The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-30
BOURGEOIS CABINET CRISIS.
PREMIER ANNOUNCED THE MIN
IsTRY RESIGNATION TO THE
DEPUTIES.
FAR-REACH|NG PURPOSE PROBABLE.
President Faure May Resign, in Which
Event National Assembly Would
Meet and Bourgeois Would En-
deavOr to Have Senate Power
II Curtailed

Paris, April ON. Bourgeois, in an
nouncing the resignation of the minis
try in the chamber of deputies today,
read "A statement contesting the right
of the senate to overthrow ministry
or to be the sole interpreter of the con-
sttution; but he added, in view of the
impossibility of securing proper military
regulations for Madagascar, the cabinet
was compelled to resign.
The government desired to make it
clear, VI. Bourgeois continued that they
had not abandoned for a moment the
doctrine prOfessed by their illustrous
precursors, Gambetti and Ferry, which
laid down that the chamber elected by
universal suffrage alone had the power
to unmake ministers. The government
believed this doctrine was consonant with
constructive law, with the spirit of the
, institutions in Il great democracy which
recognizes no other sovereignty than
universal suffrage; it was in affirming
this doctrine that the government was
accused of being an unconstitutional gov
eminent There was only one reply to
this, and that was one showing that the
right TO pronounce upon the constitution
belongs to neither chamber. but to the
national assembly. The government re-
tired, he said, undiscouraged. They
wished to express their hope in the ma
jority for reform which sustained the
government against almost daily attack.
Men would pass away, but principles,
when just, would live and triumph. The
government, for the last five months.
had striven to guide French Democracy
in its natural course, to inspire the Re
publican party with confidence in itself
and to inculcate in all citizens healthy
interest in political struggles.
1--WE have done our best" said NJ
Bourgeois, ''to form in spirit the great
Democratic party, whose aim it is to
make the republic the instrument of
moral and social progress and lasting
means of lessening the inequalities of
the classes. We await with the great
est confidence the hour when the country
will pass sovereign Judgment upon u.s.
The ministers visited the Elysee palace
during the morning and had brief in
terview with President Faure, who for
mally accepted their designations.
The senate, during the day, received
the report of the committee fayoring the
adoption of the Madagascar credits, and
then adjourned.
The crisis precipitated by the resigna-
ton of the cabinet has set the politicians
of all shades briskly at work to get what
advantage is possible out of the new
formation. The Bourgeois cabinet, dis
tinctively Radical, as it has been. and
even more Socialist. has held Office longer
and accomplished more than was thought
possible when it first took Office after
NJ. Ribot's overthrow. The opinion is
expressed in the Hobbies that NJ. Bour-
even now, and that he could have defed
the senate and continued to hold Office
with the approval of the chamber.
The days votes show that he could cas-
ily have secured big majority there,
and he announced the doctrine which the
chamber approved by its votes. that the
chamber of deputies. elected by univer-
sal suffrage, alone had the power to make
and unmake ministries.
But though Nj. Bourgeois has deied
the censure of the senate, when eX-
pressed in general terms he was not will
ing to continue the responsibility of the
government when the senate withheld
the credits TO meet money Obligations.
Besides. there are indications that Nj.
Bourgeois hopes to obtain a deeper and
more lasting advantage over the senate
and the conservative political tendencies
which it represents by carrying his quar-
rel with them to the electorate. The mu-
nicipal elections are approaching and
following them comes the election of
one-third of the members of the senate.
the senators being elected for term OF
nine wears, but One-third retiring every
three years. The successors of many
of those senators who retire this year
are to be elected by the new municipali-
ties. 1t is highly significant that the So
cialist group of the Republican party
has tonight issued a manifesto calling
upon citizens and workmen to utilize
their rights of universal suffrage in the
coming municipal elections so as to es-
tablish the popular power in the munlcl-
palties and spread the socialist power IN
the mayoralty. This is preliminary
to securing the election of senators. by
giving up Office NJ Bourgeois goes to
these electors with plea that the sen
ate opposed and overthrow his caplnel
because of its Socialstic tendencies ANA
he hopes thus to rally large ooclaiis'
vote in the municipal elections. l.,
Today's votes in the chamber are De-
lieved to indicate that moderate Re-
publican cabinet, if formed, couid no,
enlist the support of the chamber ana
could not last. Az
There is nothing apparent as to inc
head of the next cabinet, but that MEME
is considered the most likely successor
to NJ bourgeois. He is an earnest aa'
vocate of the theory of protectlon. l! i
feared that the present capinet , crislI
NAV have serious effects on the politlcai
IaDElc. II ScclllS DlobtpiN
political crisis will ensue. IN lac.
it has been argued by some of the depGi
ties that the resignation of the Rresl
dency by NJ Faure is part of Nj. Bour,
geois' plan. The two chambers Woulo
have to meet together at once in the ma
tional assembly to elect new pTesluen.
NJ. Bourgeois believes he could c0htTo
the national assembly as one BODY
though as two chambers the senate Is
against him. He would, it is said, en-
deavor to secure amendments to the con
stitution from the national assembl!
which would put the cabinet beyond feal
of harm from the senate alone ana max
it accountable to the deputies, aftel
which NJ. Faure would be reelected pres
ident and NJ. Bourgeois reapponted pre-
mier and would be secure in his lease o.
power.
PRESS COMMENTS.
Hba poris pOrrpS