New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-04
A PRESIDENT ABROAD.

NJ Faure will 60 to Russia. That Is the In
teresting bit of news now published. 1t Is not
to be doubted for 1t Is put forward by NJ. Faure
himself. 1t is not unexpected for 1t has been
anticipated, deprecated, and generally discussed
for long time: indeed. since before the Car
made his memorable visit to Paris. Since the
latter incident ii has been regarded by many
as inevitable. Yet down to the present moment
protests have been made against 1t, and they
will doubtless continue TO be made. on various
grounds There will be interpretations In the
Chamber, and wild talk about men on horse
back and revolutions For, like all other peo-
pie, the French love to hear and to discuss new
things, and this will assuredly be an incident
without precedent in the. history of the Third
Republic. A little reflection will show, how
ever, that 1t will be one to which no valid OBJ
lection can be offered
1t has been urged that the President Of the
Republic has no right to 60 outside the terri
tory Of the Republic and, as matter OF fact,
not one has hitherto done So But why not? "A
king or emperor may do SO; why not presi-
dent? To say that he may not is n humiliating
confession Of his inferlority to them. To say,
as some have done that his authority as Presi-
dent would be forfeited, and, indeed. his place
made vacant the moment he crossed the bound
ary. is TO say that the authority conferred by
the sovereign people is less potent and less en-
during than that conferred by Inheritance or
nv the outworn fiction Of divine right Surely
no good Republican would confess that. 1t Is to
be maintained that q republic Is the equal or
monarchy, and that whatever power and dignity
the monarch may enjoy, the same may the peo-
pie through their chosen representative enjoy.
That argument, therefore, makes for, not
against this visit.
Another more specific objection Is that under
the French constitution there are several presi-
dents of substantially equal rank-the Presi-
dent of the Republic, the President Of the Cham
her of Deputies the President of the Senate,
and the President Of the Cabinet. or Prime
Minister That is quite true, and 1t Is well re-
nembered how Gainbetta exploited the fact to
Crows discontinue Nevertheless. 1t Is also
t,uo that the President Of the Republic Is the
one to whom Is delegated the especial function
CT representing the Republic in foreign affairs
He is the only one of the presidents OF whom
foreign governments take cOgnizance. There
fore. il Is for him, and not. as has been sug-
gested. for all three four Of them to represent
the Republic at the Court Of the Gar
II is moreover, eminently desirable FOR the
Presidential office to be magnified. It's holder
should be supremely and absolutely the head OF
the State If he was not mnde so by the con-
stitution, that was because In those perilous
times men were afraid that he might become a
dictator That peril is now past The present
peril lies in the other direction in the Dellttllng
and weakening of the Presidential ONCE III
will on that account be good thing FOR the
French Republic and for French Republican,
ism TO have VI. Faure 60 to Russia as the uh-
challenged head Of the State and as the peer IN
rank and dignity Of the hereditary autocrat VINO
IS to be his host. II will be new departure
but it will be n commendable one. and it Will be
made by the man who may of all men best be
trusted 10 make It with good taste and to the
credit and lasting benefit of the nation.