Evening star., 1902-01-13
REPUBLIC ON FIRM GROUND.
NJ. Waldeck-ROussean Says Frances
Enemies Are Routed.

NJ. WaIdeck-ROussean Says Frances
Enemies Are Routed.
NJ Waldeck- Rousseau, the French pre-
mier, opened the electoral campaign at st.
Etienne yesterday. His speech took the
form of a review of the policy of the gov
ernment and the work of the present legis-
lature 1t expressed the firm conviction
that the elections would result in striking
victory for the republic and overthrow all
the forces of reaction.
NJ. Waldeck-Rousseau declared that since
the formation of his ministry the country
had acquired a security unknown for a
long time, and that it required an incurable
pessimism not to recognize that the bad
days had gone by.
He recalled the sweeping republican vic
tory in the municipal elections, and said
that the hour for action, instead of de-
fense, had seemed to have arrived, and that
the government submitted a program of re-
forms. He said the adoption of the law of
associations had marked decisive step for
ward, from the point of view of economic
development, and it's guarantees of society.
Notwithstanding prediction of agitation,
the speaker said the law of associations
had begun to be executed, and that it
would be carried out in the spirit in which
it was conceived, without passion and with
out weakness.
Referring to the liquor legislation which
had resulted in loss to the treasury, the
premier said that the transtory deceptions
attributed to this law were not too heavy
a price to pay for the suppression of the
scourge of alcoholism, which threatened the
very existence of the race.
Abiding to the naval program of France,
NJ. Waldeck-RouSSeau said that Subma-
rine boats, the construction of which was
due to French genius, were calculated to
overturn the laws OF naval pre-eminence.
The premier spoke of the development of
H. !, A f,.;1 nj ay,1 fhnt
the energetic action of France in the far
east had given French influence a new au-
thority.
THE presence of the Italian squadron at
Toulon,'' said the prime minister, has
shown that We are capable of inspiring
sympathieS, and the presence of the czar
at Bethany has shown that we are able to
strengthen an alliance and increase our
strength in the confidence France has sue
ceeded in inspiring and in the spirit of
equity which she has shown in all foreign
relations
NJ. Waldeck- Rousseau concluded by re-
calling the tactics of the adversaries of the
republic. He said the first anti-repubican
coalition had been formed Of contradictory
elements. which had found no title that
they could avow as theirs. The speaker
dubbed it the "nameless party and said
that later it took the name Of the faction
of the soldier Boulanger.
To-day it is nationalsm," he said, 1.-The
name of expectancy, allowing each element
to cherish the hope of duping the others.
1t is the monarchy of Caesarism of tomor-
row, a connecting link between aristocrats
who have become familiar and demagogues
who have become naughty. The clever men
who sought success in this equivocation
have made false calculation. They took
too great care to hide themselves from the
ancient parties, and thus signed their abdi-
cation and gradually accustomed the coun-
try to take note of their definite downfall.
"The twentieth century goes on. 1t has
forever dispersed the ruins of royalty, Or
leanism and empire, and French democracy
is preparing to pass sentence on the vain
parodies and bad forgeries of sincere pa
triotism and on the spirit of revolution
The threatened hostile demonstrations did
not occur, and good order was maintained.