The times., 1898-02-27
PARIS AGAIN TRANQUIL
The Army Controls French Pol
itics and Dominates France.
CALM AFTER THE STORM
The Situation Ripe for Second
and Brnver Boulauger- Strug-
gle Between a Military Dictator
ship aud the Republic Imminent
Governments Threats Ineffecual.
lspecial cahle-Cnprriphted.l }


Paris, Feb G6.-It seems reasonable
to expect a temporary calm in Paris
and France after the high pressure and
excitement Of the past few weeks. The
tyrannical course which the govern
ment adopted against any and al
champions Of justice falls exclusively
upon the sober and industrious classes
who will never resort to violent meas
ures. The government knows this, ano
therefore it thinks it can persecute
them with impunity.
The situation involves two grave dan
gers. The present attitude of the mass
of the population is virtually an invi-
tation to some military favorite-some
braver Boulanger-to seize the govern
ment. The French people are uncon-
scious Of the periodical revival of this
craving hero worship in their own
breasts, but none can fail TO recognize
it. especially during the past week. The
hour is at hand, but the man, fortu-
nately, is not
Not one of the four soldiers who have
been the most prominent figures before
Rillot, Boisdeffre, Pellieux or Gonse has
shown any sign of ambition towards a
personal dictatorship.
1t is more than doubtful If any of
them has the capacity to play the role
successfully, no matter how favorable
are the conditions. One thing is GER
tain, however, the army as a whole
h &c knows
controls French politics, and dominates
France 1t will be a miracle if this
new power is allowed TO be unused.
The second danger is in the effect of
the reyulsion of public sentiment
against the outrages upon justice, when
1t finally comes. No one can have such
a low opinion of the French people as
to believe that they will persist in their
present attitude after their passions
and prejudices have cooled and reason
has once more returned to the brain
and heart of France. Then the present
manipulators of public sentiment will
discover Lincoln's homely truth that
you can't fool all the people all the
time"
1t is merely question which OF
these dangers will arise first. If the
erals try to offset it by accomplishing
jointly what none is able to do singly.
The present Meline cabinet may be
more correctly described as the Billot,
or military cabinet. 1t is completely
controlled by the army. and this con-
troll will not be allowed to lapse. The
repressive measures announced yester-
day are military measures. They are
no less arbitrary than the rules of mar
tial law and Severer measures are
threatened by NJ. Meline, but even his
supporters among the press, such as
the Temps, warn him that the public
will not endure any stronger test or
the crisis will come.
When the agitation on behalf Of out
ragged justice is renewed, as it is Ger
tain to be as soon as the public mind is
more reasonable, then will come the
real struggle beteween a military die
tatorship and the republic, and 1t will
be far more deadly by reason OF the
present triumph of usurping power
Meantime the governments threats
against free speech and free press are
not effective. NJ. Clemenceau writes
defiantly in lie Aurore: Il am bound to
admit that the Partisan workingman
appears to have taken no interest in
the question. Without detecting in
the violation of the right of the indi-
yidual the violation of the right of all,
he has left the streets free to the
cudgels of anti-Semites, for it is, after
all. anti-Semitism which is responsible
for this. Everyone can see X. If there
is no law for Dreyfus 1t is because he
is a Jew That is the whole thing.
Bazaine, the guiltiest of all traitors,
was pardoned and set at liberty. He
was 4 docile man of the church and a
great anti-Semitic.
"Boulangism is in the course of maxi
ing under the cloak of anti-SemitiSm.
The Church of Rome is fomenting
against the spirit of the French revolu-
ton deadly agitation which may
have terrible consequences. Everyone
in France knows today that the law
has been outrageously violated TO the
detriment of an accused man at a
semblance of a trial. What difference
can this make to those who have not
personally suffered?
Death TO the traitors who wish for a
fatherland of justice. Death to the
birelings who appeal to truth. Gen.
Boisdeffre has laid his sword on the
book of the law. Touch it who dare.
"A Paris jury has declared that it has
no desire to touch it. The French peo-
pie seem for the moment to be delight
ed at this, but what is it doing save be-
queathing the eXpiation of selfishness
and hatred as a fatal legacy to future
generations?