The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-12
MR.. MORSS COMES HOME
EX-CONSUL GENERAL TO PARIS BACK
IN NEWSPAPER HARNESS.
His Comments on the Great Growth
of Socialism in France and Else
where-Amerfcan Politics.

Samuel e. Morss, retiring consul general
to Paris, arrived home yesterday afternoon,
accompanied by Mrs. Morss. He spent
most OF the night at the Sentinel office and
will continue to devote most of his time
to his paper. He looks scarcely a day older
for his long residence in the French cap
ital and returned in excellent health and
spirits
II found life very pleasant there" he said
in reply to the question of Journal re-
porter, and enjoyed my stay very thor
oughly. There is much in Paris to add to
the comfort and pleasure of living, though
when it comes to the matter of domestic
luxury and convenience the French and ev-
cry other people that L know of have less
than the Americans. But they have music
and art they care for the beautiful and,
thrifty though they are, they find time in
their busy life for little leisure and recrea-
ton. And they are not in a hurry. Paris
uses the omnibus and the horse cars. They
will not allow a trolley in the streets, nor
an elevated railroad, nor anything that is
unsightly. The French character shows a
curious combination of the intensely prac-
teal as shown in their ability to utilize
everything and get the most out Of it, to-
gether with a keen sense of the artistic and
the poetic. This latter will crop out in
everything. When the Frenchman ties a
bow of ribbon about bunch of flowers he
gives it a twist that is essentially French.
You cannot tell in what it consists, but
you do know that it is not to be found
anywhere else This sense of the beautiful
comes to the surface in their business as
well as in their play. They are as careful
to grow and preserve beautiful trees upon
the business boulevards of Paris as in their
parks. They regulate the height of build
ings according to the width of the streets
and sky-scraping monstrosities are I'M
known.
There is tranquility at present in the po
litical conditions of France continued Mr..
Morss, in reply to another question. In
stead of two great parties, they have
number of groups no one Of them having
a majority in the Chamber of Deputies.
To-day three or four groups will vote to-
gether upon one question and tomorrow
they may split up on a new alignment on
another question and cause the downfall Of
q Ministry. The great political phenom-
enon of France, as well as of Germany,
Belgium and Italy, is the rapid growth of
socialism. 1t looks as if not many years
hence the lines would be drawn between
two great parties of Socialists and Con-
serVatiVes. OF course, there are various
shades or groups of Socialists, varying
from enlightened theorists TO the men who
have no particular reasons for their faith,
but desire the overthrow of the existing
social and industrial conditions. In a gen.
eral way, they demand the naturalization
of all productive industry that can be car
ried on on a large scale such as transPor-
tatlon manufacturing OF various KINDS,
mining and shipbuilding. The telegraph is
already under government control, and all
the charters of railroads and other quasi
public corporations provide that the whole
property shall revert to the government or
the city, as the case may be, at the eXpira-
n o
charters were for one hundred years and
some for fifty. Some of them begin to eX-
pire between 1910 and 1920. The Socialists
have a majority in the Municipal Council
of Paris, and they control more than half
the municipal and provincial governments ll 1s1s
many and Belgium, and are gaining
strength very rapidly in Italy.
About American politics and the future
truth, 1 know nothing outside of what |
have read, and my mind Is somewhat
chaotic on the subject. l had expected to
find the prosperity mere upon my arrival,
and sincerely trust that it will come in full
measure with me. 1 had always supposed
that prosperity was a matter of slow
growth, but during the campaign General
Harrison and Mr.. Mckinley, with their
speeches. disabused my mind upon this sub
1ect by declaring that all that was needed ed
was a correct vote, and confidence would be
restored and the wheels of prosperity
would begin TO hum at once"
Mr.. Morse laughed musingly when asked
gold Democrats would be. Il cannot say"
he replied what will become of them. 1
notice that they are holding a few con-
ventions, but where they will land is
mystery of the future"
Speaking of France again" he said,
there is one matter we should be alive to,
and that is the approaching exposition. 1t
will be the greatest the French people have
ever given, and our government and our
people should see to it that the showing
made there by the United States and
American industries is all that it should
be-"