New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-17
PRESIDENT IND CHAMBER.

NJ Casinir-Perier sent to the two Chambers
of the French Legislature yesterday formal
message Of resignation. 1t is a mere amplfca-
ton of his brief statement of Tuesday nigh''
and does not in the least improve his position
On the contrary. it rather tends To confirm the
unfavorable Judgment at first formed concern
ing his action. His deed was the deed OF Il
weak or caprcious or unpairloic man. 1t is en-
tIrely true that the Republican Deputies have
M, acted well. The President has been sub
/ iectcd TO much annoyance in the Chamber III the
nrcss and elsewhere All that was TO be expect
ed. But il affords no adequate excuse Tor re-
sioning NJ Carnot was treated even worsc-for
six years instead OF six months but he III"
no, resign. although he was not reputed TO be
SO strong man as his successor Nor Is iha'
q good excuse of NJ Casimir Pcrier's. that he
had no means Of defence against the hosuhl!
of the Chamber. There Is no PROOF mat 'he
Chamber was hostile to him. or that 1t wouid
accent no man Of his choice as Premier bu'
had that been the case, he was not as he COIN
plains powerlcss He himself says the fres-
dent can only find confidence in reliance upon
.the nation" Why did he not rely upon the
nation? He might have dissolved the Chamber
and made an appeal TO the people. That wouid
have been the act Of a brave man.
A serious perhaps the most serious, feature
of the case is the precedent ii sets OF i'res-
dental dependence upon the favor OF the 'ham-
Der 1t makes the President the creature OF the
Chamber. Hitherto there have been plenty OF
Ministerial crises. Whenever Prime Minister
could not command majority OF the Cham-
ber out he went. But the President remained
in office and nominated Il new Minister; ana
if the latter and his colleagues were not ac-
ceptable to the Chamber. another and another
until some one WIS found who could command
a majority Or else an appeal was made to the
pcople But NJ Casimir-Pcrier did not try either
plan He made 10 serious attclnpt 10 get new
Ministry and had apparently no thought or an
appeal To the country But rs soon as the Cham
Der turned ont his Ministry he got out too
If that is to be the rule of practice. we may see
a new President every thirty days. and 'hah-
her of Deputies as supreme a. was the '"hN'h
ton OF Il century ago.
As for the Ministerial crisis which preccn'n
the Presidential by few hours, II was foresr'h
and caused 10 surprise. Al the moment wh'h
NJ Brisson was elected 10 the PRESIDENCY OF me
Chamber Of Deputies il became evident 'ha'
the days Of the Dupuy Cabinet were numbered.
His election was equivalent To notice To quit
served upon the Ministry by the legislature
Rightly or wrongly. NJ. Dnpuy had been cred
tied with tempOrizing desire To shield the clhei
offenders in numerous scandalOus jobs. as wei
rs 10 stihe all investigation. NJ. Brisson WAS
therefore elected Speaker largely because 1t was
known that he would not submit 10 anything
of the kind but would insist on the right OF me
Chamber to institute searching inquiries calcl-
lated to bring home the guilt 10 the real cul-
pri,s no matter what their rank. importance or
Influence II was in attempting 10 shield the
men responsible for the frauds IN connection
with the South Of France Railroad Company
that the Dupuy Cabinet fell. The advice ten
dercd ON Tuesday by NJ Brisson TO the Prcsi-
dent TO intrlisi 10 NJ. Bourgeois the formation
Of a new Cabinet, thus appears 70 have been
highly significant For II was VI. Bourgeois
who. as Minister Of Justice. instituted the pro
cecdings against the Panama Company, and
who resigned his portfolio as soon a. his col
leagues In the Cabinet decided 10 sendcavOr 10
hush the matter up With VI. Brsson as Speak
er Of the Chamber Of Deputies. and VI. Bour-
geois as Prime Minister there would have been
a fair prospect Of much needed reform.
II was also evident that the election Of VI.
Rrsson was serious blow M the pres
tge of the President Of the Republic;
and the damage was still further Increased
by the suggestion that the Chamber might
insist upon the selection Of NJ. Bourgeois rs
Premier Had VI. CasmrPcrcr shown him
self the strong man of stern resolve that he was
believed 10 be M the time Of President Carnots
death. neither the people nor their parliamentary
representatives would have found If necessary
TO summon NJ. Brisson and NJ. Bourgeois from
their retirement to undertake the task OF clean
ing the Augean Stable Of political and admins
trative corruption. 1t had been confidently ex-
pected that he would be the man Of all others
to take upon himself this herculean labor. But
he failed to do so; and when il became evident
that the Chamber Of Deputies would undertake
it whether it pleased him or not, he resigned his
office and brought about the most ominous crisis
since 1871 1t is sorry ending Of what
seemed promising career.