The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-26
BRISSON GIVES IT Up
French Premier and His Cabinet
Forced to Resign.
a WILD MEETING OF DEPUTIES.

Forced to Resign.
a WILD MEETING OF DEPUTIES
The Crisis PrecIpitated by the Refusa
ofWar Minister Chanoine to Declar,
in Favor Of Revision In the Dreyfu
Case.
Paris, Oct. 26.-The cabinet of Pre-
mier Henri Brisson, which was formed
on June 2S of the present year. resign.
ed In body last evening after two
stormy sessions of the chamber OF
deputies. The first session had barely
opened than M. Deroued made a vic.
lent attack on the minister of war
General Chanoine, whereupon the lat
ter arose and explained the conditions
under which he accepted the portfolio.
in so doing he declared that he was
Of the same opinion as his predeces-
| sors. evidently referring to the ques-
| ton of reopening the Dreyfus case. a
remark which was greeted with cheers
and protests, the uproar lasting five
minutes.
When General Chanoine was able to
resume speaking he asserted that he
was the guardian of the honor of the
army, and concluded with saying an
grily:
Il place in your hands the trust
received, and I tender my resignation
in this tribune"
The announcement was received with
loud cheering.
General Chanoine then left the cham
ber of deputies and the premier, M.
Brisson, ascended the tribune There
he was greeted with shouts of re
sign" while the leftists cheered him
Justify.
M. Brisson said General Chanoine's
declaration was complete surprise to
him. as the general had been present
at the cabinet meeting which decided
to submit the documents in the ORGY
fus case to the court of cessation. The
general, NJ Bxsson continued, did not
then raise any objection.
Continuing the premier said that the
government was fully determined to
uphold the civil power against the mill
tary and asked for a suspension of the
business Of the chamber, which was
granted.
General Chanoine is the fifth min
lister of war who has declared himself
absolutely convinced of the guilt Of
Dreyfus and the third who has resign
ed on that account. His totally mex
pllcable and unexpected action was
certainly the chief sensation in day
of sensational events. He dealt ver-
liable coup de jarnac to the cabinet
and precipitated a new struggle be-
tween the military and civil authorities.
During the suspension M. Brisson
went to the Elysee Palace in order to
communicate to President Faure the
resignation of General Chanoine.
After the chamber of deputies had
resumed business, at 5 o'clock, NJ.
Brisson announced that the irregular
resignation" of General Chanone had
been accepted, and that his successor
ad interim would be appointed at once.
The premier then proposed that the
chamber adjourn until Thursday next,
and he concluded his remarks with re-
affirming the supremacy of the civil
power.
After attempts upon the part of vari-
Gus deputies to discuss the alleged
military plot, the insults to the army,
etc. their remarks being punctuatcd
with Interruptions and cheers, M. Rbot,
in behalf of his friends, including M.
Melne. approved M. Brisson's state
ment, and added: I'VE have &ery
confidence in the army and do not wish
to see it attacked. All Republicans are
united on this subject"
M. Cavaignac, the former minister
of war. then rushed to the tribune and
demanded an immediate discussion Of
the resolution. He was greeted with
hostile shouts, which caused a great
uproar. The shouting Of tine word
''razOr" was an illusion to the suicide
OF the late Lieutenant Colonel Henry.
who is said to have cut his throat in
his prison cell at the Fortress of Monte
Valerien, after confessing to having
forged one of the Dreyfus documents,
though it has since been claimed the
razor Wi,h which the deed was commit
ted was not found in the cell of tn,
deceased
M. BriHson then accepted the order
of the day, proposed by M. Rbot, af-
firming the supremacy of the civil over
the military power. Several Of the
deputies attempted to speak, but their
voices We're drowned in the uproar
which filled the chamber. The order
Of the day was adopted by vote of
259 to q
An amendment proposed by M, Rcr-
ger chief surgeon "for not causing the
honor Of the army to be respected"
was lost by 274 to 2Gl.
N. De Mahy then proposed a resolu-
tion calling upon the government to
end the campaign of insult against
he arm"
The premier refused to accept the
notion, AMI a vote was taken on ;t
mid such confusion that scrutiny was
demanded. Later this showed that the
government was defeated by a vote
If 296 to 243.
After the result of the scrutiny had
,een announced NJ. Berteaux moved
'ote of confidence in NJ. Brisson, which
vas rejected by 2S6 votes to 25i When
his vote was declared the ministers
eft the chamber, and Immediately af-
erward rendered their designations to
President Faure.
1t is the general impression among
leputies that President Faure will in
lite Alexandra Ribot to form a cabi-
let. The president has signed the ap-
continent of M. Lockroy, minister Of
marine in the retiring cabinet, as min
ster of war ad interim.
When accepting the resignation of the
M. Faure begged M. Brisson
nd his colleagues to continue to act
ntil the formation of the new cab
net.