Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-16
PERIER IS CENSURED
His Resignation Strongly Condemned
in Paris.
THE PRESS UNANIMOUS IN THE MATTER
Even His Intimate Friends Oppose
the Step.
THE CITY REMAINS TRANQUIL


PARIS, January 16.-The attention of the
whole of France, and for that matter, the
attention of the whole Of Europe, is CEN
tered upon this city today. There is no
| doubt that the political crisis, resulting
from the resignation of the Dupuy min
| 1stry and the subsequent resignation of
| President Casimir-Perier, is one of the
most serious in the history of France.
At II o'clock this morning M. Casmir
| Perier received Premier Dupuy and the
| rest Of the cabinet ministers. After a
| short conference they withdrew and an
! officer of the presidents military house
| hold later conveyed to NJ. Dupuy, NJ. Cast
| mir-Perier's letter resigning the presiden-
| cy Of the French republic.
The ministers met at noon and it is un-
derstood that the whole political situation
was thoroughly discussed and weighed
| from all standpoints. This meeting took
place at the ministry Of the intericr,which
| was surrounded the while by crowds OF
anxious people, all eagerly discussing the
| crisis in the affairs of. France.
The Presidents Letter Read.
The senate and chamber of deputies met
| at 3 o'clock this afternoon, and the follow
ing letter from NJ. Casimir-Perier was read
| to both bodies:
II did not conceal from myself the diff
| culties of the task which the national as
| sembly imposed upon me. l had foreseen
| them; but If one does not refuse a post in
| a moment of danger one can only preserve
| ones dignity in the conviction that the
| country is being served. A president Of the
| republic without means of action or with
out control can derive from the confidence
of the nation alone that moral force with
| out which lie is nothing. I doubt neither
the good sense nor the justice of France.
| But public opinion has been led aStray.
| Mere than twenty years devotion to the
same cause, more than twenty years OF at
| tachment to the republic and devotion to
| the democracy have Suiticed neither to con-
vince the republic of the sincerity and
| ardor CT my political faith nor to disabuse
my adversaries, who believe, or affect to
| believe, that 1 will make myself the in
strument of their passions or hopes.
For the last six months campaign OF
! slander and insult has been going on
| against the army, magistracy, parliament
| and the hisrarchical, chtefs Of the stale. and
I this license to disseminate social hatred
continues to be called liberty of thought
| 1.-The respect and ambition which enter
| tain for my country will not allow ME to
| acknowledge that the best servants OF the
| country and he who represents it in the
| presence of foreign nations may be 1nSulted
| every day.
| Il am not content to bear the weight Of
moral responsibilities placed upon me in
the condition of powerlessness to which l
|
| stood when 1 affirm that constitutional
| functions cannot silence the exigencies of
| political conscience. Perhaps IN laying
| down my functions I shall have marked
| out the path of duty to those who are So
| licitous for the dignity of the power and
| good name of France in the world. In
| variably true to myself, ! remain perSuad-
| ed that reforms can be carried out only
with the assistance of a government de-
termined to insure respect for the laws,
| make itself obeyed by its subordinates and
! group them all together in common action
| for the common good.
I'm spite of the gloom of the present
| hour I have faith in the future Of social
progress and justice.
II lay on the table of the senate and
| chamber of deputies my resignation of
| the functions Of president of the republic.
"CASIMIR-PERIER."
One Of the most significant features of
| the resign alton of the president is the
| fact that his action is condemned even by
| his most intimate following.
In spite of the great interest taken IN tne
political crisis the city remains tranquil.
| The resigna ton of the president produced
| a complete change in the business tendency
| on the stock exchange. Buying was entire
| ly stopped and there was a closing of ac-
| counts for a rise. This is proceeding rap
| idly in all departments. There was gen
eral, though moderate. decline. French
| rentes fell one-half with the majority Of
| other international stocks.
The President Condemned.
| The opinion expressed this morning at
the clubs and on the boulevards is unani-
| nous with that Of the press in strongly
| condemning NJ. Casimir-Perier for having
! resigned in the midst of parliamentary
crisis.
| The Journal Des Debats says that in view
| of the terrible perils to which the ever
increasing activity Of the revolutonlsts and
| the inertia of the 'moderates expose France,
| other courses than abdcation should nave
been pursued.
The Gaulois expresses the opinion that the
! resignation Of Nj. Cas,mir-Perler is simply
| desertion and the reasons for it VII! be
found in his antecedents and personal char-
| acter."
| The Figaro says: eff M. Casimir-Perier
| persists in his determination to resign,
| Europe must judge him as severely as
France does.
! In the opinion of the Journal the present
condition of affairs is the result OF the
| state Of anarchy in which the different
| political parties exist
According to the Autorite the resignation
| of M. Casmir-Perier not only requires the
censure of one man, but it also calls for
| the condemnation of regime
| The Lanterne says: The resignation or
| M. Casimir-Perer does not end tut begins
| a coup detat against the independence of
the chamber and the rights of universal
| suffra ge for NJ. Casinlr-Perier is desirous
| Of new investiture.
| "The resignation of NJ. Casimir-Perier,"
says the Petit Journal, "is matter of ex-
| cepticnal gravity, and can only complicate
the situation, which is already peliious."
The Soleil asserts: M Casimir-perier
did not wish to compromise lis & dignity in in
! struggles the issue of which were not
doubtful. In rendering his resignation,
with sovereign disdain, he has proved him
| self a crafty player. His resignation ne
| cessitates a revision of the constitution"
The Estafette says: ''Thiers Gambetta
and Ferry had other assaults to with
stand, but not one of them shrank from
his duty The republic. however, will show
it's vitality and Thursday next when
the national congress meets nothing will be
| changed in France
The Matin is of the opinion that the pres
ident should have dissolved parliament, and
| that he should not have resigned.
The Official Notice.
The Journal Ofiiciel this morning pub
| fishes the following notice: 1.-THE president
of the republic has resolved to resign his
functions, and has begged the ministers to
withdraw their designations Professionally,
| in order to assure the transmission of
powers"
| What is the true reason of the step taken