New-York tribune., 1899-06-18
FRENCH MryIsTERIAL PROSPECTS.

NJ. PoinCare cannot form Ministry. lie mas
tried earnestly and with admirable direction.
He would be himself an excellent Prime Minis
ter. and the men he would like TO associate Win
himself would form an excellent Cabinet. But
no fails because apparently the members OF the
Left will not give him their support. Ihey
demonstrated" vigorously in behalf OF the re-
public week ago, and now they want their pay
In the formation Of Ministry selected from
their own ranks. Their demand does not seem
70 no oItocether reasonable Until there Is n
homogeneous and coherent majority party IN
Fronce-and such party is Frances greatest
POLITICAL need to-day-the proper plan Is to main
tain some such n cartel as Bismarck maintained
in the German Parliament with notable success.
There should be an alliance, or union, OF the
various Republican groups, with suitable repre-
sentaton OF each in the Cabinet. That seems 10
hnve been NJ Poncare's plan. which was baked
by the unwillingness Of the Radicals and Social
lists TO enter such n combination.
NJ. Waldeck- Rousseau is now looked to 10
form n Ministry. He has undertaken the tasK'
and in a day or two we shall see how he sue
ceeds where NJ. Poincnre failed. 1t Is not to De
supposed that In calling upon him NJ Louoet
has Welded TO the demands Of the Left. Inc
fact is quite contrary to that NJ Waldeck-
Rousseau Is more conservative than NJ. Poin-
care. and is likely to form Ministry more con-
servatiye I'm tone In the first place. he Is Sen
ator. and the Senate Is always more conserVa-
tive than the Chamber OF Deputies. Ihen' WINE
he was in hearty accord with GamDetta III the
early sos. he went out Of practical politics soon
after Gnmbetta's death, and remained out Tor
ten years, devoting himself to the practice OF his
profession. And when he re-entered polltlcal
life II was ms a Senator. In ali those years ne
practically stood still in political IDEAS. he
holds about the same views now that he did In
Gambettas time And although Gambetta was,
in his own time, something OF Radical, he
would to-day rank as a somewhat extreme Con-
servatiye. We can scarcely hope that such n
man will be received with enthusiasm by those
who objected to Moderate Republicans like NJ.
Rbot
Nevertheless II is difficult to imagine any con-
vincing grounds for opposition to NJ Waldeck-
Rousseau, save those OF pure faction, "hich
would be discreditabe to those who adopt them'
BY the common consent Of his enemies as well
as his friends he Is one Of the ablest lawyers
and public administrators In France, ana Is
honest above all suspicion. He has been CaD-
met Minister MS most French politicians OF any
Importance have been, but he has never Deeh
Prime Minister and Is therefore handicapped by
no unfortunate record Finally, as to the Drey-
fus case which Is really the dominant issue III
French politics to-day, there Is no shadow OF
doubt as to where lie stands. He stands Tor re-
vision and for rigid probing of the whole case
to the very bottom. no matter who Is hurt 1t
Is not to be assumed the Left will object to that.
Ry an interesting coincidence he comes from the
very town In which the new trial Of Dreyfus is
to take place. In that circumstance those VINO
wish may see an omen.