New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-03
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.


Political prophets are having hard time
in France. They have just been disappointed
again Whether il IS for the hundredth or TOT
the thousandth time since June 1898, we can
not say, but the larger number is probably the
nearer to the truth. 1t was at the date nalleu
that NJ. Waldeck-R Rousseau became Prime Min
lister and began giving France strong gov
eminent He would soon be turned out, salo
The prophets Almost every day they preuIct-
ed that the next day would be his last he
would fall on the Dreyfus business, he would
be defeated on the Clerical question, he would
he forced to resign on this that or the other
Interpolation. Finally. and beyond all question:
he vould be overwhelmingly defeated at the
nolIs. But NJ Waldeck-Rousseau held on lie
deslt with the Dreyfus case and the Clerical
military conspiracy against the republic with
an unfinching hand. He kept MS Ministry III
office longer than any other in the history Oh
tho republic He carried the country In the
general election of 1902 by much Increased
majority He met the new Chamber IN trl-
umpb, and might have remained in ONCE IOr
another three years But on the ground OF per-
soual interests he voluntarily retired, and was
succeeded by man after his own heart' Dr'
Combes.
The Combes Ministry has continued the
"s+rongr government and has been the target
for innumerable hostile prophecies. 1t Woulu
10 beaten on the Clerical schools business, men
said. But it went through with that business
step by step, without falling and without I'M
noirnpnt of strength. It would commit SUICIDE
II # did ANYTHING more with the Dreyfus case,
they declared. But the Dreyfus case has been
reopened, before the Court OF Cassauon, ana
the Combes Ministry is still In ONCE. "eil
but it would beyond all question come 10 grlel
over the naval administration. That was Ger
iaiU cd
chamber would never condone NJ. Peuetan-
THAT minister was accused Of everything evil
His honor was impugned. His honesty was
iuneached. His capacity-it was TO laugh! But
the other day q direct vote upon approVa OIL
the naval administration was taken, ana tne
government was sustained by a majority Oh
ca IN n full House After that there does not
appear to be any good reason why Or. CoIhoes
shall not remain IN Office as long as dlu Ills
predecessor. - 49,.
Tho reason for this remarkable change from
the conditions Of years ago. when MINISTRIES
measured their lives by weeks or days, instead
Of vears is not difficult to divine. France Is
t,red Of the political kaleidoscope. She teelS
tho need of stability and OF permanence. She
wants n ''strong" government. BY that we 90
not mean dictatorship or an empire we
mean republic with the courage OF us re-
r,,,licapism NJ Waldeck-Rousseau displayed
the right sort Of strength when ne erAppieu
With the army ring which had been dictauhg
to cabinets parliaments, courts and presidents;
There were those who exclaimed that II woulo
be treason to lay civilian hands upon the army
NJ. Waldeck-Roussenu replied that the army
was the servant, not the master, OF the repuDr
lie. DR.. Combes displayed 1t again IN eIioIc
ing the laws against unauthorized corporations,
What? Law hands upon the Church! IL Wouiu
no sacrileqei But DR.. COmbes did not SHRINK
fro,, tho renroach The republic must be freed
f-or, Clerical influence. and he undertook the
work Of freeing it, without fear. The ChaInDer
sustained him in the undertaking. ana uleIe
q rooson 20 believe the nation does so. too. AT
a. rate france shows appreciation Of and re-
80 for n man who has definite policy ana
the courage TO execute It That is a state Oh
mind which augurs well for the French ne
Duhlic