Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-23
CRISIS IS NOW PAST
Danger of Revolution in France Has Dis
appeared in Peace.
COMMON PEOPLE RULE THE NATION
Old Forms at Last Give Way to the True
Democracy.
BOURGEOIS VICTORY OVER THE SENATE
Persistence and Daring of the Premier Has
Carried the Day.
CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES MUST GO
Prosecution of Public Jobbers As
surcd and Endurance of the Re-
public Made Certain Dur
ing the Week.
CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES MUST GO

Copyright, 1896, by Press Publishing Company
LONDON, Feb. 22.-(New York World Ca
blegram-Special Teegram.) THE past fort
night has marked an epoch in French his
tory perhaps not less momentous than any
single like period since the present republic
was founded The result has a particular
interest to Americans, since yesterday es-
tablished apparently conclusively the sub
ordination Of the Senate to the popular as
scmbly in a conflict, "a pontrance," between
the two bodies and because had not the Sen
ate yielded there was every probability that
it would have been speedily shorn of its
effective powers, if not actually abolished.
After Casimir-Perier resigned and hon
est representative of the great French mid
die class was elected president, and again
when the honest radical Bourgeois was made
prime minister, ventured the prediction In
this correspondence that these events were
made not only for purging France of the
public corruption inherited from monarchcal
rue-and by no means extirpated under
some republican governments-but were the
best proofs of the stability Of the republic
when at last governed by the people them
selves, through representatives Of their own
honest choice. From Grevy to Casimir-
Pe.ier, from Theirs to Ribot, presidents and
prime ministers had been chosen as really
representatives of the old governing classes.
BROUGHT ABOUT BY HONESTY.
Bourgeois has not been revolutionary and
so far only radical to the point of fearlessly
prosecuting public corruption and fulfilling
tho promises Of genuine republican gov
ernment. The events which led up to yester
days result are thus stated by the Worlds
Paris correspondent:
Comparatively unmportant as was the
incident that provoked the conflict between
the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate,
it was sufficient to bring to an acute stage
spirit of hostility long latent. Now that
the issue has been raised, the consequences
cannot but be far reaching. The truth is
that the third republic is turning point
in French history. With the death of Gam
BETA in 1882, disappeared the last great
French statesman Of the old school, the
last conspicuous representative of the re-
publicans who overturned the empire and
founded the present regime, amid circum-
stances of unprecedented difficulties. One
by one the men who attempted to replace
the great tribune have disappeared,
smothered in the mud of Panama or guilty
of treason against their former principles.
| At the 1893 elections the candidates were
required to posses two qualifications, only,
both negative. First, they had to be men
uncompromsed by the Panama scandal;
secondly, they were required to be anti
BoulangistS-that is anti-dicta toraiistS.
French politics was for the time being
purely PERSONAL; principles and measures
were temporarily lost sight of. ...
Since 1893, the country has been gradually
recovering its peace of mind. The reaction
ary ministers, Dupuy, Casmir-Perler
Dupuy again, and then Rbot-fell in quick
succession. Their ministries fell in every
case after a recess, when the deputies had
| had an opportunity of feeling pulses of
their constituents. All these cabinets fell
after an attempt to balk an inquiry into
a scandal or to pass some reactionary law.
When NJ. Bourgeois assumed power, he
made Uhe first time since 1889 clean dec
laration of policy. He promised punishment
of offenders progressive reforms and hos
tility to both monarchists and revolutionary
| socialists. 1t was said at the time that
! he had no majority, and would fall within
a month. He has not fallen notwth-
standing a series of violeat attacks.
PURSUES A RAILWAY RING.
The present question was simple. The
Bourgeois cabinet had been instructed by
the Chamber of Deputies to discover and
prosecute all persons guilty of corruI tion
in connection with the granting of the
South of France Railway concession. The
ciined to act in the matter.
The task of carrying out the instructions
of the Chamber devolved upon NJ. Ricard,
the minister of justice In the Bourgeois
cabinet. 1t was his duty to ascertain the
exact condition of the judicial investigation
begun some months previously Nj. Remp,er
the examining magistrate in charge of the
investigation, had been inactive for sew
eral weeks. He was requested to prosecute
his inquiry with vigor, and precise indi-
cations were furnished him as TO the points
remaining to be cleared. Nj. Rempler re-
fused to comply. He was therefore removed
and replaced by more energetic magis-
trate.
1t seems that In thus changing a func-
tionary intrusted with a judicial inquiry
before this inquiry had been finished, NJ.
Ricard trangressed certain rule of judi
cial procedure. The Senate asked him
to explain this transgression. NJ. Ricard
explained that the South Of France Rail-
way affair had been a long while in hand
and II was getting dangerously near the
time limit fixed for the prosecution OF
pers7ns guilty of corruption. Therefore,
since NJ. Rempler had declined to act, IL
was imperative to replace him with some
one who would act. Otherwise, NJ. Ricard,
and with him the Bourgeois ministry would
have been liable to censure from the Cham
ber The Senate, which from the first has
been bitterly hostile to the Bourgeois minis
try, nevertheless adopted resolution blam-
ing NJ. Ricard As the whole Bourgeois
cabinet had approved NJ. Ricards action
the senates vote was a defeat for the
government. NJ. Bourgeois, however, de-
clined TO resign and two days later asked
for and obtained vote OF confidence from
the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate
regarded this as an affront, and again
censured NJ. Ricard and the cabinet On
Thursday Nj. Bourgeois obtained a second
vote OF confidence from the Chamber In
spite of furious attacks from the reaction
AIRY Senate.
SENATE SULLENLY BACKS DOWN.
A deadlock seemed imminent. with the
certain consequences outlined at the opening
Of this dispatch, but the Senate yesterday
adopted a declaration substantially that II
would be unwise to persist in antagonzing
the government, adding rather fatuously;
"The Senate does not choose to suspend the