New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-25
PRINCES CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.

Paris is tranquil" That is the news If the
day. and 30 far as IT goes il is we'll. How far
that tranquility is due to the massng u troops
about the Luxembourg j. an interesting qucS-
ton. Still more interesting Is the question
whether it marks the final passing Of the storm
or a mere lul which may be followed by 4 still
ncrcer outbreak There were those who loudly
proclaimed. day or two ago. the surrender Of
the Senate But there has been 10 surrender.
The declaration of last Friday. adopted by vote
Of ~ 10 CO. is as free from even an intcrllncar
suspicion Of that word was old Londonderry.
Whatever may occur. we may he sure the Sen
ate will not rcccdc from the ground il has taken.
For II 10 do 50 would mean for Itself more than
qualification II would mean annihation Nor
is there the slightest constitutional reason why It
should surrender. Some attempt has been made
10 lillen the Senate TO othcc European upper
houses" and TO licn the present strife to that
between the late House Of Commons and The
House Of Lords in England Nothing could he
more misleading The Senate IL not House OF
Peers but All elective and representative body.
In England it is a constitutional principle that
the Ministry is responsible Ia the Commons
alone IN Prussia the House Of Lords cannot
amend financial bill in lii" slightest In Italy.
Austria, Hungary and elsewhere the upper
houses are chiefly cofap)scl of princes. nohlns,
ccclcsiastics, or lie members appointed by the
Crown. Into not orc Of them does the element
Of popular representation or Of responsibility
to the people rntc: The French Senate is or
IN altogether different basis. lis members arc
chosen for limited terms. by ihc people Of
France; they represent the people and are re-
sponsib.c TO thcrq. 1t Is more Ike the United
States Senate than any other body. but far SUI
passes even il in its popular and representative
qualities.
If a choice must be made by France between
the Senate and the present Ministry and Cham
Der Of Deputies. there seems no good reason why
i. should be in favor Of the latter. The Bour
gcois Ministry has not in all respects main
tainel the high credit with which il took Office
The conduct IF the Ministry Of Justice, in
making an arbitrary change Of judges n
the Southern Railway trial, is widely crit
iclscl as savoring somewhat too much of poli!-
cal manipulation Of the judiciary. The case Of
NJ. Combes. the Minister Of Education. Is even
worse Seven months ago. when he was merely
4 Senator. he wrote 20 NJ Matrot. thr manager
Of the State Railways. demanding for himself
and one Of his political colleagues Deputy
apnolntmcnt to the Board of Directors-of course
with a snug salary for each And now VI.
Combcs is IA member Of Ministry which IS
committed TO the policy of excluding Senators
and Deputies from such places. Then there Is
the case Of ". Raynal, who was formerly MIN
| ster of Public Works. A year ago II trench
| dous cutlery was raised against him for alleged
corrIp; relations With two great railway COM
panieS lie was denounced by the whole Rali-
al-Socialist-Jcw batting combination rs a VII
lain of deepest dye. and on his account the Du-
puy Ministry was turned out Of Office and Prcsl-
dent Cas.mir-pcricr resigned Put now. after n
most rigid investigation. report IL made fully
generating him. and even the Chamber Of
Deputies. which Is strongly backing up tho
Bourgeois Ministry. is compelled 10 accept it
and admit it to be true and just. These things,