the senate,
are all OppOrtunists.
The secret history Of his election has yet 10
he written but imagine that II is due 10 some
thing very different from those ca'als and in
trigucs which are too often the web which
French politics are woven. France wanted
strong man in reserve and IN readiness 10 act i'll
crisis She has him in her new President of
the senate NJ Jules Ferry, whatever else may
bc said of him, has rs a public man thus cln-
trolling merit-hc believes that Government
ought 70 govern When he had the chance. he
minister which most eminent Frcnchmcn think
the same thing. lie did something more than
run department. or even ministry. lie I'M
pressed his will upon France. He had ideas and
he made them operative mere Parliament irIan
is content with Parliamentary success. Ills
broadcst vision does not extend beyond s'cinC his
idea if he happen TO have one oppressed IN
statute Whether the statute is to be dead
letter or living force concerns him not. VI.
Ferry had more than ideas; he had an IDEAL
lie wanted to see a France free from kings aoSo-
lutclv and free from priests welding polltica
authority or controlling education. The forces OF
disorder at home TO him as much enemies oi
France as the Germans across the Rhine or the
English across the Channel He in measure
sacrificed himself to these three aims. He Gre
ated three sets OF enemies The RoyalN'f. IN"
Clergy and the Socialists had common stand
point in their hatred of the man who had haiiici
all three The Radicals hated him NJ. ll"-
menccan hated him worst Of all. albeit they
were agreed on the clerical question.
France owes him Tonquin and owes him lnnls'
and cannot forgive him her debt TonlHin - a
costly mistake. but VI Ferry car hardly h" blamed
for rp pfnsinr 70 believe that his countrym"n inl
as colonists or for clutching at an lndo-Chin"~'
oo,n;ro or nj the shadow of one. His country
mon thought that they paid tco dear. hoth IN
treasure and in blood. for this phantom sover-
eiGnty Tunis is cheaper and more useful, II any
French colony he useful. Prime" bismarck nrSed
NJ Ferry 10 take il, knowing that TIA" s"lznr"
would cmbroil France permanently with Italy. a.
il has NJ Ferry was tool and Iunl~ was
ACQUIRED by a trick Of Ills or NJ RouTanS con-
triving: bur you cannot expect every hoN I" s'
through Prince Bismarck or 10 contend with nun
successfully and il tricks were 10 be di~conIag"u
what would become Of politics and diplomacy
g. W :.