Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-17
The Crisis in France.

presidency of the French republic. follow
Ing that of Dupuy as Premier. means that
these two men, who six months ago con-
s,ltuted. together with NJ. Burdeau, the
mainstay Of the conservative republicans
Of the nation, have abandoned the hope
Of s;emming the tide Of Radicalism and
Socialism. When. on June the 9th. CASH
mir-Perier accepted the presidency there
were those who did not hesitate 10 so so
far as TO say that Carnot's assassination
was providential. At that time militant
anarchy was rife: Socialism. its mex of
kin politically. was demanding all sorts
OF impractical. not to say revolutionary.
concessions; and Casimir-Perler was held
up by his admirers as the one man in
France who had the independence and the
individuality 10 cope fearlessly with the
situation. Great things were predicted
of him. and the outlook for a season Of
political peace and quiet and a reaction
against ultraism was regarded as still
further frightened when Dupuy con-
scented TO form a Cabinet and Burdeau
was elected president Of the Chamber Of
Deputies.
The friends OF the republic congratu-
lated themselves that the government
was practically in the hands of a strong
trio of patriots. who would take the
responsibility OF meeting any emergency
that might arise. and maintain clear-cut
and distinct the dividing-llne between
Radicalism and Socialism combined, and
the elements that carried the three into
power. But never was there a sadder
mistake, never was there a more forcible
illustration of the fact that republican
government in France is the sport and
the plaything of fiekleness. Hardly had
the new President taken his seat when
the present crisis began to be fore
Swallowed. Several minor incidents oc-
Cured which demonstrated that both
popular and legislative sentiment was
veering from the government, and finally
upon the death of NJ. Burdeau, president
OF the Chamber of Deputies: Brisson was
elected his successor. Brisson. who Is a
Radical Republican tainted with Socialism,
was the chief opponent of Casimir-
Perier for the presidency of the republic,
and received in the national Congress l9l
votes to Casimir-Perier's 451. His cleo
ton to succeed Burdeau was looked upon
as such a marked rebuke 10 the Presi-
dent that there were rumors for the
nonce that he would resent It by resign
ing.
The crisis was, as shown in our dis
.tN~. uxf, - t,.o
ton in the Chamber OF Deputies from a
Socialist quarter regarding the gov
ernment's guarantee of interest on rail-
road shares under the convention of 1896.
This Interpolation. however. only con-
cen,ra,ed the several issues between So
cialism and Radicalism on the one hand
and capital on the other. The fact that
such Is the case Is borne out by the So
cialist manifesto exulting over the down
fall Of Casimir-Perier. The conventions
under which the government granted GER
tain concessions to the railroads have
constituted the object Of frequent ard
bitter attack from the French extremists.
and were adroitly made to serve on this
occasion the purpose of causing the long
gathering storm TO burst.
There Is no definite Information upon
which TO assume who will be Casimir-
Perier's successor. The man most promi-
nently mentioned. however, is Brisson.
though there is also a suggestion that
he may be Casimir-Perier himself. But
In any event It will be a
matter OF great surprise If France
passes through the crisis without ex-
periencing an upheaval that will retard
the development OF true constitutional
government for years. The conditions
are ripe for great excuses on the part
of both the people and the politicians.