The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-27
POWER OF FRANCES ARMY.
IL new Dominates Preach Politics ana France
Dangers That Confront tho Country.

hoat s1o St9hF
SSecfai Cable Despatoh to THE Sun.
PARIS. Feb. 26.-It seems reasonable to expect
a temporary calm In Paris and France after the
high.pressure excitement Of the past few weeks.
The tyrannical course which the Government has
adopted against any and all champions OF jus.
tice relates exclusively to the sober. serious,
and intelligent classes. who will never resort to
violent measures. The Government knows this.
and therefore thinks it can prosecute them with
impunity.
Tho situation involves two grave dangers at
present. The attitude of tho mass OF the
population is virtually an invitation for some
military favoritc, some Drawer Boulanger, to
seize the Government. Tho French people are
probably unconscious OF the periodical revival
Of this craving for hero worship in their own
breasts. but no others have failed to recognize
1t, especially during the past week. The hour is
at hand, but the man, fortunately. is not. Not
one of the four soldiers who have been the most
prominent figures before the public in the past
three weeks. Billot. Boisdcffre. Pellieux, and
Gonse. has shown any sign OF ambition toward
a personal Dictatorship. It. is more than doubt
full II any of them has the capacity to play the
role successfully. no matter how favorable the
conditions. One thing is certain, however; the
army. as a whole. has discovered It's power. 1t
knows that it controls French politics and
dominates France. 1t will be a miracle II this
new power is allowed to lie unused.
The second danger is the effect Of the revul.
sion of public sentiment against the recent out
RACES upon justice when ii 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
prciudices have cooled down and reason has
once more returned to the brain and heart of
LN-a ra ThA cha rA-an q
public sentiment will discover Lincoln's homely
truth. You can't fool all the people all the
time
1t is merely a question which OF these dangers
will arise first. II the second, then may not the
group OF Generals try TO Offset 1t by accomplish.
ing Jointly what none Ia able to do singly?
The present Incline Cabinet may be more cor
rectly described as a Billot OF military Cabinet.
It Is completely controlled by the army. This
control will not be allowed to lapse. The ro-
pressive measures announced yesterday arc
virtually military measures. They are no less
arbitrary than the rules of martial law. 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
anything stronger. The test or crisis will come
when the agitation on behalf of outraged justice
is renewed. as 1t is certain to be as soon as the
public mind Is more reasonable. Then will come
the real struggle between the military dictator
ship and the republic. and it will be far more
deadly by reason of the present triumph of the
u~surping power.
Meantime the Governments threats against
free speech and n free press were not effective.
NJ. Clemenceau writes defiantly in the .Aurore:
Il am bound to admit that tho Partisan work.
ingman appears to have taken no interest in tho
question. Without detecting in tho violation
of the right of the individual tho violation of
the right OF all, he has left the streets free TO the
cudgels of the a~nti-Semites. for IL Ia, after all,
anti.Semitism which is responsible for this.
Every ono can see it. II there is no law for
Dreyfus IT is because he is a Jew. That is the
whole thing. Bazaine, tho ~euiltiest of all
traitors, was pardoned and set at liberty. He
was a docile son Of the Church and a great anti
Semitic. Boulangism is In course of making.
under the cloak OF anti.Semitism. The Church
of Rome 10 fomenting against the spirit OF tho
French Revolution a deadly agitation which
may have terrible consequences.
Every one in France knows to-day that the
law has been outrageously violated, to tho detri.
ment OF an accused man. at a semblance of a
trial. What difference can this make to those
who have not personally suffered Death to
traitors who wish for a fatherland of "justice,
Death TO hlrelings who appeal to the truth!
Gen. Boisdeffre has laid his sword on the book
OF the law. Touch 1t who dare! A Paris jury
has declared 1t has no desire TO touch it. The
lighted at this. What is II doing to save be.
queathing the expiation OF selhshness and hatred
as q fatal legacy to future generationsf I"