New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-18
PART III.
PAGES II TO IA.
FRENCH RADICALISM
BOURGEOIS DECLARATION OF PRIN-
CIPLES-A GAIN FOR DEFINITE
GOVERNMENT.
Paris. November 4.

GOVERN MENT.
Paris November l.
When NJ Bourgeois read his declaration Of
Ministerial policy in the Chamber OF Deputies
.h,s afternoon the galleries We're crowded with
saser spectators and the atmosphere
charged with suspicion. 1t was the opening proc
ismation of Ministry which had been ridculed
and ampooned by the press a fantastic COM
bnation Of weaklngs. pedagogues and in
,rig,iers Five Of the eleven Ministers had never
before been in the Cabinet and the remaining
six had enjoyed little experience in Office. With
an eminent chemist as Minister of Foreign At
fairs with a man Of letters in charge of the
navy. with a revolutionary reformer in the War
ONCE and with Minister of Finance commit
ted 70 progressive income taxation. 1t was a
Ca oinet Of All the Crochets and was mercilessy
sa,irized by the boulevard wits. Its first word
was awaited by the Chamber with cynical
amusement, and was received with ominous
silence by a majority OF the Deputies. The Pre-
mier had not read ten words of his official pro-
gramme before his auditors perceived that weak
in administrative experience as the Ministers In
dividually might be. collectively they formed
strong. homogeneous Government which had
definite policies and was not afraid to disclose
them with courage and frankness.
The significance of the Ministerial declaration
Law in the fact that II was the electoral. as well
as legislative programme Of the most Radical
Ministry which has been in Office since the es-
Enlistment OF the Third Republic. For twen-
" wears there have been Oppcrtunists and Mod
crate Cabinets Sometimes there had been a
Radical Premier. two or three portfolios mad
been hid bv representatives Of the more ad-
vanced groups bur the policies had been Oppor-
tunist. and the governing class Of officials had
TpnVafs Ia
leans When one Cabinet was overthrown by
a combination f Radicals and Reactonaries
another similar in character. was substituted
FOR II.
The Bourgeois Ministry distinctively
Radical Government 1t did not include NJ.
Goblet nor VI. Pelletan. nor NJ. Mil.eraud who
had been prominent Radicals. with strong So
,ialistic tendencies. but with NJ. Bourgeois.
Cavaignac ana NJ. Lockroy as its leading MEM
bers and with a group OF associates in sympathy
with them. It d representative body OF Ad-
vanced Republicans. The cards had not been
shuffied for new deal A fresh pack had been
brought in II would he hardly accurate TO say
that the Ministerial declaration implied the in
reduction of different game but 1t certainly
indicated new system Of play. NJ Bourgeois
may not he in Office week; there may be an
other Ministerial crisis before this letter sees
he light: but whether the Government stands
or falls. it will represent definite principles and
serve to diferentiate Radcalism from Social
ism That is a great gain
NO MERCY FOR CORRUPTION
TIE Ministerial declaration opened with an
explicit pledge that official corruption should not
be condoned nor any legislative scandal be COW
cred up The Ribot Ministry had been over
.urred because II had not dealt satisfactorily
with questions involving public morality Ihe
Bourgeois Ministry respects the Will or the
Chamber by which ii was brought into power
T, VIII conduct a supplementary investigation
respecting the Southern Railway scandal ana
viu not suppress any fact that may be laid
hare II will also introduce R measure prohibit
ing legislators under penalty Of forfeitins their
seats. from serving directors In corporations
having business relations with the State and
also from taking any part in financial syndi-
Gates II will provide safeguards against abuse
If rnssisterial powers in preliminary examina-
lions and also against the suppression Of in
forrnatio
The fine Roman hand Of NJ. Cavaignac may
he traced here in letters large The legislation
which is proposed will meet the emergencies
created by the Panama and Southern railway
scandals and will purify public life in France.
II will purge Parliament Of the class Of political
fnanciers and mercenary adventures who have
done much to bring upon it reproach ana dls-
honor II will also reform on radical lines the
procedure both Of Ministers and Of magistrates
when there are public scandals to be inVesu'
gated without fear or prejudice.
Having taken effective measures for enforc-
,Dg the sovereign will Of the Chamber. as de-
cIared in the recent defeat OF the previous Gov
eminent. the new Minister'S define their position
Qf
Frs, in the order Of reform is the voting of IS
Inmates Al the normal period. SO that current
expenditures may be closely scrutinized and
financial procedure be simplihed The meaning
~ this proposal Is that the budget for 1896 snail
10 disnosed Of during the next TWO months. and
NOT allowed 10 stand over for six months and
then be carried with precipitate rush. Other
financial measures which are named provide
f,r a progressive succession duty. general
Graduated income tax. and workmens lhsui-
ance and ola-age pension schemes The settle
mont Of the relations between Church ana state
is proposed as d measure Of political security
and an act is promised for promoting trades
unionisn, by ena bling workmen. as well as cap
italisfs 10 combine for mutual protection Legs
la,ion for preventing speculation in agriculture
.,ar,les is also outlined. The reorganization OIL
,,o military and naval service is passed over
lightly together with all questions OF hat'oNd
diplomacy. but there are plain limitations 'ha'
in conflicts between capital and labor arDitra
ton will be enforced. and that sympathy VII
he shown for the lot Of the humble ana Inc
weak
A DEFINITE PROGRAMME
Whatever else may be said OF the Mihis'erla
rrogramme. IL cannot be described as comoi
nation Of negatons and generalities Inc pres
ent Chambers were elected two years ago. AM
- -. t;,,Io legislatiou The Ministry