The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-19
Tho situation in France.


and that the general election OF Deputies
will take place in the latter part OF August
1t will be an election Of great Importance
both on account OF tho social questions in
volved and because the Deputies chosen
will. in conjunction with the Senators
designate the next President Of the repub.
lie. How have recent events affected the
prospects Of Presidential candidates.. and
what Is likely to be the relative strength Of
parties in the new Chamber
| So far as Paris and the other principal CEN
tres OF urban population are concerned. the
| effect OF the Panama scandal seems to be q
negligible factor. No wing Of the Republic
can party can be said to have been discred-
tied collectively by the imputation OF
corruption to individual members. Even
those public men who. by their own confess
sion. have been proved guilty Of miscon-
duct. or who were at one time the objects OF
well-grounded and general suspicion. have
regained a certain measure Of consldera-
ton and Of interest. M. RoUvIER Is again
permitted to discuss financial questions on
the floor Of the House and in committee;
NJ. FLoQUET Is still the leader Of the Rad
ical Left. section which. without openly
protesting Socialist doctrines. has shown
itself peculiarly disposed to cooperate with
Socialists. Even In favor Of M. Gle MEN,
CEAU. whose private relations with CoRNE-
Illus HERR have apparently made him O
political outcast. a reaction has set in, owing
to the silly attempt to connect him with GER
tain documents which were alleged to have
been stolen from the British Embassy, but
which turned out to be forgeries. The
Parisians. at all events. are 80 thoroughly
tired Of the Panama affair. that charges
based upon it may lower. but can no longer
ruin. public man in their opinion. With
reference to this matter. however. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether the peasants
will evince equally short memories. But.
whatever may be the bitterness engen-
dered In them by the loss OF the savings
invested in the Panama Canal. they cannot
this year vent their feelings as they did in
1889. by voting for avowed opponents of the
existing Republican regime. They will
have to choose between Modera to and Rad
ical Republicans. for only in a relatively
few districts will the shrunken rump of the
Monarchical party put forward can didates
Of Its own.
OF the Moderate Republican party now
In process Of evolution. NJ. constants Is the
most conspicuous and powerful representa-
tive, and recent speech of his discloses
the elements Of which it will be composed.
Its nucleus consists Of Republicans. like NJ.
LEON SAY and M. WADDINGToN. who may
be described as French Wings. and Of
almost all the surviving Opportunities,
who since the death Of M. FERRY, must
recognize in n. constants their natural
leader. The problem before this party Is
to lose as few Of it's former supporters as
possible. while. at the same time, attract
Ing all OF the rallied" Republicans. the
term applied to the new recruits brought
over from the Monarchists by the repeated
tnjunctions Of the Pope. To prevent these
recruits from setting up candidates of their
own. and to weld them into effective Co
operation with the Opportunists, is an
extremely difficult task, because 1t was
precisely the Opportunist faction which,
through GAMBETrA and FERRY. organized
the warfare against religion, and babe |
see in clericalism a foe with
which no compromise was possible. Now |
the Catholics not unreasonably think that. |
before they turn their votes over to the |
Opportunists. the latter ought to meet the |
Pope half way. and show some evidence OF |
q change OF heart. Private assurances the |
leading Opportunists are undoubtedly will
Ing to give. but public declarations they
dare not make. lest they be held by the bulk
Of their former followers to have betrayed
thelr principles. To effect at this time a
fusion Of the rallied Republicans, or ex-
with the old adherents OF
iAMBETTA. requires man OF consummete
act. coupled with great flrInness OF charac-
,er: and. now that JULES FERRY Is dead, NJ.
CONSTANTS is probably the only one who
Gould accomplish 1t.
Even before the recent disturbances In
Paris emphasized the want of sympathy
between NJ. CARNors Ministers and the
representatives OF labor. 1t was evident
hat socialism would deeply leaven the
Radical party in the next Chamber, even IL
did not constitute the preponderant ele-
nent. Not only In Paris. Marseilles, and
lyons. but In all the large manufacturing
nd mining districts, the Socialists now
constitute either majority or a very
trong minority. In Paris last week they
we're able. through NJ. FhoQUET and other
Members OF the Radical Left. to exert such
PRESSURE on tho DUPuY Cabinet as to force
to reverse Its policy, dismiss the ener-
'etic NJ. LozE from the Prefecture of Po-
Ice. and suspend the execution OF the threat
o close the Labor Exchange. That NJ.
,UPUY. after posing for weeks as an I'M
inching upholder of law and order. should
ave suddenly submitted to the will ,
the proletariat. is universally at
ributed to the personal Intervention OF
], CARNoT. who wishes to see the coming
lections managed by the present Ministry.
'hich is mainly made up of persons lnsig-
ihcant In themselves but supposed to be /
evoted to his interests. By this act of ILL
med sl5sery!ency, dictated by selfish :
'0tiVes' thB President has seriously In