Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-06
THE ELECTIONS IN FRANCE TO-DAY

Eocialism. pacin1m. anti-miIftarism and
anarchism received an unexpected check Ia
the supreme hour OF suC-
Radicals cess on the LIST OF May.
Checked. when. undisturbed by gov-
eminent, the agitators pro-
posed to demonstrate authority In France.
to be ratified by an overwhelming and deci-
sive vote OF the people today.
Socialism. the hydra headed sort. which
aspires to assume political control In
France, Is not peculiar to that country. but
u growing malay in Europe and IN
America. We In America are particularly
interested in the results OF the elections in
France as an object lesson. because we are
confronted with an anarchistic element in
our own politics. the more dangerous per-
haps because now Indigenous and manip-
ulated by money IN the hands OF dema-
gogues.
1t was NJ. Theirs who said IF the
French republic fell into the hands of DEM
agogues it would soon finish In blood or In
lmbeciiity. The warning should not be I'M
Needed on this side of the Atlantic.
Socialism in France has attracted the
sympathies of all parties DESTROYS Of amel-
1orating the condition of the proletarfat It
mas, however, fallen into the hands of the
demagogue. who would make It stepping
stone for political aspirations. Opposition
to the church was q pretext. The elimina-
ton Of Christ from the public schools and
the courts was provoca ton to religious
passions long since allayed to recreate an
lmositles upon which to rally an opposition.
The persecution and prohibition of the or
ders was the first challenge to constituted
society. which has been followed by pacif-
ism and anti-miitarism and the separation
of church and state.
The socialist leaders are manifestIy re-
sponsible for the disorders in the Pas-de-
Calais. at Lens. Levin, Denaim, Lorient.
Laveianet, Voiron and Touion. which have
placed France within hairs breadth of
civil war; Two officers were seriously
wounded In the melee with the insurgent
confreres, one of whom died, and this
incident appears to have given the govern
ment pause.
At Paris, under pretext OF acting for the
workmen's associations, the agitators de-
clared that members of all corporations
/ should quit the workshops on the list OF
May at the eighth hour and force their
comrades to do likewise. An important
member of the General Confederation of
Labor said to > journalist:
X X
Yes. it is puerile to dissemble We are
preparing for the general overthrow and
ruin Of society. The Govern
a FRANK ment may send imposing
Program. forces Of troops here and
there. We know that these
troops are with us; that they will help us
to effect the triumph OF the French prole-
tariat even IL obliged to employ violent
means. And We are resolved to do this! All.
these bourgeois do not know the terrible
awakening which awaits them soon. The
hour OF the present social disI3osseSSion ad-
vances. 1t marks our emancipation. It will
not be accomplished without some quarrels,
but history proves that 1t Is by the coup
de force and audacity that something IS
achieved. Do no think at all that we wish
to simplv friRhfen thu class in
shaking before them the red flag. We are
entering now upon period of acts. For
too long we were content with platonic
manifestations and fnflamnatory chatter
We have no longer to do with theories and
speeches. In a little while we will prove IT.
The socialists were as good their word,
and proved 1t by their insolent and inhu-
man acts In provoking the soldiers in the
departments, that they might precipitate
the revolution which would inaugurate the
long-desired reign Of anarchy.
The number of men in social life who
have some quarrel with society and
make common cause with socialists in
Europe and in America Is really astonishing
The Ideal, simple life Of some OF these is
limited by envy of the savage and the privi-
lege they would share with him of wearing
q simple garment and, strutting about In
absolute freedom from shoes or shirt col
lars. become Of g tyrannical tax which the
reign of socialism would reform Lawrence
Oliphant was a reformer of this class, who
for Ideal freedom from all restraint
conventional and social. Like the man dis
covered hanging by the neck to tree with
card bearing the inscription in explana-
ton of his act, he was tired of society
tired of the obligation to button and unbut-
ton every day"
The unexpected check to socialism has
come in the declaration of the chief Of the
ministry, M. Sarrien,
The Government who, recalling the SOL
Aro,,sad emn warning Of M.
Theirs. said in speech
In the department Of Saone ct Loire that
1.-The government would henoeforth repress
with vigor all attempts at violence and dis
order" And this decision came Just in
time to save the state. even though the ad-
ministration may lose the elections.
You are behind the barricades, said NJ
Clemenceau, minister of the interior, speak
ing to the agitators, II am in front of them
Your means of action Is disorder my duty
Is to maintain order. My role, therefore, IS
the opposite of yours"
M. Clemenceau hesitated a long time be-
fore assuming attitude which was d.
rectly opposed to all preconceived ideas of
government entirely sympathetic to social
ism But the peril of government was IN
questionable and NJ. Clemenceau yielded his
political fancies to the conservative views
minister of marine; M. Etienne, secretary
Of war: M. Poincare, minister of finance;
M. Bourgeois, minister of foreign affairs
and finally M Lepine, the project of police.
M. Lepine claimed that If the same liberty
and license were permitted at Paris as In
the departments. the elections would show
increased gains to the monarchist and
Bona partist parties And this result may
be obtained In any event In the desire of
the revolutionists to punish their chiefs by
whom they were led to believe they would
secure adhesion and cooperation in the
evolution Of the government of the Pro-
letariat NJ Lepine having received carte
blanche to maintain order on the list of
May and afterwards, proceeded to take
action, with the result that the 10000
workmen who proposed to make things hot
for the hated bourgeois were handled with
out the slightest difficulty. The deception
of the revolutionists was great. for neither
government nor the army was with them,
but against them. A single detection from
the army was signalled In the case of Lieut..
Ttsserand de LANCE, who may prove to be
of unbalanced mind He appeared at
meeting of 1900 laborers and spoke in favor
of socialism. The singular military
begged the Iaboring men ito remain calm
MAY DAY In PARIS.