The record-union., 1895-06-10

not thing, therefore. made up from one
party, whose members are in agreement
with each other, but it is, instead. com.
promise made up from the leaders OF
many parties and sections OF parties. who
usually have the common trait of being in
favor of the present existing republic,
as against Monarchy on the one hand and
Radicalism and Communism on the other.
Such Cabinet is known in France as a
Concentration" Cabinet, and il is its pc.
cullar composition that explains the FREE
quent changes in the Ministry which
occur IN this country. The Government
is thus an extremely sensitive one, which
can be overturned III moment; and it is
this which interferes with the Develop
inent of an interior policy, such as the
best minds in France would so sincerely
like 10 see brought about.
PRESIDENTIAL EvoLUTIoNs.
The Government. then, is popular
Government after The representative prin-
clpie In every sanSe1of the word. The
Chamber of Deputies, which is elected
by universal suffrage. is a popular body.
Ii creates the Ministry winch is at the
head OF the Executive and Administra-
tive Departments of the Government,
and when any leader OF a section OF the
electorate is dissatisfied he can give him.
self the pleasure OF upsetting the Cabinet
ny al ptiidtlOH lutO Lie
Chamber. The Senate has only subor-
dinate power, greater, however. consider
ably than that of the House of Lords in
England. and the President. like the
Queen, must stand by and look on.
The Presidency in France has gone
through an odd development; If we re-
member the days of MacMahon, for
instance, when it was place of curious
power. There is a tendency plainly at
W iS RI IA inn nd
Queens and Presidents unnecessary
things, and there is time st hand. per-
haps, it the human race keeps its wits
about 1t, when we may come to have
very different ideas in regard to these
functionaries, whom history has always
insisted were more or less indispensable
features Of the State. 1t was the mistake
which Casimir-Perier made in supposing
that because he had been elected to the
titular cheftaincy of the republi he was
desired to exercise the political functions
of the office and to make his personality
in some way felt upon the Government.
III was in some respects like our Mr..
Cleveland. The latter would receive
such warm reception in France II he
were called TO preside over the republic.
and were to announce some OF his politi-
cal opinions in his accustomed fashion.
that he would find it desirable to abandon
his office as quickly as did M. Casimir-
Perier.
France seems to have again found a
President of the desired kind i'll NJ.
Faure, who apparently understands his
functions and how to exercise them. He
has shown wonderful grace OF manner
in visiting the opera aud theater on first
nights" in receiving En- bassadors. / n
presiding at social events, and in giving
generously from his immense private
fortune to various charities. He thus
realizes, as does the Queen of England,
that the chief of modern State is de-
corative person, who is to uphold the
orthodox idea as to the nature OF govern
ment, and who shall represent it prop
erly in social way in the eyes OF the do
nestle and foreign world. 1t is as easy
for the President to do this as anything
else # be only understands W hat is want
ed of him, and it is most satisfactory
circumstance that NJ. Faure has had the
r-sightedness to accommodate himself
to the conditions as one finds them to-
day in France.
OBLIGATIONS AND CHECKS.
It is habit with many people to blame
France for not being SO free and progress
sive in her political policy - England
and America are. Such persons would
appear to be theoreticians. and not thor
Oughly acquainted with the unfortunate
conditions which prevail among the peo-
pies against whom France is pitted on the
east. 1t is conceivable that the country
might commit again some curious folly,
as she has so often done before. even if
her foreign relations were OF the best.
Whatever she might do, she is to-day
bound to face circumstances as they are.
A nations first care is self-preservation,
let what else come that will. France is
bound to keep up a great army or run
the most awful risks OF further subjuga-
ton. She is bound to follow no very rad
ical policy at home for tear of again up
setting the peace of Europe and bringing
about reign OF war, the results of which
even the boldest must shudder even to
contemplate. If France has Govern
ment now under which she can live as
peacefully and satisfactorily as she is do
ing to-day, which is better and freer than
the Government OF any other country in
Continental Europe, with the exception
of Switzerland and Scandinavia, both
she and We with her ought to be heartily
glad.