New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-02
VI. UEROTLEDE'S IDEA

The name of NJ. Paul Deroulede has not
hitherto been one to conJure with In this cOun-
Try. tie has been regarded as n fanatic n
reVoutionist an enemy Of the republic Four
weeks ago The Tribune published a sketch of
his career and translatiOns OF II number of his
poems. which showed him TO have been good
soldier and 10 be writer Of no little ability
The unknown quantity in his personal equation
has hitherto been his political programme It's
value has been varlously estimated with vari-
Gus degrees of accuracy or naccuracy In the
interest of correct information. as well as OF
justice TO NJ. Derouledc himself II is crafty
Ing 10 be able TO give his own estimate. which.
shall see. differs widely and radically
from the common one
In another part Of to-days paper we publish
n couple of letters from VI Deroulide in which
he sets forth terscly. but with sufficient de-
TAIL his political ambition. He does not wish.
he says. TO overthrow the republic. He wishes.
on the contrary. TO make II conform more close
ly TO the American ideal OF true republic He
thinks that Parliament has too much power. Is
deSpotc in fact. The President Is merely It's
puppet. He would magnify the Presidential
office. and make II independent of Parliament,
II is here. 70 that end he would have the
President elected by universal popular suffrage,
instead Of by the National Assembly. And that
is. in brief the extent Of the head and front
of his offending.
In this idea Of VI. Derout1e's there is. I'M
Questionably. much merit The history of the
French Republic contains many examples of
the evil of the present anomalous system. in
which there are. as has been said. three Prcsi-
dents, of whom the President Of France Is the
least. The system Is n curious mixture of the
British and American systems. anonymously
made. Hitherto. in connection with the forcing
ont Of VI. Grevy and The resignation Of VI.
Casimir Perier we have expressed the opinion
that some modification Of the system might he
desirable; or M any rate, that the present
hybrid system responsible for many Of the
evils from which France has been suffering.
In working for such reform VI. DerOulede Is
logical and makes appeal to reason. He shows
himself 10 he not a blind rcvOlutlOnist. but a
thoughtful reformer. His methods of agitation
NAV not always commend themselves 10 our
calm Judgment But the end at which he aims
Is one that must command serious cOnsidcra-
ton
1t will not escape attention that the sys-
ten NJ Derouade desires TO establish would
not Itself be without serious dangers II was
Napoleon was made President Of France and
the coup detat and the pinchbcck empire were
imposed upon the nation. There Is reason TO
believe that more than once since 1871 the ma
ton might have been stampcded into electlng
some unworthy candidate to the Presidency,
even the mountebank Boulanger himself. The
National Assembly has served as balance
wheel TO keep the political engine Of the nation
running steadily. II will be observed. too. that
the American system. which NJ. Derouledc ad-
mircS involves the choice Of a President through
the machinery Of an Electoral College, and not
by direct vote OF the people. SO we are not
prepared TO say that VI. Derouledes idea would.
If executed. be for the good Of France. nor yet
that It would not be- 1t Is one. however, TO be
discussed sOberly, on its merits, and the cxpos
ton OF II which he makes in our columns Will
redeem him from the odium Of being n mere
GovcrnmeDt-smasher.a and establish his credit
as thoughtful student OF affairs and n sin
cere would-bc refOrmer.