The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-11-13
FRENCH CABINET CRISIS
RADICALS MAKE 4 FUTILE EFFORT
TO OVERTHRO " THE GOVERNMENr.

Ground for Attack Was on the Question of
the Government Permitting Priests,
Though State officials, to Hold Con-
gresses-Assault Made by Central Groups
in the Chamber of Deputies.
Paris, Nov 12.-The central groups
in the chamber to-day made an unsuc-
cessful attempt to overthrow the gov
ernment. The radicals have been for a
long time scheming to oust the Meline
cabinet for no very obvious reason be-
yond a desire to secure the official
loaves and fishes for themselves. On
Tuesday last the chamber decided by
a majority of nineteen to discuss on
Monday next the mode of electing sem
ators. The government opposed the
proposal, but a snap division resulted
in it's adoption. The government did
not take the action of the chamber
as an expression of want of confidence
and no serious results followed. This
move on the part of the chamber was
an incident in the manouevres of the
radicals to force M. Meline and his
colleagues out of office and it antici-
pated an Interpolation offered to-day
by Levi Norman, the radical socialist,
who sits for one of the districts of
Rheims.
The Republique Francaise M.
Meline's organ, published an article
yesterday strongly attacking the OPP
ponents of the cabinet. 1t charged
them with darkly conspiring against
the cabinet and with laying snares
every day to entrap the government.
1t challenged them to openly attack
the policy of the government and to
make charges against it from the trib-
une of the chamber. The article which
was a vigorous one hurled defiance at
the liberals and concluded by calling
upon them to disclose their own policy.
The ground for to-day's attack was
the question of the governments per-
mitting priests, although they are state
officials, to hold congresses, which the
members of the left regarded as tan
tamount to forming trades unions,
while at the same time the government
will not allow the universitaires to
1t was this which brought out the in
terpellation.
The groups met yesterday to discuss
what action should be taken. NJ Mir
man addressed the extreme left, who
pledged themselves to support his in
terpellation The other groups showed
disposition to support it, but We're
not wholly unanimous.
The galleries We're filed with an in
terested audience and the debate was
closely followed by every one present.
The seats of the members were fully
occupied, and it was evident that the
opposition entertained high hopes Of
forcing NJ Meline and his fellow minis
ters to hand their designations to Pres
ident Faure. M. Mirmans chief point
of attack was the clerical congresses
recently held at Rheims at which a
crusade against the republic was
preached. Nevertheless, he said, the
government refused to allow professors
and school teachers to hold congress.
NJ Rambaud, minister of public in
struction and worship, briefly replied to
the Interpolation. He stated that he
intended to introduce a measure
authorizing teachers to form mutual
aid society and to hold certain con-
crosses. This statement was greeted
with applause.
M. Darlan, minister of justice, said
that only one of the congresses held at
Rheims had taken an attitude of which
the government could disapprove. One
clergyman, whose remarks had been
particularly offensive had since been
censured and his stipend stopped. The
bishops had been notified that they
must prevent the recurrence of any
similar performance at future congress-
es or other church gatherings The
government would do its duty in secur-
ing respect for the country's institu-
tions and for the protection of the
rights of civil society.
The center party cheered NJ Darlan
loudly.
Abbe Jules Lemine attempted to
make a defence of the clergy, but was
met with cries of closure"
M. Burgoise, the ex-prime minister,
protested against the closing of the de-
bate and he was supported by Prime
Minister Meline. The latter attacked
attacked the Catholics who were, he
said, conducting a movement against
civil society NJ Meline declared that
he welcomed the discussion, as it gave
the chamber an opportunity to say
whether the government possessed it's
confidence. He repudiated the charge
that he encouraged the clerical propa-
ganda, maintaining that he did not do
so any more than had his predeces-
sors in office, but, he added, he could
not war on religion. He was convinced
that the chamber would approve his
policy. which accorded with the inter-
ests of the country.
The center cheered M. Meline.
M. Alexander Milleraud, radical re-
publican socialist made a violent at
tack upon the government.
q Then Minister Rambud essayed to
reply, but the cries of Closure" be-
came so loud and insistent that he
finally yielded.
Five orders of the day were present
ed, but M. Meline declined to accept
any of them except one offered by M.
Poincare, ex-minister of public instruc-
ton, the gist of which was that the
chamber approved the declarations of
the government, trusting that it would
ensure respects for the rights of the
state.
NJ. Gustav Isambert, radical republi-
can demanded priority for his order of