New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-01
THE NEW FRENCH MINISTRY.

The composition of the new French Ministry
is logical. and promises well for the KepuDhc'
NJ Dupuy becomes Prime Minister lie Is
more conservative than VI. Brisson. and not
less upright He has had much experience In
public life. having been already twice Urine
Minister as well as President of the Chamber
OF Deputies Minister Of the Interior, Minister
OF Public Instruction. and n Deputy for the last
thirteen years. He was Prime Minister ut the
time of the arrest trial and condemnation or
Captain Dreyfus. but there seems to be no
reason 10 suppose that he is less favorably In
clined than was NJ Brsson toward such re-
vision of that case as will assure the doing or
exact Justice. NJ. Lebret the new Minister OF
Justice. has not hitherto held a Cabinet port
folio He Is an accomplished lawyer, and has
been a professor Of civil law at Caen. his
sentiments on the Dreyfus case have not been
made known. VI. de Freycinct. who takes the
War portfolio. Is one of the veterans of French
public life He was Prime Minister in 1919,
and three times since then. lie Is supposed
10 he decidedly in favor of revision of the
Dreyfus case
Turning 10 the other Ministers, who VIII not
be SO directly concerned with Drcyfus. the For
egn portfolio commands first attention. II Is
der NJ Brisson. Apart from his general ht-
ness for the office it is to be assumed that lie
has been kept in the Cabinet in order that he
NAV carry on the negotiations with Great Brit
ain over Fashoda and Egypt. which he has for
some time had in hand. His conduct of the
Foreign Office has been firm, prudent and in
telligent and there can he no doubt that while
unfolding the honor and interests of France
4ir,,n 10 III for
Britain and with ali nations Announcement
comes OF increased naval activity IN Great
Britain. and of some depression on the Stock
Exchange but there is not yet sufficient cause
for changing the pacific opinions hitherto ex-
pressed in these columns. 1t Is all very well
to talk of raising the whole Egyptian question.
hut in fact that question has been up for more
than dozen years. There is no Indication
that France means to 90 to war with Great
Britain over it slngle-handcd. and as for her
getting any help from Russia. at time when
Russia needs all her available fleet in Chinese
waters II IS not TO he thought of. The ques
ton may he raised but IT will be by diplomats,
not by soldiers and sailors.
The retention OF NJ. Lockroy means that his
programme of naval expansion is TO he con-
tinued NJ. Peytral remains Finance Minister,
and NJ. Viger resumes the portfolio OF Agri-
culture which he resigned few weeks ago. NJ
Ipygucs becomes Minister Of Public lnstruc-
ton rs he was in former Cabinet of NJ.
Dupuy's MessrS Deoncle and KrantZ are
also men of both legislative and executive
experience and Of admirable records. II is to
be observed that all the members Of the new
Cabinet are casscd as Rcpublicans-that is
Moderate or Conservative Republicans. except
NJ Lockroy who IS a Radical Republican. The
Ministry is therefore more homogeneous than
was It's predecessor. and will not be inclined 10
Weld to Socialistic any more than to monarch
cal Influences Some OF the ablest men in
France such as NJ Ribot. NJ Constans and NJ
Melinp are not included in 1t. But they are in
full sympathy with It, ard will doubtless give 1t
hearty support. II Is always idle TO speculate
ON the length Of tenure Of n French Ministry.
but OF this one It may at least be said that II
deserves TO last for a long time. and that while
It does last it will do good service for the re-
MI hlic