The sun., 1898-02-20

The most recent addition to The Story of the
Nations !" series Is tho volume devoted to Mod.
ern France, by ANDRE LEBoN. In some 400
pages the author has undertaken to compress
the history OF Franco from the convocation of
the states-General in 1859 to tho beginning of
1895. Tho authors attention Is by no means
confined to politics. three chapters being allotted
to q review of tho literature. art and science of
tho century. So far as statements of facts are
concerned. there is no complaint to be made of
this book on tho score of accuracy, but whether
M. Lebon's deductions arc accepted will depend
upon the readers point of view. Tho authors
own viewpoint IL indicated in tho chap.
ter wherein tho third republic Is dis.
cussed. In this chapter. tho fifteenth. we
find the following reference to BoulanRera
Tho Radical Ministry had brought into no.
tice war minister who was Infinitely more
of politician than a soldier. Gen. BoulanRer.
for he 1t was, making capital out OF jingoism
and tho growing public discomfort, tried to
climb into power. and at tho Same time caused
uneasiness to the neighbors of France by his
ambiguous and fantastic attitude. The late
colonial policy THAT Of Gambetta and Jules
Ferry] had possessed tho advantage Of eps
peasing tho legitimate ambition which lies %
tho bottom of all human hearts. Since itA
abandonment and, above all, since tho alliance
between Germany, Austria. and Italy he4
drawn an iron circle around France. and. Cd
pretence of repressing bellioose tendenoio4
which she had never shown. had refused hsp
the right Of FREQ speech and almost Of ozistenoa.
mems minds had revoltod moro and morG
against q state Of things which seemed frAuRhG
with menace to their country. Internal diftk
culties both political and economical, inoreaso6
the irritation and prepared tho ground for agfl
tation in favor of q dictator"
In some comments on tho present politics.
situation in France, M. Lebon dwells with espea
cal emphasis on the state of decay into which
all tho old parties have fallen. A few infatuated
Deputies cling to tho old institutions. and fondly
hope that some accident will sooner or lsto1
restore monarchy and replace on tho throne
one or other of the young princes representing
fallen French dynasties. On tho other hand.
the majority of tho old Right arc disposed
to accept accomplished facts. but. being do.
voted above all things to the Roman Catho.
Ollie Church. they hope. ono day. TO alter the
present military and educational system. and
are. therefore. regarded with disfavor even
by tho most moderate Republicans. In the
authors opinion, tho so-called Rallied" are
often led by their devotion to tho Vatican to
neglect the real interests of tho Conservative
party. Passing to tho Republicans proper. n.
Lebon observes that they arc agreed on somes
what nebulous principles of democratic reform,
both social and financial, but. being divided on
questions OF persons and personal influences
they frequently fall out when theory has TO b0
translated into fact. Some of their memberas
moreover, have tho bad habit OF promising theiR
constituents far moro than they perform.
while others are checked at tho moment OF dc.
cision by judicial considerations which no longer
respond to the needs Of the day" To Socialism
only few words are given: Tho Socialists
noisily espouse tho collectivism Of the Germans,
turn to their own advantage tho strikes which,
in France and elsewhere. periodically paralyzs
industry, and have obtained tho theoretical
sympathy of some professors and oven of some
teachers, who have. at last, discovered that 10
may be useful to tho Church to conciliate The
working classes. On tho whole, however. the
Socialists alarm public opinion by their VIC.
lence and compromise tho success OF necessary
reform by their excessive demands"
1t is pointed out. lastly, that since the spring
OF 1885 no strong political party has been
formed in France. nor has any Premier mIdoa
deep and durable mark upon the country,
Neither do tho constituencies, offspring as they
are of universal suffrage seem to have very
clear idea of what they expect the Goyernmens
TO do. Nevertheless. up to the other day. when
the demand for a retrial OF Dreyfus was stsriea,
France seemed to be living peacefully enough
and TO be developing her resources without pAss
ing much attention TO the sterile agitation OF
her politicians. Now, however. owing TO the
facts forced into public notice by NJ, Zo,a. there
is some danger that the community at large
viii lose confidence in the army. in which eyen'
the army would be not unlikely to forget its
loyalty to the republic.