The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-26
The Crisis in the Chamber of Deputies

The session OF the French Chamber OF
Deputies that has begun this week seems
likely to prove more eventful than any that
has taken place since the Constitution OF
the present French republic became opera
tive in 1875. 1t is safe to say that its de-
bates and decisions may involve issues no
less momentous than a war with England
n a domestic revolution. The Cabinet
headed by NJ. BRIssoN has been unable to
retain power, and must give way to q Min
istry formed probably by NJ. incline or
some other representative Of the moderate
opinions which were predominant in the last
Chamber. The fall Of the Brisson Cabinet
has turned upon the fundamental question
whether the advocates or the opponents of
anew trial for DREYFUs shall control the
Government Of France, n direct vote of
want OF confidence in the Government hav-
ing been carried by q majority Of 81, with
500 members voting. The effect Of this
vote on the conduct of the Dreyfus trial
nevertheless may not be decisive.
In order to follow intelligently the
phases OF the struggle, it may be we'll to
recall the outcome OF the last general cleo
ton and to consider how far this may
have been modified by subsequent occur
rences. In the general election which took
place in May of this year the Meline
Cabinet, which was in power and possessed
all the means Of influence a~ttainable
through a control Of the administrative
machinery, expected to secure q larger
majority Of the Deputies than it had
had in the last Chamber. It's expec-
tations were not fulfilled. The Radi-
calls more than held their own, and
the Socialists, while experiencing some
losses In Paris, made notable gains in the
provinces, and especially in agricultural
districts which had been presumed to be
impregnable to their ideas. The result
was that although NJ. MEIINE and his col
leagues, on the assembling OF the new
Chamber, succeeded in making their candi-
date, NJ. DEsCHANEL, the presiding officer
of that body, this proved to be but a
Pyrrhic victory, for they were soon
after beaten and had to resign. Re-
peated attempts to form a new Ministry
Of Moderates failed, and ultimately M.
BRIssoN succeeded in constructing q Cabi-
net. In which, while it contained some rep
resentatives of Moderate opinion, the Radi-
calls were preponderant.
Although 1t was thus made clear that the
Chamber was disposed to favor the Radi-
cal programme, considered as a whole, it
was also known that the .Brisson Cabinet
represented a compromise of which the
two main features were that neither the
question OF an income tax nor that of a re-
vision OF the Dreyfus case should be raised.
The second concession was even more indis-
pensable than the first, for although there
may have been some revisionists In the
previous Chamber. there we're originally
few In that which was chosen in May, 1903.
The almost unanimous conviction OF the
present Chamber, that the Judgment con-
demning DREYFus should be allowed TO
stand, was impressively attested when,
with only two dissenting votes, the speech |
In which M. OAvAIdNAc, the Minister OF
War, pronounced definitely against re-
Vision, was ordered to be placarded In the |
$4,000 m Of France. Soon after
the Chamber adjourned. leaving tho Brls-
son Cabinet assured OF at least some
months tenure of oflce.
During the recess OF Parliament occurred
the confession, sealed by suicide, OF Col.
HENRY, q member Of the intelligence de-
pattnent Of the general staff, that he
had forged the document that had been
put forward In NJ. C~AvAIGNAo's speech
al the principal proof of DREYFUs's guilt.
This confession brought about a marked re-
yulsion Of feeling in Paris, and a number of
newspapers, including consplcuously the
1tHnpS, which had previously opposed
revision, now demanded It. This change
OF sentiment was reflected in the Cabi-
net, and, although N. CAvAIaNAo still In
sisted that DKEYFUs was guilty. and proved
the sincerity Of his belief by resigning the
Ministry Of War, the Premier and q ma