The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-12
Advice to France from One OF CIeve-
lands Diplomatists.

It will be remembered that Mr.. BArARD.
in one Of his speeches in England, expressed
the opinion that his fellow countrymen
are n hard people to govern. They need,
Lc said. a strong man for a ruler, and he
added hat In Mr.. CLEVELAND they have just
the kind Of man required. Another OF our
diplomatic representatives, Mr.. HANNIs
TAYLOR, Minister to Spain, il SO pleased
will our Executive Office, as it has been ad-
ministered by the present incumbent, that
he wants France to have a President Just
IKE him and clothed with precisely the
same powers His views upon the subject,
however. are fired at too long range tn have
much effect upon Frenchmen, for they arv
set forth in the February number Of the
North American Reptctc.
As everybody knows, the President OF the
French republic appoints the members OF
his Cabinet, but they can be turned out of
Office at any moment when their course
fails to meet with the approval of the
Chamber Of Deputies; and in one instance,
that Of the Cabinet headed by NJ. BoUR-
GEoIs, the removal from Office was prac-
tically due to the dissatisfaction OF the Sem
ate. The result, OF course, is thai French
Cabinets do not have so long a lease Of life
as they would have. II, as in the
case OF the United States. their mem
bers were mere clerks OF the Execu-
tive. able, 80 long rs he may be content
with their services, to defy the peoples
representatives. II Is n fact, as Mr.. Taylor
points out, that since February, 1871, there
have been thirty-seven Ministries in France,
whereas in England there have been but
nine Ministries since Dec. 8. 1868. The
phenomenal instability Of French Cabinets
would unquestionably be mischievous II IL
produced extreme fluctuations in every de-
partment of administration So far, how
ever. as the War Department n the de-
partment OF Foreign Affairs are concerned,
there has been on the whole . remarkable
continuity OF policy and only once. namely
during NJ. LocKRor's short tenure of Office,
has there been a decided change in the prin-
ciples and methods by which the navy
is developed and directed. As regards
finance, the rise and fall Of Ministries are
matters OF no moment, since the budget is
framed, not by the Finance Minister for the
tim being, but by IA bureau of the Chamber
OF Deputies. AS a matter of fact, there
foro, Frenchmen do not fee! that they have
suffered any grievous Inconvenience from
the lack OF Ministerial durability and Mr..
TAYLOR is entirely mistaken in supposing
that there is chance of such a revision as
would give Ministries stability by cx-
tinGuishinR their responsibility to the
Chamber OF Deputies.
Instead Of giving the President OF their
republic the large powers which Mr.. CLEvE-
LAND has done his best to render odious, tho
French people are more likely, when they
revise their present Constitution, to dimin-
ish the comparatively small powers with
which NJ. FAURE is now invested. Their
experience with LOUIS NAPOLEON is alto
gether too fresh In their minds for them to
tolerate the idea OF Ministers who should
hold office at the will of the Executive, and
be able to treat with contempt the wish or
the censure OF the national Legislature. Mr..
C~LEvELAND's insolent disregard of the con-
current resolutions passed by Congress in
favor OF recognizing the belligerency OF
the Cubans, would have produced q revolu-
tion in France. The necessity OF instant
and complete obedience on the part OF the
Executive to the will of the Legisla-
ture, is properly regarded by Frenchmen in
Wow vi "hat happcncu III 1901, as an In
dispensable safeguard OF republican insti.
buttons. As it Is, their President cannot
issue a single valid order which is not coun-
tersigned by n Minister responsible to the
Chamber OF Deputies; II he could, being
the commandments of a huge standing
army. he could overthrow their liberties in
an hour. Even under the existing Consti-
tuition the republican regime was gravely
threatened in 1877, and il would have per.
ished had Marshal IMAGINATION been an I'M
principled man, 1t will be remembered
that he appointed the BRoGLIE- FouRTou
Cabinet in defiance OF the wishes OF the
Chamber OF Deputies, and then, secur-
ing the assent Of the Senate, which
the rcact.onists controlled. he dis