New-York tribune., 1898-10-23
GLE PROTOCOL"
A DEsPOTISM TO WHICH EVERYBODY IN
FRANCE, EVEN THE PRESIDENT HIM
CQMPEII.Ep TO SIIRMIT

No one can have sojourncd for any length OF
time in France or have taken the trouble to fol-
low the course Of events on the banks OF the
Seine without hearing of a certain mysterious
mower to the behests of which everybody high
and low Is obliged TO bow. 1t bears the odd
name of lie Protocol and its despotism sur
passes that OF every other authority in the land.
Cabinet Minister'S well grand dignitaries
of tho army Of the navy and of the judicature,
are all obliged to comply with its peremptory
dirt tCtions while the life of President Faure, IKE
that of his predecessors in office, is rendered
positive burden to him by its tyranny lnas-
much as there many people, even in France
Itself who ere in ignorance Of the origin and or
the constitution of lie Protocol, aithough
aware of its existence and of It's far-reachlng
power il may be as well TO offer few hftes OF
EXPLANATION on the subject all the more as they
may serve 10 eXculpate the genial President OF
the French Republic from the charges OF arro-
Cancp and pride of office contained IN stories
tha, are now being circulated in the Parisian
ard foreign press concerning him.
Strictly speaking. lie Protocor' is branch OF
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Paris. Dur
ing the reign of Napoleon III the Protocol Bu-
roau was merely intrusted with the duties OF
drawing up the proper formula of treaties. with
la,ion and coincidence sent by the emperor 10
foreign courts where a birth. marriage or
death had taken place Moreover, the Bureau
had charge of the reports of diplomatic confer
erc4s congresses and conventions. as well as OF
tie registers in which these reports are copied
To-day lie Protocol may be said 10 nave
rsurped the role of a dictator OF etiquette anu
Of ceremonial not only with regard TO the De
partn,ent OF Foreign Affairs. but likewise 'o"a'u
the entire French administrative word 'ne
Chief Magistrate Of the EepubI'c hiihSe'i III
cluded lie Protocol' prescrihes wheh 'he RVS
ideut shall wear frock coat ana "heh even
,,,, aroes when he shall ride and when he
,u drive when he shall wear his Grand
C3,, of the Legion of Honor. and when ne
hou con.ent himself with the mere rosette'
II tells him when T. respond 10 salute WIN Il"
hsndshake and when to content hImsei Win al
inclination of the head while IL resuid'eS NV
number Of kisses that ne Is peIi'l''eu ~ III
nross upon the hands Of queens ana ehilresHe9
d ,,,,cr the checks Of reigning sovereisns. lie
PROTOCOL" moreover, is careful TO instruct 'io'V
who are narn1ittcd to approach the President as
IN how they should address hm ana no" " "e
have and if surrounds him with a wall OF Ell
oro,+a snrn,ssing in severity even that which
nrcvails at the courts OF st. James Vienna ana
g. rotorehrrg II is lie Protocol" which,
~ PETERSBURG. IL -
since the memorable visit OF President faure
.. Drseia has established the rule that
ro ono shall sneak to the Chief Magistrate OF
Vrorco without being first OF all addressed b!
;he latter-a rule that has caused no niue pdu
tcod and unjustilicd ill-will toward NJ fauic'
What TO foreigners is so strange IN all 'hlS
l. the fact that such men as the frcside"'' anu
those Of his countrymen who have spent 'he"
whole career in the diplomatic service oi FRANCE
aud who are in consequence possessed Of an in
finite amount Of knowledge oi 'le "o''" an" Va
IN manner and etiquette OF foreign courts
should submit without murInuT ana "i'''"'
y rr.t.st to the heavy and all-restrcing yoke Of
&c Protocol" ln fact the only TWO r''"'''
di,n,taries whom have ever known to rebel
against its DEGREES have been OLD MarShal Mac
M,hon and on one occasion President CasiInir-
Perier when in defiance OF its protests ne III
sis,ad ON figuring as chiH mourner at the
funeral Of his murdered predecessor 'he IA
rnented Sadi Carnot.
ORIGIN OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM
The story of how lie Irotoco" came to he IN
vested with its present authority IS rather en-
tertaining At the time Of the overthrow OF thc
c,n,,jre in 1870 cean sweep was made "i 'he
p,rartlnent Of Foreign Affairs, only n rev eX-
tr.rn.lv subc rdInate officials being ieit III thei
placts by reason Of their insigniiicance. Among
those was NJ Molard, who had for some M
teen wears hcen "A clerk in the Protocol Bureau
Tho origin Of NJ. NJ Hard is wrapped III obScur-
uv According to some Of the traditions current
q, the Cu.i d'Crsay he had started "ut IN III
as i goldsmith. while according to others II"
VIZ q cornet.st IN the orchestra Of one oI the
minor theatres At any rate he was essehtHtHF