The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-26
SOCIALISM OR REPUBlCANISM.
The Political Outlook in La
Belle France.
Possibilities and Probabilities Of the
New Regime.
vrisnds 81 Popular aevsrnmsnt Have
Cause for Hope. II Nos for
Oonndsnos.

Tribune. Nothing could have been more
sudden, more startling. more unlocked
Tor. than the resignation OF II. Casimir-
PerieF. II WAS such . shock "a might
have caused revolution in almost any
country. Among people 20 msrcurial
and sxcitabls 40 the French, the gravest
results were to be feared. Six months
before the nation had risen a. ono man
against the spirit which had murdered
IL president. Now it permitted re-
.vival Of that spirit to drive its new press
idsnt from Office. What was to be hoped
for such . weathsroock? Would the
morrow bring Caesar or tho Commune?
To such doubtings and ques.ionings
Versailles gave yesterday a strong re-
ply. This mercurial and excitabls peo-
pie acted with calmneeH, stsadinsss
of nerve and soundness OF Judgment
that may we'll provoke the envy of more
phleRmstic nations. France has again
disappointed her enemies and given her
friends cause for hope, il not for CONT
dence.
The issue before the national assembly
WAS = single and simple one. The line
was distinctly drawn. On the one side
Republicanism, on the other Socialism.
Il IL true that M. Brieson is not Social
list. II is also true that he was the So
cisliet candidate. The Socilists had cast
In his favor the deciding votes which
made him president of the chamber of
deputies. And since they could not. as
they wished. at once abolish the presi-
dency of the republic, they sought, as
the next best thing TO serve their pur-
poses. to put him into it. His election
would have been universally recognized
- . victory for them aud for their
cause. This the true Repu blicans REQ.
cgnized, and, therefore. they opposed M.
Brisson, though they knew him to be
man OF high ability and unblemished
character. On the first ballot they we're
divided between M Waldock- Rousseau
and M. Faure. On the second they
rallied to M. Fsure, in whose favor M.
Waldsck Rousseau had Withdrawn.
and elected him president oisthe French
republic. The choice was q good one, il
not tbs best that could have been made.
NJ. Faure has not shown himself polit-
ioal genius. He has been, however. an
excellent executive officer in various inns
portaut places, and his honesty is above
suspicion. He 10 also loyal supporter
of those principles Of true republican
ism which LSon Gambetta impressed
upon France and which Ssdi Carnot
made triumphant. His political afilia-
oious are indicated by his Official record,
from the dsr-secretaryship Of COM
merce in the Gambetta cabinet OF 1881
20 the ministry of marine in the Dupuy
cabinet of Casimir-Perier's brief term.
$500 - FAURE's POLICY.
n. Faure has been elected by the Re-
publican majority of the national as
But that majority. while it in
cludes the great mass Of the senate,
oompriseu merely q minority of the
Shamber OF deputies. The majority Of
the latter 10 now distinctly Radical. And
&C 10 upon the favor of the chamber that
che existence Of q ministry dependa. M.
Faure, therefore. begins his admiuistra-
sion in the face of hostile majority in
the chamber of deputies; q most em-
barrassinR circumstance. N. Casimir-
Perier was elected in the same way and
had the same difficulty to meet. He
chose to desert his post rather than to
meet il. M. Faure will probably not
desert. but will meet the difficulty and
ondeavor to deal with it in some
way. One way would be to yield
10 the chamber, and appoint
= Radical prime minister who would be
1cce ptable to the majority. That,
however. would amount to something
ike Standardization. and it is scarcely
probable that he would do it. Another
way, and apparently the only altsrna.
fiye. would be to nominate = prime
minister OF his own political school and
on his rejection to dissolve parliament
md appeal to the csuntry. If at the
general election Republican majority
we're chosen, the president could select
prime minister after his own heart.
If 70 Radical majority were returned he
could yield to the popular mandate and
appoint Radica! prime minister, or he
could resign the presidency and let the
national assembly elect Radical to sue
peed him.
What is perfect ly clear is that Re-
publican president and q Radical cham
Der cannot get along together under the
present constitution. This weeks crisis
nas. indeed, confirmed the belief that
that constitution needs some amends
uent in the clauses defining the rela-
;ionship between the executive and the
legislature. The present system is an
illogical attempt at q compromise be-
tween the SYSTEMS of England and Amer.
sca. In England there is q permanent,
hereditary chief of state. whose functions
IRE nominal. The real executive is the
ministry, which 10 purely the creature OF
he house OF commons. Tie house OF
commons 10 practically supreme. In
America the chief executive is elected
independent of the congress. and Is
neither responsible to it nor dependent
Upon it, aud the various ministers are
imilArly independent. Now the French
nave president. in imitation OF Amer"
ca, and a removable parliamentary
ministry, in imitation OF England. The
fixture Is illogical. It has caused much
rouble in the past. 1t has contributed
argely to the great crisis OF this week.
md it threatens to imperiI the republic
self in the not distant future.
PECULIAR CONDITION.
The French nation must decide
neither it is to be governed by dicta-
or convention; or by q co-ordina to
4scutive and legislature. In fear OF q
totator they made tho executive the
;oaturs Of the legislature. Thus, as
soent occurrences demonstrate, they
aye brought themselves perilously near
convention. The latter would prove
the end ~ intolsrable and disastrous
the former, II indeed in SOHO desper-
% reyulsion it did not lead back to it,
y the convention Of . century ago led