Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-12


and Bourgeois in the list Of favorites. Bris-
son is so extremely advanced and anti
clerical that he would appear TO stand little
more chance than former Premier Combes.
the most unpopular man In France today,
but who is none the less busily intriguing
to get around the members of parliament so
as to reach the Elysee. Brisson. however
who is now seventy years old, has run be-
fore with no little credit: at the prelimlna.
ries for the 1887 election he thrice In sue
cession won more votes than Carnot who
was elected at the finals: running against
Casimir Perier he got more than a hundred
and fifty votes. and later Felix Faure beat
him by only a small majority. He refused
10 run against Loubet asking his friends
to cast their votes for the latter; but now
that he seems disposed to FIN again he viii
certainly stand a chance.
Bourgeois. too. is liable to succeed. While
less extreme than Brissen, he Is neverthe-
less radical in his views, which assures
him strong sympathies In the ranks Of the
parliamentary majority, Ii was, further
more. Bourgeois who represented France at
The Hague conference and sc was ne who
as minister of public instruction. reorgan-
ICED the whole French education by cast
ing aside the old system Of elective courses
and giving the same education to every
body. The plan has not been considered
good In fits results. but # has none the less
left its mark upon the nation.
As for Maurice Berteaux, the socialist mill
honaire stock broker minister of war. while
his friends affirm tha1 he is in the rum
ming, he has abstained from any deolara-
ton other than a vague remark made be-
fore number of his friends: When am
at the Elysee, ! shall spend several mil
lions per year out of my own pocket" It Is
inferred that a minister would not permit
himself to make such statement II he ala
not think he might realize his ambition;
and II is. therefore. thought that Berteaux
hopes to win as the dark horse.
For man who takes his responsibilities
lightly, as parliament desires him to do. the
life of president of France is an uncom-
monty quiet though always a busy one He
must read and answer hundreds of letters
per day. He must receive all sorts OF peo-
pie. ministers. senators and deputies. am
bassadors and foreign ministers each day,
hours for this being reserved morning and
afternoon. He is besieged by groups Of
provincial delegates, politicians and COM
pany promoters who allege national inter-
ests or the development OF French trade
abroad He must attend In his official ca
pacity military reviews, state funerals the
big Longchamps and Auteuil races and
frequent inaugurations of statues or build
ings or international congresses. He then
has the pleasure of seeing himself sur
rounded by guard of cuirassiers and hear.
ing himself cheeree by the crowd which
lets him pass unnoticed when the display OF
regal honors Is not there to catch the eye.
outside or these perfunctOry obligations,
which are social rather than political, the
French president constitutIonally has the
right to propose laws, to dispose of the
army, to respite condemned prisoners, and
to ask parliament to reconsider a vote cor
responding in a miugated form to the
American veto. But II is no longer Gus
tomary for French presidents to propose
laws, or order the army about, or ask par
Lament to reconsider anything; and so,
from the four prerogatives above mention
ed the pardon of criminals is about the
only one exercised President Loubet, who
Is a humanitarian, rarely allows anybody
to be guillotined; and this has become so
notorious that the percentage of crimes
has greatly increased In France of late,
murderers calmly committing their deeds In
the certainty that they will be respited.
The president can frame and ratify treaties.
but he cannot declare war without the APP
prevail of parliament; he can dissolve the
chamber. but only with the consent of the
senate; he is legally responsible only in
the case Of high treason, and he must then
be accused by the chamber and tried by the
senate.
For his services the president of France
receives about $4,000 per year: but as
from this he must pay for all the state
dinners at the Elysee all the servants. and
subscriptions for national calamities, he has
not much left at the end OF the year.
FRANCIS WARRINGTON DAWSON.
Copyright. 1905, by Curtis Brown. british Rights
Reseryed)