The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-12
Is Ministerial Crisis at Hand in
France?

When on Tuesday NJ, PAUL DoUMER
was chosen President Of the Chamber Of
Deputies by n majority Of Is over VI.
HENRI BRlssoN. the Government can
didate Premier COMBEs doubtless reCog-
nized that his own overthrow is immi-
nent.
The executive ability displayed by W.
DouMER in the post of Governor General
Of Indo-China. which dependency he
made self-supporting, has. coupled with
the sturdy Independence evinced by
linn in the Chamber OF Deputies as chair
man of an important committee, caused
the French middle class to see in him
the strong man for whom it is always
hankerng He now holds in its imagi-
nation the place which was occupied by
N. constants fifteen years ago. He
has long been talked of as a coming
Premier but until lately it seemed prob
able chat VI. CoAlsEs would be able to
retain a majority In the Chamber untn
he should have completed the abolition
OF the Concordat The disgust, how
ever, provoked by the Governments
avowed determination to introduce an
income tax, and the Indignation excited
by disclosures of the length to which the
spy system has been carried. not only
in the military and administrative but
also in the judicial departments, have
already brought him moro than once
within a hairs breadth Of defeat; and
now he has been Enthusiastically beaten,
not, indeed. on a Cabinet question. but
in a matter which involved a test Of
strength, to wit the selection Of the
Chambers presiding officer There is
no shrewd politician in France who will
not read in this reverse the handwriting
on the wall
The elevation of VI. DoUMER to the
post Of Premier would be interpreted
MS proof of new alignment of po-
litical forces in the Chamber of Deputies
and as the promise of considerable
change in the attitude Of the French Gov
eminent toward the Catholic religion.
It would be- evident that ascendency
had moved from the extreme Left, COM
posed Of Socialists and advanced Radi-
Gals, in the direction of the Left Centre.
The preponderant faction would still
be intensely Republican, but no longer
Socialistic or rabidly anti-clerical. 1t
would show itself as resolved as was
its predecessor to do justice to DREYFUs,
but ii would, at the same time, deserve
and gain the approval of the army,
the civil functionaries and the judiciary
by stern abatement of the nQuisitorial
system it would not repeal the law
against religious associations, but it
might administer the statute in more
concilatory spirit Above all. it would
be called upon by its Moderate support
ers to put a stop to the campaign for the
immediate and total divorce Of State
and Church in France. We add that al
most certainly it would renounce the
project OF an income tax.
We take for granted that VI DEL
CASE, the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
would not follow Premier CoMBEs INTO
retirement His predecessor, NJ HAN
oTAUX, il understood TO be absorbed
in the composition of a monumental
work on Cardinal RICHELEU, an INSTALL
ment of which has been published, and
although there is no lack of other candi-
dates for the place, none of them has
proved his capacity for diplomacy by
remarkable achievements So long as
NJ DELCAssE remains at the head Of the
Foreign Office. the financial, industrial
and commercial elements OF the French
nation will be free from uneasiness. They |
can discern at present not a cloud on the
horizon. In his attitude toward Ger
many, NJ. DELCAssE has discreetly |
avoided any afTectation Of cordially, !
while, at the same time, abstaining care