New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-13
FRANCE IN EARNEST.

The Frenob government apparently backed
oy the French nation, is now tremendous! IA
earnest. 1t eschews chauvinism anu visionary
schemes and devotes itself to the Work OF pro-
noting the substantial welfare OF the repunhc.
A fine essay on the Vanity or Alliances Is sug-
gested by its attitude toward the war IN inc
East. According to expectations when the
Franco Russian alliance was mace. france
should now be mobilizing her feet, If not also
her army massing forces in the Far East and
agcressvely showing herself Russias nearest
friend in every incident and detail. instead,
she is attending strictly to her own business
and regarding her alIy's vicissitudes or fortune
with something scarcely to be distinguished
from indifference. 1t was with view 10 pos
sible antagonism with Great Britain or Germany
that France and Russia made their alliance.
The alliance is still nominally in being and In
force Yet to-day France is fraternizing with
Great Britain more closely than with any other
power. while the approachment between Russia
and Germany is the subject of the whole worlds
talk.
The most conspicuous and by no means least
important matter to which France Is addressing
herself is the readjustment Of relations between
state and church. For REIMBURSEMENT we might
we'll read severance" Beyond question it has
come to that The policy of DIR. Combes In
Withdrawing the French Ambassador from the
tons with the Roman Church has been approved
by the Chamber of Deputies by large majority.
This was done, too, after DR.. Combes had made
1t perfectly clear that such q vote would be
regarded as O mandate to go on and abrogate
the Concordat That he will be supported by
the Chamber in such course is not to be
doubted; certainly not since SO conservative a
leader NJ. Deschanel has strongly declared
himself in favor Of abrogatiOn and of complete
separation Of state and church. Upon this Issue
the forces Of conservative republicanism are be-
ing solidiy aligned with the more radical ele-
ments of the party. Against such a republican
concentration no coalition Of monarchists, cleri-
Gals. and reactionaries can hope to prevail. The
very issue upon which, away back in Wadeck-
Rousseaus time, it was said the republicans
would be divided and defeated is proving to be
the cornerstone of a more substantial and ef-
fective republican union than was ever known
before.
There are other important matters before the
French Congress to which the government is ad-
dressing itself with earnest resolution. One is
the income tax, concerning which two proposals
are under consideration, either of which would
make revolutionary changes In the fiscal system.
Another Is the refreshing proposal to reduce
the period Of military service to two years. A
third is the government bill for establishing a
workingmen's pension fund. OF course, there
are also the agreements with Great Britain over
the Newfoundland shore and the partition of
Africa, and with Spain over the disposition of
Morocco, which must be brought up for ap-
prevail 10 all these measures the government
stands pledged. and II means to put them
through during the present session, or at least
in the new session which begins in January
next To that end the Deputies will probably
be kept at work in both afternoon and even
Ing. and speeches 'for Buncombe" will be dis
couraged 1t is an inspiring spectacle to see
France thus settling down to business In serene
disregard OF the winds Of war and the waters
OF intrigue which are raging about her. There
Is no nation of Continental Europe that can so
well afford an attitude Of selfcontained and self
reliant independence as can France, and that
she is at this time assuming such an attitude is
an omen of her future good.