The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-17
TO ELECT A new PRESIDENT
The National Contention Of France
Summoned 10 Meet To-Day.
CASIHIP.PENIER'S ACTION CONDEMNED


| ton, comprising members of the Senate
| and Chamber OF Deputies. has been sum-
moned to meet in the Palace Of Yer
sailles at / o'clock In the afternoon OF
| Thursday, January nth, for the purpose
! OF electing successor to President Casi-
| mir-Perier.
President Dupuy and other members Of
the Council of Ministers left the Palace
| Eysee this afternoon, after conference
with NJ. Casimir-Perier, at which the
ministers gave the President assurances
| of their personal sympathy and express
slons of the universal regret which is felt
at his resignation. Later the ministers
held q conference for the purpose or dis
cussing the situation created by the resig-
nation Of the President. whose encourage
strongly condemn the step he has taken
THE RES asATIoN RECEIVED.
The Chamber of Deputies was called 10
order by President Brisson at 3 o'clock.
NJ BrlssOn announced message from
President Casimir-Perler. He then read
the message Of resignation. After reading
the message the President read notice
issued by NJ. Challemel-Lacour. President
Of the Senate, convOking the National As
semby In the Palace Of Versailles to-
morrow. The President also read the
Constitution applying to the situation,
and announced that he had received two
demands for division of the Constitution.
which. he said, could not be dealt with
now, as the Chamber was sitting as
mere electoral body and not in legislative
capacity. The Chamber then adjourned
after the sitting, which lasted only ten
minutes. AS the members dispersed the
Socialists raised an uproar, shouting,
"Vive la revolution, social" whereupon
the other parties retorted each with its
own war cry.
CAsIMGR-PERIER CONDEMNED.
A meeting of the ministers was held at
! O'Clock this morning for the purpose
OF discussing the changed situation, in
view of the resignation Of President CAST
mir-Perier. There wis a full attendance
of members of Dupuy's Cabinet and the
gravity Of the position was fully taken
into consideration.
AS the resignation of the Cabinet Is to
be followed by that of the President, it
is regarded by that group as d Socialist
triumph, and II is assumed that the
leaders of that organization Will assume
a thoroughly aggressive attitude.
The action Of NJ. Casimir-Perier In
abandoning his Office in the face of the
enemy is vigorously denounced by the
newspapers which regard his withdrawal
at this time as an act of cowardce.
Commenting upon his resignation the
Journal des Debats, which is extremely
mild in It's criticism as compared with
many other journals, says:
History will explain the retirement of
NJ. CasimirPerier, but it remains to be
seen whether the act will be justified"
The Figaro says:
IF the President persists in his de-
plorable resolution to retire from office
at this time all Europe will judge him
as severely a. France does"
THE PoPULAcE SURPRISED.
TIE Rentes were dealt in Oh the Bout
leyard this morning at rate of seventy
tve centimes lower than the price at
which they were quoted yesterday. Al
though the regulations forbid street Vend-
ers from starting out with their wares
before o'clock in the morning, the Ordi-
nance which includes the prohibition OF
the sale OF newspapers BY newsboys,
they were allowed this morning to begin
their sales before daybroak. The streets
were early filed with yelling boys, whose
cries informed many persons for the first
time of the resignation of the President.
The announcement came like thunder
bolt to thousands OF persons. and every
one was asking the reason for the Presl-
dents sudden and seemingly unnecessary
action. Various reasons We're given by
the newspapers, but none of them seemed
to satisfy any great number of people.
Some newspapers declared that NJ. CAST
mir Perier had become physically unable
to resist the impulse 10 resign. He mas,
il is alleged, been subjected TO a most
extreme nervous tension ever since lie
,fflaaf 1at
President, and 1t is asserted by several
papers that after his election he flung
himself upon his couch, completely pros
trdted. Since then he has repeatedly given
way TO the intense nervous strain put
upon him. When NJ. Berdeau, president
of the Chamber of Deputies, died, Nj.
Casimir-Perier was deeply affected, ana
IL IL said he has not since recovered from
the shock which the announcement OF his
friends death gave him.
HIS PROBABLE SUCCESSOR.
All of the groups In the Chamber OF
Deputies held meetings this morning 10
discuss the situation. The ground was
thoroughly gone over, but no decision
was arrived at, in regard TO the selection
of candidates for succession 10 the pres-
dency The names OF NJ. Felix Laure,
Loubet, Waldek-RousSeau and Brisson
were mentioned and discussed, but deii-
mite decisions were reserved, pending the
developments OF to-day. The supporters
Of the Government are willing 10 re-
elect NJ. Casimir-Perier. but falling in
this, because OF his refusal to accept, or
for any other reason, II is regarded as
likely that they will support NJ. Dupuy.
SOCIALIST MANIFESTO.
The Socialist members of the Chamber
of Deputies have issued a manifesto, de-
nouncing NJ. CasmirPerier. and declar-
ing his reelection impossible. Indeed,
they do not regard him as likely TO pre-
sent himself for reelection. The mani
festo says:
M. Casimir-Ferier has gone, never 20
return. He is vanquished by Socialism.
He departs in order TO avoid fghting the
battle of reactionists. His weakness or
character has been the chief cause OF
his overthrow, which is a victory for the
Socialist party. He is killed by the cor
ruption of the regime of which he was
head. and defeated by the intrigues OF
the president of his own Council OF Min
isters IL liz i'm dishonor such as his
flight that capitahstic society VIII perish
The downfall OF Casimir-Perier rs the
downfall of capitalism and reaction"
TALK OF NJ. DUPuY.
Active canvassing of the presidential
preferences of various senator's and dep
uties has been in progress to-day, many
of the members of the Senate and Cham
ber of Deputies having been visited at
their homes. The candidates include
besides those already mentioned, Premier
Dupuy, NJ. Cavignac, and NJ. Challemel-
Lacour.
The Socialist Deputies have asked NJ.
Guerrin, Minister of Justice. TO liberate
Deputies Perault, Richard and Carnaud,