The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-11
The New French Chamber.

We print elsewhere letter from our dis
tinguished Paris correspondent on the sig
nificance of the last general election in
France. as disclosed by the composition OF
the new Chamber. According to M. MAS
sERAs. the majority Of Moderate Republic
cans is larger and more stable than has
been generally supposed. but he points out
that its conference will depend upon the
nature Of the programme to be put forth by
the Ministry. The instrument indispensa-
BILE for parliamentary government. a party
at once homogeneous and preponderant. Is
at last forthcoming: it remains to be seen
whether the present Premier. M. DUPUY.
can handle it, or whether he must give
way to some one more alive to the require
ments Of the situation.
Our correspondent AYERS S4iat Of the 5s1
Deputies $50 should be classified as Moderate
Republicans. OF the 23l votes belonging
to the Opposition he assigns about 60 to
the Monarchists and some so to the Social
lists: the remaining 100 have hitherto been
described as Radical Socialists. but our cor
respondent does not believe that they will
act together. much less with the Socialists,
who on their part, he says. cannot agree on
any definite plan OF collective action. He Is
convinced that M. GOBLET will fail In the
attempt to organize league Of Socialists
which. while leaving liberty of opinion to
each subdivision. would keep the whole
Radical Socialist opposition under perma-
nent discipline as regards voting. 1t Is pre-
dicted that GOBLET, being essentially lib
eral. will in the end resume his old associa-
tions with the Republican majority rather
than drift into the Socialist camp. The
views expressed by our correspondent on
this point constitute a most striking fea-
ture Of his letter. If NJ. GOBLET cannot hold
together the III members Of the advanced
Left. no concerted action on their part seems
probable. Neither NJ. MEILLERAND nor NJ.
PELLETAN. who were lieutenants Of NJ.
CLEMENcEAU. is likely to succeed where NJ.
GOBLET fails. and persuade Radicals and
Socialists to work in harmony
But while the creation Of Radical-So-
cialist opposition for constructive purposes
embodied in definite programme is pro-
nounced out Of the question. the 12l Radi-
calls and 80 Socialists might combine with
the 60 Monarchists for the purpose OF over
throwing the Ministry for the time being,
II they could count upon q reinforcement
large enough to make the attack effectual
They would need for the purpose only 60
votes. since 29l would be majority Of the
Chamber. Such a reinforcement they may
obtain from some section Of the Moderate
Republican party, II that party Is not kept
in thorough concord and under firm disci-
pline by the Ministry. How can such con-
cord be secured? Only. according to NJ
MAssERAs. by the announcement and main
tenance OF a clearly defined attitude to-
ward all the questions with which the
French Parliament will have to deal. Pre-
dominant among such questions are
these: How shall the budget recover
the equilibrium which it has lost How
shall the rising tide OF the public debt be
checked? How and where shall legislators
limit the interference OF the State with the
regulation Of social problems +? The vague
and elusive answers given to Theses Ques-
tions by the Ministries which lived from |
hand to mouth under the conditions of the |
last Chamber. will no longer be tolerated by
a majority which knows its mind and knows |
its power 1t ID plain that our correspond
ent has some doubts as to NJ. DUPUY's pos
sessing the firmness OF character required |
to meet the demand OF the Moderate Re- |
publicans for an explicit and straightfor- |
ward programme. He thinks. apparently. |
that such men as M. CAsIMIR PERIER and |
NJ CAvAIGNAc. assisted. perhaps. by NJ.
CoNsTANs, are likely to be the ultimate |
leaders of the Moderate majority
Among the minor results of the analysis OF |
the Chamber may be mentioned the fact that
the free traders. although they have made
considerable gains. will not be numerous
enough to repeal the existing protectionist
legislation. 1t is also interesting to learn
that 200 of the new Deputies were not mem
bers OF the last Chamber. and that all but
ten OF these are entire strangers to parlia-
mentary life. AS regards the Panama
scandal. tho notion that this had no infu-
ence on the elections is pronounced I'M
founded. One has only to run over We are
told. the list Of Deputies TO see that. with