The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
n the Red Spectre Abroad Again In
EranCey

According TO the Paris correspondent OF
the London Times the dread of commotlon
and revolution is spreading fast in tho
French capital and in other French centres
OF industry. 1t has been assumed that tho
desire to reap enormous profits from the
coming Exposition would offer Il guarantee
OF order for many months to come; but IL is
now suggested, first. that the classes from
which trouble is expected have but little to
gain from the Worlds Fair, and. secondly.
that, II revolutionary movement were
started quickly, it might bc carried ont
successfully before the exhibition opened.
1t is true that, so long as tho MARQUIS DE
GALLIFFET remains Minister o! War, few.
II any, Generals are likely to confront the
risks OF military revolt. But Gen.
DE GALLIFFET and tho Ministry OF which
he is a member may be driven out OF Office
ut any hour, and 1t is by no means certain
that Premier WALDECK-RoUSsEAU could
secure the assent Of the Senate to tho dis
solution Of Parliament and the election OF
anew Chamber Of Deputies. Unless, then.
the testimony OF many well-informed OBJ
servers is to be rejected. the outbreak OF a
revolution In Paris at the present juncture
b possible.
What would be the aim OF the new move
Snent2 The advocates Of change in the
political system are crippled by tho fact
that they have no agurehead or standard
bearer. The representative OF the Bourbon
monarchy, the Duke OF Orleans, is unpopu
lar In Franco and tho same thing NAV be
eaid Of Prince VICTOR NAPOLEON, tho heir
Of Bonapartist pretensions. There ls no
civilian who fills the public eye as
GAMBETTA did; 1t would be absurd to view
pkRoULEDB as a candidate for a Dictator
ship Neither. since the collapse OF Bou-
LANCER, has France had military hero:
shere Is not one General whose name would
serve as rallying cry,
While, however, the opponents OF the
present French Constitution are unable to
unite upon q nominee for the headship OF
the State. they all profess to agree about a
political programme, or, at all events. con-
corning primary and fundamental change
In the organic law established In 1875.
The disaffected concur In affirming that
what Franco needs Is the substitution of
the Presidential for tho Parliamentary form
OF government. The Chief Magistrate OF
France, they say. should not DO puppet,
docile to tho will Of evory Premier who
happens to secure a majority in the Cham
Der OF Deputies, but strong ruler indepen-
dent Of the Legislature, except as regards
supplies, and the master, instead Of tho scr
want, ofhis Ministers. In other words, they
want to invest the President OF the French
Republic with nll the powers OF President
OF the United States. This they propose to
do. apparently, without imposing any Of
the checks by which an American Presl.
dents authority Is restricted, such as the
Limitation Of his term Of Office to four years
and the delegation to the Senate OF the
power OF confirming appointments and OF
ratifying treaties. 1t is extremely doubtful
whether the inhabitants OF highly unified
country like France would ever consent
to assign the functions OF our Sem
ate, which represents distinct political
entities. TO the French Senate, which
represents constituencies substantially
identical with those which elect the
Chamber OF Deputies. Another check
upon our President Is the United States
Supreme Court, to which, from constltu-
tiona. viewpoint, there Is no counterpart in
France; Tor the Court Of Cessation has
never ventured to set aside any act OF the
French Parliament on the ground that It
violated the organic laws of 1875. Another
objection to the adoption of the Presidential
type OF government In France Is the fact
shstthe Chief Magistrate would have under
aus control a standing army of half a
mii'ion men, and this control would be
absolute .S seeing that, in the case supposed.
inc secretaryNof War would become a mere
~AsfA' instead OF q minister oonstitutionally