New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-23

'o"cc IN any Ministry lie might rame. The only
"S LOT this absolute control OF the Exec
"Ne py majority Of Deputies is dissolution
' icsiSia'iNe assembly, and appeal TO rev
senerai elections throughout the country. Bat
nei'her President nor Senate, with whom thi,
risht rests, would exercise il except under
'he utmost compulson of necessity. Unless some
extraordinary public excitement equivalent to "A
revolution, should withdraw voters from the or
olhary influences thrown around them, the gen
cr'il character of the newly elected Chamber would
not be different from what went before.
This system Of rule is called by its founders
and advocates the parliamentary Republic
parliamentary, perhaps, from its acceptance OF
the principle of ministerial responsibility Dor
rowed from the English Parliament; Rcpubc,
as being representative government based on
universal suffrage. Its absolute character Is well
expressed by the Radical journal already quoted
Authority belongs, in republican country, 10
the legislative assemblies alone
The practical workings of the system may be
seen from the facts of the last fourteen years in
which it has had full play. The charge of
Ministries, that is of the men who make up the
executive branch of government, has gradually
come TO average three times every two years:
the legislative majority. absolutely controlling
the executive. has remained essentially unchanged.
1t was the great exploit of Minister Constans that
the last general elections, managed under his
direction, secured the permancDce of this majority
to the Left All the present efforts of Minister,
and majority are TO make sure the same result
in the coming elections
The second qucs;ion-how the Left always man
ages to hold together its majority in the Chamber
of Deputies among groups differing on methods
and measures of public policy. and amid all the
icalousies of individual leaders-might almost I've
answered from what has been said
The special process, however, has a name given
it by Jules Ferry, who first clearly its pos
sbity under the new Constitution and consist
emily PVT it in practice H." callsG Ii Krp9hn
Republicans" pure and simple as they call them
selvts-are to vote together whenever either of
two dangers presents ITSELF first, of the executive
power falling into Conservative hands; secondly,
of any retreat from Radical legislation already in
force
As the majority of Deputies know that their
tenure of Office depends entirely on the avoidance
of these dangers. there has never been let up
brea% in this first degree of concentration. II at
once excludes every Conservative or anti-parlia-
mentarlan from any power in the Government
This appeal for concentration if not always so
successful, is also made when any new radical
legislation is desired In such cases. for example,
the Left Centre may hold back with the Right
bat then the fragment of Socialists beyond the
Extreme Left may take the place of the default
Speaking generally concentration has worked
steadily TO the advantage OF The Radicals OF IN"
Extreme Lett. Their leaders, l"m"nc"in, frev-
cnet and Floquet. We're having things their
own way until the discredit brought on the
entire Radical Left by the banana disclosures.
Then, TO prevent revulsion of popular feeling
in the country and TO strengthen the allegiance
of the Left Centre in the legislative assembly,
few steps backward were taken in the direction
Of Opportunsm. Jules Ferry, who had been
sacrificed private animosites and public clamor,
was brought back by the Senate and support has
been given in the Chamber of Deputies 10 In"
patchwork Ministry Of the Opportunist Ribot
yoled with the extreme Radical bourgeois j:
This Ministry is not thought strong enough 10
direct the general elections. il is possible that
Constans NAV again b. brought 10 the front. even
at this late day That he il personally oh
noyious TO the majority is no grave objection
TO this: the one thing necessary Is that they
should remain the ma orty, while the beauty
Of the parliamentary system lies precisely III IN"
possibility of getting rid Of a man after using
him.
II is on this management Of the general cleo
tions that the answer TO a third question depends.
namely. how the Left, retaining by the method
described its majority in the Chamber OF Depn-
ties can secure a return Of new Deputies amen
able 10 the same method That the party IN
rover has this ability in ordinary times may DE-
seen from the result Of every general election
since 1879 The present year will det"rmin"
whittier their method is valid in the extraordinary
ferment of minds which has followed on the ran
anna disclosures