New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-23
SUNDAY EDITION
APRIL 20, 1898.
POLITICS IN FRANCE.
DIFFICULTY OF DEFEATING A PARTY IN
POWER UNDER THE PRESENT
CONSTITUTION

rams, March IS.
The present Constitution of the French Re
,uhrc is so different from that of the
United States that it is no easy task
"a understand all the political troubles which the
banana scandals have brought to a head. The
,svision of this Constitution, adopted in 1915 and
.,,eadv twice seriously amended, is the real
rextion TO be fought out in the coming general
.lactions and not the overflow of the Rcpubli-
can form of Government. Both Royalists and
socialists may hope that such revision would
Cornish them with the means of influencing public
.ninion in their own favor. But. for the moment,
Al, that is wished is to get the party in
,ower out of the way. But TO all appearances
this cannot be done without revision Of the
constitution. Such a state of practical politics
would be incomprehensible in America in France
q is the most natural thing in the world
The reason is TO be found in the parliamentary
Republic" with which France is blessed-a curious
MIXTURE Of the ola regime of absolute govern
ment of English constitutional monarchy without
. king. and of representative government, all
.upposed to be based on universal suffrage Inc
universal suffrage is we'll strained out before the
actual governing of the country begins. In prac-
tire the working of French politics is easy TO
understand when two things are explained how
the Constitution makes a majority OF deputies
absolute rulers of all France and how the party
~ long in power manages to keep this MAJORITY
for itself.
II is the DEPUTIES (members of the lower House,
.,one who are chosen Immediately by universal
suffrage Each one declares his own candidacy
tor election, and is not put forward by the onclai
action of any organized political party: Tor such
narties do not exist 1t is true that ne appei'
10 something, like party sympathy, lie Processes
himself a child of the glorious Revolution ana
the only bona fde friend of the Republic, wheh
his adversary is a Conservative that bewais the
attacks on religion made by the government
II he is opposed by another Republican, say OF
uora radical stamp he shows how dangerous the
o,bers principles are TO peace among citizens
Whom there is a manufacturing constituency, lie
makes capital of his sympathy with the working
mon The Conservative and the Socialist present.
their candidacy in like manner: nowadays theS
sa,dom or never directly attack the republlcah
form of government, but talk, at most, OF some
future revision of the Constitution and against
,pe actual regime. These bonds of sympathy are
but 1oose Under ordinary circumstances, the
election turns ON something special TO the district
snd the candidate. He is already favorabv
known. or he is thought likely to put through
some law favorable TO local interest or class; or
.lse. and this is usually the most important, ne
alrea6v has the influence of Government patronage
and the press
When the Deputies have been elected. they
foil loosely together in groups which are named
from the position Of their seats in the legislative
chamber. The Right is made up of Conservatives
of different shades; those who are frankly Royal
ISIS and Imperialists waiting for better times
Extreme Right, old-fashioned Republicans who
are simply opposed to the radical measures OF
late years Right Centre and variety OF reh-
rious-minded members, new 10 the Republic DuO
rartsans of no hostile pretender THE Right pure
.nd simple). The Left, which has formed the
majority since 1870, has also Left Centre, on
the border line Of conservatism and tolerance OF
,el;oion. and an Extreme Left which wishes to ap-
MY AZ once the most radical measures 70 the re-
lstions of Church and State 10 the regulation DIV
tho State Of labor and capital. to compulsory sec
Mar education, and the like; between the TWO j.
,ta Great body of Opportunists. who are radical
and apti-clerical, but would Use State in'er1er-
srce only az opportunity" offers day by day 'and
not in a sudden. sweeping and arbitrary mahher'
T1a. tho Opportunists are true Radicals. ana NOT
.s hos heen strangely imagined by the English
,,ass Conservative Republicans may be seen from
Tho measures they have enforced. beginning WIN
the rule of Jules Ferry, their great leader Inc
liz, comnrises the DEGREES against religious con-
crecations. the secularizing Of schools. hospitals
and charitable institutions. the enforcement Oh
compulsory military service on all classes without
benefit OF clergy divorce laws and so on. louch-
inr on the Extreme Left are the OUTSIDE group Vi
Socialists and a number Of scattering ui'ra-cA-
IRENE Radicals for whom even the present constr
,n,ion is too conservatives Many of the latter
ue-e Poulanoists and will unite with Socialists
and the Riqht. as they have often done before In
forcing the question of revision at the eiec'on:
Each Of these groups has its own Representatives
men or committee, or INSTRUMENTATION an" wiz"
therc is a grave question Of policy there are
means of giving a common line Oh ac'ion " VIC
runion Of the entire Right or Leu.
Tbo NATIVITY in the Chamber Of Deputies usn-
allv results from coalescing OF the various
ororos oocord;ng IN the matter in hand. II
n,o,ac,i,.e tariff is TO be voted on, Ri9ht anu
I4ft may bc mixed I'D on either side, accoruihs
N tho interests Of the various DISTRICTS anu
without reference TO political ai'iliaoloh' -
Minister u 10 be downed, members OF 'ie LII.
will Ioin for the purpose WIN 'he HEM.
the Right, who have been opposed 10 all -Hin'@ 1.
OF late years When there Is danger u
sentative legislation, through oaiiyihS u
left Centre with the Right Socialists ana INC
ultra-extreme Left vote solidly with Radicals Vi
every shade In general, the Lett ciah'' 10
itself 70 be the only, original ana genuine hepy
can party: as such il was put lor"dru "
Ferry when he inaugurated Iresi"r"' ~
Senate, and again few days later by rri";.
Minister Ribot in the Chamber, and as such
still holds majority Of the Deputies
The power of the Chamber OF Deputies reS" 40
from the absence of any sufficient check on us
action from the part Of the Senate, anu from .''
absolute control which it exercises over the 'ii''
sters. who are the real Executive
The members Of the Senate are now CHOSEN ~
what is called restricted" suffrage, mat ~, "
Commissions in the various departments hn'
ing right 10 seat in the upper house nv
members Of these Commissions depend Tor inc"
own election on the same general influences as
the DEPUTIES themselves, plus the particular in
Auence which the latter may exercise in the de-
parfment As the Senators are elected for term