Arizona republican., 1899-03-04
Governments Surprising ShoW-
 ing in Recent Events
GAIN FOR THE CIVIL POWERS
ReacfionarV Agitation as Repre- scented by DerOuIedc IRSignifi- CanS-Neither Capitol Nor Pro- VinceS ReSponded-The Hrmy'S Submission to inc Constituted AuthOrifie $.


 gan with M. Loubet's election, have continued throughout the week. The hostile demonstrations in Paris against the new president have been partly spontaneous and partly organ ized. The omente-s expected quick and strong response from the prov inces. Instead, the provincial cities remain tranquil and indifferent, neither acclaiming nor attacking Lou bet, but simply accepting him. In Paris the manifestations were mere rival shoutings by a few bands of youths, mostly Of the upper classes, yielding immediately to police press Ure.
 The dangerously turbulent classes, like the workmen of outlying fau- bourgs, did not share in them. As expressions of public opinion the dem onstrations were insignificant On the other hand, the disproportionately vigorous measures of the government to suppress them have materially in creased it's prestige in the public eye by showing that it dares assume re- sponsibility and enforce authority Above all, the chiefs of the army con- tune to be duly dutiful to the consti- tuted authorities.
 Had General Roget shown the slight est disposition to yield or listen to De- roulede's mad exhortations a grave conflict might have ensued. Officers and men, eye witnesses say, were ready to take the cue from their com mander, when General Roget sneer- ingIy waved Deroulede aside and swung his troops toward their barracks. The whole incident became opera bouffe. Deroulede's interference was the indi- vidual folly of an unbalanced and ex- cited man, with little group of sim liar followers. It does net indicate any real plot behind DerOu.ede and the League of Patriots, an Irresponsible association of fanatics, which even the secret encou,agers of it's agitations do not take seriously.
 The real aim pending the prosecu- tions against Deroulede is to increase the government authority and pres tige. The failure of the capital and the provinces to respond to their pro- vacations disappoints the reactionary leaders. The governments vigorous show of authority surprises them somewhat. Worse still, internal differ ences Vex them. The Fatherland League, which was becoming powerful, iT now split in two factions, one op- posing attacks on the president and cooperating with violent fanatics, the other abetung these things. The op- posing faction is the strongest, seem ingly, and thus the leagues present influence is materially weakened.
 Very influential newsqa pers, like Le Petit Journal, also refuse to join in the attacks on the president while the re- hash of the old Panama scandal pro- duces little effect. Finally, the cau- tious supporters of party changes are cooled by the present energy of the ! government. As for the pretenders, | the BOnapaItiscs are toe wise ard Or { leans too weak to attempt to profit by | the recent crisis. It is rathe~ the pol | icy Of both to increase the present con fusion. Per contra, NJ. Lcubeo quite | lacks real popularity. Those who |
 
 existing regime, and because he is hon est and thoroughly loyal to the repub- Ec, mistrust his mediocrity, dread his | lack of prestige, personally and po- litically. He is an easy target for the i sort of ridicule-petty, malignant at tacks-that counts much in Paris opin- ion.
 Grave fears are felt also that the | concentration of political groups, loyal | to the present regime, supported by | moderate opinion, is not likely tC en- | dure long, especially under the stress of probably long and malignant cam Paign against the president. More over, now that every sign indicates a | decision unfavorable to the general ! staff in the Dreyfus cases, intrgues to circumyent and avert it are affect again as the time for the decision ap- Troaches. The crisis is likely to be acute again, with fresh fears of an organized plot against the govern ment. Unfortunately their present sue cess encourages the fanatic Dreyfus- ards to a renewal of unpopular attacks oil the army ds a whole. Thus they aid the reactionary effort to increase and embitter the confusion
 In itself, the Anglo-French dispute over coaling station in the Persian gulf is trivial and obscure in it's ef- feet on public opinion. More serious is the fact that Englishmen and news