The Minneapolis journal., 1902-04-26
The FRENCH ELECTIONS

IHE FRENCH ELECTIONS
Tomorrow the record breaking pre-
mier OF France, NJ. Waldeck- Rousseau,
who has for nearly three years past been
sustained by a majority of the chamber
of deputies, will discover whether the
country will indorse the policies he stands
for. and is, ready to continue him in
power.
It. will be three years on June 13 since
deck-Rousseau was called upon to
form cabinet It was period of in
tense public excitement, when the ques-
fstion of "a revision of the former Judgment
Of court-martial organized to convict
Dreyfus was dominant, and the army
clique, the clerical party, the Jew baitefs
T and monarchical and imperialistic groups
Of reactionaries raised the cry that the
army was inSdanger. They wished to sup
press every movement looking to Justice
| for the prosecuted Dreyfus. The govern
ment consented to revision and had to con-
tend againstxthe fierce wrath of the re-
dictionaries, and has proba bly, had more
than its share Of vituperation. Waldeck-
Rousseau selected a cabinet of advanced
republicans and the socialist groups, ex-
Ecept the anarcbistic element. M. Miller
and was called into the cabinet to repre-
sent the socialist element, and the cabi-
net began business for ''the defense of the
republic" as against the reactionary ele-
ment which hadsa record of hostility to
the republic.
IL was predicted by the latter that this
cabinet would not last month, and they
did all they could to discredit it and
overthrow it in the chamber of deputies.
Instead Of collapse, the ministry, led
by that accomplished statesman, Wal
deck Rousseau L has removed the Dreyfus
affair out of politics, has taken the sting
out of army hostility, has secured legis-
lation approved by the country, such as
placing the religious associations under
the ban Of illegality, because they are in
| imieal to the republic; has pleased the
working, GLASS by enacting the eight hour
day and reducing the taxes on wine and
some other things, while the foreign
Of conservatism and success which has
astonished the opposition. There is, more
of the practical and far less of the craze
over ia gloire.' The cabinet has proved
progressive without being extreme, ant
the republic has not gone to the '.demni-
tion bowwows" as predicted by the Ma
tionalist groups.
1t is said that it is always the unex-
,ected which happens in French politics
1t has been so certainly in the contin.
1t may be that the unexpected will happer
Eto-morrow again in the defeat of the
government of republican defense The
| chances, however, are much in favor o.
! the premier, although his following i:
composed Of elements apparently incon
1 gruous. The moderate republicans who
might have aided him have turned thei1
backs upon him and have affiliated will
i the. Nationalist groups: They were rec
ognized, back in 1883, as royalists in dis
guise France has no parties organized
under definite principles, as is the. case
in this country. It, would be better i
she had two great parties instead of ag
sregations of small groups differing from
one another and rarely uniting.
To-morrow there will be voting in al
the eighty seven departments into which
France is divided and deputies $50 IL
number will be chosen in the districts
into which the departments are divided
i which. are equivalent to our congressional
kdistricts Formerly voters voted for ;
!. general ticket (scrutin de liste) and
candidate could run, in several districts
but after the exploitation ofGeorge Ernes
1 Boulanger, it was deemed best to change
to district voting, eacfr arrondlssemen
Sselecting one deputy while a candidat,
can now stand only for election in on,
| district.
The election tomorrow is the ninti
/ general election since the second Ma
poleonic empire fell in 1870. It's safe t,
!. in the hearts of the people than it ha:
/ ever been. If it was not, no aggregation
Of advanced republicans and socialist.
could have conducted the government fo
two years and ten months, sustained OF
every vote Of the chamber. And. as
matter of fact, this advanced government
has shown itself to be, an eminentl!
patriotic government, effecting no in
furious legislation and fathering laws ant
/. policies Of positive advantage to Franc
at home and abroad, 1t has been pre-
dicted at every recurring general elec
tion that the days of the republic wer
numbered. It has survived eight sucl
[selections and is stronger than ever. I
will, doubtless. survive the election Q
tomorrow.
Now trat the rain is over. lit is per