The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-03-27
Partisans of the Congregations
Reinforced by Members of
Old Rousseau Cabinet.
MAJORITY IS IN DANGER.
Former Minister of Education
Succeeds in Amending Gov
ernment's Law Status of
Dreyfus Case.
SPECIAL BY CABLE re THE ST. LOUIS RE
PUBLlC AND THE NEW YORK HERALD
DIV rnnkYT-v

SPECIAL Ii Z BY ABh TO i 81; LOIS RE
BY. ]. CORNELY.
Paris, March 26~.-CCopyright, 190l)-The
battle continues fierce and without truce
between the partisans and enemies of the
congregations in the Chamber of Depu-
ties and the opposition is using all means
possible for breaking up the majority and
overthrowlnE the ministry.
1t has arrived in this purpose at the
point of night sittings and even systematic
distinctions. The members of the Wal
d~eck-Rousseau Cabinet have taken the
lead in this final assault.
NJ Cau.laUX, who was the Minister of
Finance. proposed. without success, an
amendment sending back the law to the
Ministry of France until the necessary
funds have been found for its application.
NJ. Millerand, who was Minister of Com
merce. proposed-equally without success
to put aside the law on the congrega-
tons and to busy itself with the law on
workmen's pensions.
This Intervention causes strife between
the socialist sections, marshaled under NJ.
Jaures and NJ. Millerand. Respectively
Scene worthy the convention.
The former Minister OF Education, VI.
Georges Leagues. has been more FORUM,
ate than his colleagues. He succeeded in
getting an amendment adopted authnriZ-
ing the maintenance of the novitlaIe
schools, and as a consequence. of the con-
gregations who have foreign missions.
save the important institution of the
Brothers of the Christian Doctrine, who
give instruction In France as well as in
the far East.
The amendment of NJ. Leagues was
adopted by a majority of eleven votes. the
President of the Counci. not regarding it
as a question Of confidence.
GOVERNMENT DESPERATE.
Things ave arrived at such a pass that
the majority, worn out. appears bound to
abandon the clauses which remain to be
voted. and refer the application of the law
to the law voted in 1895. during the Res
tcration, in such a way that the congre-
cations would be dispatched by a legis-
lative enactment due 10 the more clerical
government of the Nineteenth Century.
a comedy.
While the opposition is trying TO over
throw the Cabinet in this way by front
attacks. other Deputies are striving to at
tack it at one Of its vulnerable points, the
Ministry of Marine. The Budget Commit
tee. presided over by n. Doumer, and in
stigated by NJ. Lockroy: has caused NJ.
into discussions with men who contradict
him before II. 1t witnesses to
give evidence and devotes itself to an
The unlucky man defends himself as
best hs may by pleading his cause at
democratic banquets. In the afternoon he
seeks TO convince his hostile colleagues.
In the evening he seeks the applause of
voters excited to a white heat. We may
stu wonder how this defense will end.
The nomination of a successor 10 NJ.
Emile Deschanel in the College de France
has been raised to the level OF a political
event. The candidate who is the cause of
all this turmoil is NJ. BrunetLere, director
of the Reylln DpS Deny Nnndns an nrala-
mician and a reactionary clerical The pro-
feSsors OF the College de France preferred
to him NJ. Abel Lefranc, who has less
notoriety and has no antigovernmental
opinions. and poor Brunetiere was forced
to say that this defeat was deplorable in
the interests of science. forgetting that he
once proclaimed the failure of science.
DREYFUS REVISION.
The Court OF Cessation continues its in
quiry into the Dreyfus affair. and before
tEis criminal court are disappearing. little
by little, the accusations which have been
| exploited against the unfortunate Captain.
An interesting question which remains
is to know whether the Court of Cessation
will itself wind up the affair by a pure
| and simple acquittal of Dreyfus, or wheth-
er It will send the case before a court
martial. Considering the state of mind of
the officers, one could not guarantee that
Dreyfus would not be condemned again
unreasonable disaster. for the strife
would recommence Immediately.
In any case, If We have to face this
danger ii is to be hoped we shall not see
again tie Rennes spectacle in which a
Government. which had collected proofs
OF innocence. was represented by a COM
missary who based his plea on the as
| sumed guilt OF the prisoner. 1t will he
necessary at least that the Governments
commissary should base his argument on
the text of the decree of the Court of
Cessation. and then. perhaps. the court
martial will be forced to give an %acquittal.