The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-01-23
Presidential Crisis in France.

During the week the president of
France has resigned his Office and the
National Assembly has elected his sue
cessor. January Is, Casimir-Perier,
chosen to succeed the murdered Carnot
as president of the republic, laid down
the responsibilities of his high office,
convinced that environing difficulties
would render it impossible for him to
govern France. During the past six
months, ministry has followed ministry
in rapid succession. 1t had become
plain that the chamber of deputies was
employing its powers, not in legislating
for the best interest of France, but in
systematic and unpatriotic attempt to
embarrass the president, TO checkmate
every move he made to administer the
duties of his Office and compel him to
resign, confident that radical would
succeed him as the intermediate step
between the existing order of things
and the abolition of the presidency and
the senate. After that, government
by convention and the deluge of 30.
cialism.
"A campaign has been conducted"
said the retiring chief magistrate in his
message to parliament, "of defama-
ton and insults against the army, the
magistrature, parliament and an ire
sponsible chief of state. This liberty
of fomenting social hatred continues to
be called liberty of thought. The re-
spect and ambition l have for the coun-
try will not permit me to allow that
certain men may every day insult the
best servants of the fatherland and him
who represents France in the eyes of
foreign nations" The chamber of dep
uties had compelled the Dupuy minis
try to resign. President Casimir.
Perier sent for Brisson, the leader of
the opposition, and requested him 10
form ministry. He had been elected
president of the chamber of deputies,
by way of affronting the chief executive.
He refused to organize a ministry
Every resource but one had been ex-
hausted. That was 10 dissolve the OBJ
streperous chamber and appeal to the
country. As sub-secretary of state,
Casimir-Perier was a member of the gov
eminent which in 1883 entered into
convention with certain railways to
guarantee the interest on their shares.
He is known to approve the decision of
the Council of State that this agree
ment is binding on the nation till 1860,
instead of expiring in 1914, as was
maintained by other public men. Cor
ruption in the chamber of deputies is
charged in connection with this con-
vention and the decision continuing it
to 1860. Casimir- Perier is descended
from an old, wealthy and aristocratic
French family. He maintained some
thing of the state of royalty. But it
was in a subordinate capacity that he
was me- Der Of the government that
made the convention with the railways.
He was not party to the convention.
OF aristocratic descent, he has never.
theless been steadfssLly devoted to re-
publican principles. But, as he says in
his last message, neither his twenty
years. devotion to democracy nor his
deep attachment to the republic had
sufficed to convince all republicans of
the sincerity and ardor of his political
faith, nor disabuse his adversaries who
believed, or affected to believe, that he
would make himself the instrument Of
their passions and their hopes. He had
been deserted, without cause, by many