The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-24

! 49,. nroooodod IN disclose his real pur-
sasn ,.i,,ch ,yas IA convince the peasant
proprietors. who constitute the nihJo''S
| OF French voters. that the SOCIALISTS ar
| their best friends. He proposed ps ms
second amendment that the bencnt OF .iIe
reduction OF the land tax. resulting Hon'
the conversion OF the debt. should Dc COR
| fined TO those landowners who cihu'a,e
their own lands. Taken aback by TINS
proposition. and unwilling. without de-
liberation. 10 say anything that might
ALLEVIATE the peasant proprietors. NJ. Bur
deau announced that the government
would reserve the expression OF It's views
until vote had been taken on the second
amendment. after which the ministers
would discuss both amendments together
Thereupon, the second amendment was
supported by almost every member pres
ent. except the Monarchists and so-called
Rallied Republicans. who. between them,
represent the great landowners. The
vote was f03 to 20.
This was an extraordinary predicament
for ministry which, only a few weeks
ago, passed laws Of unexampled rlgor
against the Anarchists by maiorities
averaging upward OF three hundred. In
submitting TO the Chamber his project
for the conversion of the debt, NJ Burdeau
had said not word about the applica-
ton OF the money TO be saved intending
to treat that subject I'm a subsequent and
separate bill. But behold, this important
matter had been summarily taken out
Of the Ministry's hands, and that at the
instigation Of Socialists. who had Of late
been regarded as negligible factors in the
chamber. Evidently. the Cabinet could
not rest under a rebuff which was tanta-
mount TO an effacement Of its functions,
10 transfer OF its initiative TO the leader
1T -1..f IL
Insignificant minority. II II did submit
IT would be a laughing stock: and against
ridicule no French Ministry can stand
one Of two things had TO be done either
the government must resign. or it must
persuade the deputies TO eat their words
and reject the very amendments which
they had just passed. TO that task. diff
cult enough in any assembly. and partic-
ularly hard In n body so full Of self
esteem as the French Chamber, NJ.
Casimir-Perier, the Premier, applied him
self and IL reflects great credit on his
abilities and his character that he even
tually succeeded. He told the Chamber,
what was obviously true, that the applica-
ton 10 be made Of the sum saved through
conversion was an inseparable feature Of
the governments financial programme;
that the whole programme would have 20
be recast If the application Of an impOr-
tdlt asset were dIulTallN Sellltl IN dd-
vance; and that it was the duty of the
Chamber to reserve its decision with
respect TO the asset I'm question until il
could inspect the financial programme I'm
its entirety. He appealed finally, to the
Deputies 10 wait until they We're in a BET
ter position TO determine the cXpcdiency
of the step TO which they had hastily as
sented' and, although he does not seem
10 have said in so many words that ne
would deem a negative answer an express
sion of a want of confidence the fact that
he must do so was manifest. Under
these circumstances. the Premier's re-
quest Notwithstanding counter appeal
on the part of NJ Jaures. met with a
favorable response. and the two amend
ments which had just been carried, were
rejected by d majority OF 100.
II is not pleasant to have it suggested
that the Democratic party and the
French Socialists and Anarchists are en-
barked in the same ship. but there is no
difference in principle between our in
come proposition and NJ. Jaures PROPOSE |
ton for applying the saving on the con-
version Of the debt.