New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06
FRENCH COLONIAL POWER.
EFFORTS TO RIVAL ENGLAND IN Sc
CURING MARKETS.
QUESTIONS OF ADMINISTRATION - PARLIAMENT
AIRY GOVERNMENT 49, THINGS SAID OF
AMERICA A NEW MINISTER

Paris. Sfarch 80.
The Easter vacation Of the French Parliament
has given few days leisure in which to think
over the vital problems that are now facing the
Government When Parliament is in session,
the principle Of ministerial responsibility is ap-
piled so ruthlessy by the Deputies" cannbals Of
politicians" a late Councillor Of State called them
that neither Government nor people can pay
proper attention 10 matters Of real Importance.
This was the bitter complaint expressed by NJ.
Caslmir- Perier. the Prime Minister, In answer to
reproach that the Ministers were not expe-
dltous enough In their work. How can we
work If you are always bothering us with idle
questions and interpretations, and obllging us to
make speeches without end or truce? 1t is you
who thus tear us away from the most urgent
affairs"
We have here another brilliant commentary
on the system of government which makes the
executive power directly responsible to the
legislative body. 1t is curious to see. from the
debate on constitutional revision which pre-
ceded the vacation. how incapable the most in
telligent French statesmen seem to be to under
stand any other distribution Of power. The
question was raised in connection with the check
which is something of a drag exercised by the
Senate over the action of the Chamber of Depu-
ties French Republicans object strenuousy TO
the words Upper and Lower House." but the
question at Issue is not unlike the difficulty ex-
perienced at times with -he House Of Lords in
England and the United States Senate. A
precious piece OF Information given out In the
course of the debate. namely. that in the Con-
gress Of the United States the members OF the
Cabinet sat and spoke indiferently in either
House! NJ Goblet. who is trying to 1T his Radi-
calism to the Socialism which elected him. NJ.
Naquet whose American wife and triumphant
advocacy OF divorce ought to have given him a
compleer Americanism than he seems t. possess.
and others successfully brought forward their
plans to remodel the French Constitution Of 1875
on what they conceive 10 be the good points OF
the Constitution Of the United States. Finally
the time came for the speech Of the whole debate
that Of NJ. Paul Deschanel who is the best
orator in the House. and one OF the ablcst pro-
moters Of the policy Of letting well enough alone.
~ Deschanel. who two years ago passed six
months in America with his eyes wide open
as possible declared that each and every system
which would make the executive power less de-
pendent In It's every action on the vote Of the
Legislative body would In France. tend directly
to a dictatorship This is probably the truth.
But he then proceeded to make one Of those
astonishingiv general statements 81 which
Frcncnmcn are 50 iona, ana WIltn may biNf ~
Americans the advantage Of seeing ourselves as
others see us. in the United States the Con-
gress f. in point Of fact. replaced by permanent
committees which have drawn to themselves all
legislative power The laws are the work Of
committee: and in this democratic constitution
Ohe orator here remarked that he had seen IT,
wheels at work)-the democracy has no share
I'm the direction Of affairs This is true that
I'm the United States the most enlgh tened minds
tend toward a return 20 ministerial rcsponsi-
hnity and to the Institutions which some here In
France dream II replacing by The American prac-
tice" It would BE- interesting to know who hld
the practical instruction ~ NJ Deschanel IN
American institutions and showed him the work
ings Of the wheels In his sojourn I'm the United
States.
But the great triumph Of French parliamentary
ism took place after the Senate had already adj
journed for the Easter vacation. The Chamber
OF Deputies had passed bill. for which the
Government pleaded urgency. creating a scpar-
ate ministry for the colonies. The Senate, with
It's usual fashion for acting as II eternity in
stead Of time were before g. adjourned without
considering the bill. Before enough senator's had
left Paris 10 render "A quorum impossible "A per
enptory call was issued BY the Government To
a sudden ana extra session. The Prime Minister
explained this way Of treating Senators like
refractory school-boys kept in from play by
the necessity Of the situation. The Government
must resign unless the new Minister were CON
coded This has been the strange but effective
method Of NJ. Casimir Pericr since the An
archlst Outragcs persuaded the members Of Par
lament to abandon their time honored practice
Of kicking two Ministries year out Of Office
The Senate least Of all, wishes to change
In administration; and 80 the separate Minister
for the colonies WAS established on the spot.
VI. BCulangcr Is already appointed as the new
Minister and has been lodged In that Pavilion
Dc Flore Of the Tuileries which Napoleon III
fitted up for the Prince Imperial. He has had
10 dslodge the Project Of the Seine. who H.
equivaenty the Mayor Of Paris named by the
national Government. and who Is chronicslly at
loggcrhcads with the Communists Of the Mu-
nicipal Council. t. the great disgust OF the
latter. not without threats OF resistance. the
Government has forced the Project on the new
Hotel de Vile. which H. not national. but city
property This single example may show why
the clear separation Of the executive and leGis-
lative branches Of government might not have
as happy result I'm the French Republic as in the
United States In France everything is strongly
centralized I'm the hands Of the National Gov
eminent. Not only there separate States
each with its constitution and legislature
but even the great city Of Paris 10 tied tag
to the coat-talls Of the Prime Minister. who
governs in place Of the President by the grace
Of Parliament.
NJ Bouanger a dozen years ago was a leader
In the campaign against religious associations
This. united with his new place and the conflict
to which II has led between the NatiOusal and
the city Government makes him a true rep
rcsentatiye Of the three vital problems which
confront parliamentary government in
France. These are colonial expa nsion abroad
and religious pachcation and the attitude OF gov
eminent toward Socialism and Anarchy at home
Personally. Of course. the Minister repre-
sents only the first OF these questions which U.s.
however, much graver than is commonly sup
posed In the American press. In fact. II
Germs what seems TO be a turning point In the
century-ong rivalry between France and Eng
land.
The Importance OF her colonies to France es-
recially In Central and Western Africa and Fur
Their India, Is not a mere question OF jealousy
Of England But II Is a fact that everywhere
France seems destined 10 come into collision
with British interests. while her alliance with
Russia binds her politically To be the enemy Of
England In the East. All this IL an Inevitable
result OF the English preponderance in India