The record-union., 1894-06-26
FRANCE AND SADI CARN04.
Brief History of the Administration of
the Late President.
France and Its Chief Events From 1887
to 1S94-The Period of Car
not's Presidency.

=
of laast of it's chief events-during the
presidency of President Carnot. assassl-
mated few hours ago.
The sketch will enable our readers who
desire, to gain fair insight into French
conditions during seven years past.
THE YEAR 1887.
On the retirement of GrevY, in 1887,
Sadi Caruot became the President of the
Republic of France. The population OF
the country was then 3S.2lS,903. There
was deficit in the treasury, and had been
each year since the overthrow OF the en-
pire, while the Nations accounts had not
been balanced for seventeen years. The
merchandise imports were about 4,2OO,-
600. 900, and the exports 81 ,250, ,V00,O OOO francs
= year.
The army consisted of 162 regiments OF
the line, and the navy of 40 vessels, OF
which fif:y-two were armor-clad. In
that year the Boulanger demonstfatloh
began. and the irritation between Ger
many and France was lntenslfylng under
the expulsion of Frenchmen from Alsace-
Lorraine, and France swarmed with Ger
man spies watching the sensational acton
of Boulanger and his famous attempI al
mobilization.
The Royalists under the Comte de Paris
were aggressive; decorations were SOLD
scandalously; Wilson, the sOn-ln-law OF
President Greyy, was charged with using
his relation TO the President DIS
honestly, was tried but escaped through
chicanery. The Communists ana RaQlc2I
Socialists were rampant, stirring up
strife; Louise Michel carried the red tag
in the streets of Paris; the mop invaded
the Chamber of Deputies, ana OfeNy,
chagrined. humiliated and broken Dy
the rejection OF confidence in his minis
ters, resigned the preside ICY, and Carnot
took up the duties OF Chief Magistrate
with the republic in the vortex OF the
worst crisis it had known since the fall OF
Napoleon. His cabinet was headed by
Tirard, and IN his inaugural Carnot ap-
pealed to his countrymen to cultivate
patriotic spirit and sustain policy oil
progress, reconciliation and concord"
THE YEAR 1888.
In the first year of President Carnot
the total commerce of the nation increased
nearly 2O0,000,000 francs, the exports
showing the larger increase. For the
first time in seventeen years the estl-
mated governmental expenditures were
less than the estimated income, and the
budget was cut down by rigid economy.
The debt of the nation increased, now
ever. because of the accommodating inter-
est upon the deficits and eXtrayagances OF
the preceding seventeen years; but Car
not successfully reduced the interest rate
by the conversion OF IL per cent rentes
into per cents. Over seventy war veS-
sells of all types were retired; the naval
force reduced in number OF ships, but IN
creased in character and effectiveness,
and new ships OF the best type were
ordered. The army was increased from
ZOO men and IL, 394 horses TO 90, III
men, while the horses were lowered to
1IS,927.
In March, 1888, the Tirard Cabinet fell
under the assaults Of Boulanger faction,
the anarchists, Koyalists, Bonapartists
and followers of Clemenceau joining in
with it, in the hope by some OF a return
to monarchical government. Floquet,
who was Republican during the Em-
pire, formed the new Cabinet. The Gov
ernment then began to foster the policy
of bringing government closer to the
people in munlcl paIlfieS. TO crush the
schemes of pretenders and royalist plot
terS, to reform the tariff, regulate en-
pioyment of women and children in
factories, to make the army and navy
more efficient and TO promote the pro-
posed Worlds Fair.
The military service was reduced to
three years and the obligation to do duty
made universal, with leave TO the pro-
fessions. students and seminarists to
serve one year. In this year Carnot's
Cabinet proposed the famous measure to
restrict the legislative power OF the
Senate, but refused to listen to the clamor
OF the radical ex extremists for its abolition.
Boulangerism took new start and be-
came an open scheme 10 force the Presi-
dent to kneel to it, the army being relied
upon to sustain the painted General, who
was posing as the embodiment OF the
idea of personal government. But Car
not was firm and tloquets denunciation
of Boulangerism as Caesarism set France
to thinking. Floquet met Boulanger i'll a
duel and whipped him at swords. Strike eS
and the closing OF the labor exchange
followed and Communists and Anarchists
rloted. restrictions upon travellers in AL
sace-Lorralne by Germany provoked hot
blood between France and Germany, and
this was aggravated by the triple alliance
between Austria, Germany and Italy.
In this year Carnots government
strengthened French possessions abroad
and added to their area. He took especial
interest in the educational system of
France and its betterment. The Panama
Canal scandals began in this year and
reached crisis.
THE YEAR 1889.
In 1889 the revenue exceeded the outgo
by most gratifying increase. Army re-
form was promoted and discipline greatly
improved, while the conditions of the SOL
diers were made greatly more comforta-
mented In number and improved in char
acter. There were large additions to the
naval equipment. Commerce improved
visibly though the tariff war with Italy
crippled it. This year General BouIanger
was elected to the Chamber from Paris.
and he promulgated his scheme to abolish
the republic existing and set up new and
improved one. Ali the enemies of the
republic OF all shades Joined his forces.
Royallsts, Anarchists, SocialiStic Radicals
Bonapartlsts, and other pretenders. But
IN the first test of strength Floquets pro-
ject to restore the serutin d'arrondisse-
ment, to check the Boulangist method of
house to house solicitation, corrupt ex-
pendlture OF money in elections etc. the
Government won in the Chamber bv a
vote OF confidence. But it was not large
enough TO satisfy and the floquet Cab
met resigned on the question of post
ponement of revision of the Constitution.
Tirard was recalled to form new Min
1stry which became known as the "Exhi-
bition Cabinet" as it carried on the Cen
tennlal Exposition. Nearly all the Min
listers were old and tried ex-Cabinet of
flcers. The revolutionary League of
Patrlots" was put down, the laws against
lawIessness were enforced, anti Bon
ianglst measures were adopted. and bills
passed to throttle the sensational meth
ods OF that faction, such as street cries
newspaper sellers shouting of Boulangist
mottos. piacard abuses, etc. The decree
OF exile against the Due d. Aumale was
revoked because he condemned the coali-
tion of the Count OF Paris and Boulan@ar
factions. 1t was resolved to arrest Bon
LANCER and try him for seditious con-
splracy. but the General fled, and from
afar issued manifesto denouncing Car
not and the Government. Rochefort had
mEmphaticaT