The record-union., 1899-08-22
DEFECTS IN THE FRENCH SYS-
TEN.

The Chicago News" commenting
upon the defects of the French system
thinks the chief lies in the fact that
the President is not elected by the peo-
pie, but by the two houses of the Ma
tional Assembly. in one of which houses
there are numerous life members.
Unquestionably herein is a weakness
which renders the executive arm of the
Government powerless for any great
good. But while this is a defect ac-
ccrding to the American standard
well nigh fatal to a republican form of
government, there are even more Sc
rious weaknesses and these are three in
number, namely, in the recognition in
country of assumed political equality
of citizenship. Of the remnants of a
nobility; secondly. in the traditions and
seeretiveness of the army which is
hedged about by privileges that not
even the President may inquire into,
and lastly in the unstable character Of
public opinion which is affected by at
tachment, prejudices and traditions ap-
pertaining to a royalist system and
wholly uncongenial to the atmosphere
of a republic.
The weakness of which our contem-
porary complains is, however, unques-
tionably one OF great danger. For in
stance. it will be recalled that an ex-
PraSi5onf oF ENrapoa hoo +aS+ifad IN tba
Dreyfus case. that movements in the
army took place in his term Of the
gravest character and affecting the en-
tire system of government, without the
knowledge or advice of the President.
Not only that but he was not even in
formed of the changes and movements
after they We're made, but was left
to ascertain the fact through outside
avenues.
This being the status of the head Of
the government. it is easily understood
that the executive is little more than
a figurehead, If the army officials
choose to stand against him. In such
a case his executive power is absolutely
nil. An executive without the power
to command force behind him is little
more than fiction.
But not less a mistake is the recog-
milton of the aristocratic class. If it
has not higher political standing than
the ordinary citizens under the law,
nevertheless in the system it exercises
an undue influence and is paid obeis-
ance that is incompatible with the poll
tical freedom of the people. While it
is true that the French army is an
exceptional body, indeed a model of fine
soldiery, and while it is true that
France owes very much to it's army,
and that it stands to-day as a wall of
defense against the encroachments of
rival nations, it is also true that it has
within the republic power that is op-
posed to the freedom of action that must
characterize an Independent and truly
self-governing people.
AS long as it is given to the army
to say in times of peace that it will
not reveal TO the civic authority its
movements and policy and to defy the
Courts and the President himself, free
dom hangs by so slender thread that
the sweep of single sword may sever
it.
The third defect In the French sys-
tenn, the instability Of public opinion
is obvious to every we'll informed mind
of the day. and calls for little or no
comment. 1t is not to be attributed to
lack Of intelligence, for the French are
not amenable to that charge. 1t is not
due to absence of love Of liberty, for
there is nothing of which the French
prate more. 1t is a constitutional de-
feet In the nature of the race which is
operated upon by traditions, prejudices
race hatreds and religious bias, prevent
ing that settled and firm conviction OF
human rights, which must underlie
sound public thought and expression.